It doesn't matter if you are...
It doesn't matter if you are running a Dodge, Ford, Chevy or Toyota, there will be diesel myths present with each manufacturer. Photo by Kevin Thorne
Mix A Gallon Of Gasoline Periodically With A Full Tank Of Diesel To Clean Out The Injectors.
I had not heard of this myth until I spoke with banks Power, but apparently there are people who mix a gallon of gasoline with a full tank of diesel to (for lack of a better term) flush out the system. baker sums it up best: "Don't do it! gasoline, even in low concentrations, destroys the lubricity of diesel fuel and can quickly destroy the diesel's expensive fuel injection pump. gas in diesel fuel also increases the combustion temperature and can actually damage the expensive fuel injection nozzles. And lastly, today's diesel fuel does not gum up fuel injectors, or build carbon deposit in the cylinders as was sometimes the case many years ago. Don't ever mix gasoline, or alcohol, with diesel fuel."
After A Long Haul You Should Let A Diesel Engine Idle Before You Shut It Down.
This is more true with gasoline engines that have a turbo attached to them where exhaust temperature is higher than in a diesel. This stems from early turbos using a bearing that could seize up from the heat if it was cooled down too quickly after sustaining high temperatures. Allowing the engine to cool down would help dissipate the heat and prevent the bearing from seizing up.
This is a now a myth because diesels no longer use this bearing and haven't in quite a while. so with today's turbo diesels there really is no reason to have a cool-down period. However, with gasoline engines it's not a bad practice, especially if you are not using synthetic oil that will help dissipate the heat.
You can save money in the...
You can save money in the long run by changing oil every 3,000 miles. Photo by Kevin Thorne
Synthetic Oil Cannot Be Used In Diesel Engines.
This is true if the oil doesn't meet the manufacturer's APi recommendation. but as long as the synthetic oil meets the APi rating outlined by the vehicle's manufacturer then synthetic oil can be used.
I Would choose synthetic under any conditions. The more important issue is whether you are choosing the type of oil outlined by the manufacturer. it's easy to determine. simply refer to the owner's manual for the recommended oil weight and the APi rating that your diesel engine needs.
Diesel Engines Need To Be Extremely Loud.
We are all familiar with this one, as we've all been passed by a screaming semi on the highway. Or we have been at a stop light with the window rolled down and had a loud diesel truck pull up next to us. This is usually followed by the window being rolled up. This myth was true for the longest of years, but thanks to the innovation of a feature called "pilot injection," modern diesels have become extremely quiet.
Notice the amount of smoke...
Notice the amount of smoke billowing from the exhaust. This is not necessary for power production. Photo by Kevin Thorne
Where There Is Smoke, There Is Power.
As stated earlier, this is the greatest of all diesel myths. You are hard pressed to travel down the highway and not see smoke billowing from a semi. And i will admit for the longest time i was clouded (no pun intended) by this myth. Every time i saw the diesels line up and mash the gas at the local drag strip i just assumed that if you wanted power you better be billowing the black smog out of the exhaust.
This just isn't true anymore. The truck i mentioned before-the one running the seven-second quarter mile-will run the entire track without even puffi ng black smoke. Yes, i do understand that is on a drag strip and not in a towing situation, but today's diesels have come an extremely long way in almost eliminating the unburned fuel and sod formerly associated with diesels. Power and torque can be made without the black smog.
The point of all of this is not to dispel traditions, but rather to break the common misconceptions that are associated with diesel engines, while providing a better understanding of the technology involved.