Diesel Maintenance

A lot of Calgary drivers are excited about the new diesel engines that are becoming available in passenger cars and SUV’s and they’re curious about the preventive maintenance requirements for diesels. Drivers may not know that diesel engines have long been used extensively in Europe and Asia. In fact, in some markets, there’re nearly as many diesel powered passenger cars as there are fuel powered cars.

You may ask, why has it taken so long getting them to North America? There are a bunch of reasons like fuel tax policies and such, but the biggest hurtle was that North American diesel fuel had a high sulfur content – too high for the latest generation of highly refined diesel engines. Recent mandates to remove sulfur now opens North America up to the engines the rest of the world’s been enjoying for a long time.

Why are diesels so popular worldwide? Well, for starters, diesels get up to 30% better fuel economy than standard fuel engines. And they last a lot longer. And modern diesel engines are refined, quiet and powerful – and there’s none of that black smoke we used to see. Some Calgary drivers may think that diesels create more pollution. But, you need to rethink diesels. Environmental pollution standards for diesel cars and light trucks are scheduled to be as strict as they are for other fuel powered vehicles.

A modern diesel engine is as clean as a fuel engine. And, there are not a lot of trade offs with diesel in terms of performance. A modern passenger car diesel is very smooth, quiet and quick. Most Calgary drivers wouldn’t notice any difference. For those folks who tow trailers and haul heavy loads, diesels will be an improvement.

Now diesel engines are heavy duty, so they cost more than fuel engines. But they get better fuel economy – so the break-even point is largely dependent on the difference between regular fuel and diesel prices at your Calgary pump and how many kilometers you drive. And diesels have a higher resale value.



Now, let’s get back to diesel maintenance. Diesels do require very clean fuel, air and oil, so their filters are much higher capacity than standard fuel filters and cost more. The engine air filter needs to be changed more frequently as well. Repair costs in Calgary are similar. As with standard fuel engines, proper maintenance is the key to long engine life and to avoiding repairs. So pretty much what we have come to expect with fuel powered vehicles; coolant system service, transmission service, power brakes, power steering, differential, filters, fuel system, and so on. And the payoff for you, if you’re one of the Calgary drivers that likes to keep your vehicles for a long time, is that a properly maintained diesel engine can last for hundreds of thousands of kilometers.

Stop by or give us a call.

KENSINGTON AUTO
2201 Kensington Rd NW
Calgary, AB T2N 3R9
(403) 283-4600