01/05/2017
Dirty Diesels, We love em! Bags of torque, massive performance gains through very little cost and effort and if maintained and driven right are bullet proof. We certainly rate diesels as the ride of choice!
Diesel cars have come a long way in the last 20 years. Whereas they were once regarded as sluggish, smoky and unrefined, nowadays they offer responsive performance, refined driving dynamics and bags of power.
Even so, they need to be driven in the right way if they are to deliver their best. So here are five ways to help you coax the most from your motor – they could change your driving habits forever.
1 Use the torque, it’s what it’s there for!
One of the most striking things about diesel engines in comparison to petrol units is their greater torque. This is a valuable tool when you’re behind the wheel, enabling you to minimise gear changes and maintain control at lower speeds.
The engine will produce enough low-down grunt to power the wheels without you putting too much on the throttle. That makes for a more measured manoeuvre, thereby avoiding a wheel spin and reducing the risk of getting stuck or, worse still, losing control.
2 Keep it steady Eddie
The latest common-rail direct-injection turbo diesel engines are capable of being driven at very high speeds,
As a result, even though modern diesel lumps can easily be driven much more enthusiastically than their wheezier counterparts, it’s not clever to rag them hard.
For a start, diesel engines rattle a lot more than petrol units, and equipment such as the electronic wizardry controlling the supply of fuel to the injectors is likely to rebel if pushed to extremes on a regular basis.
Take things steady, using the ample torque and zippy acceleration only when necessary, and you’ll most likely prolong the life of your motor, as well as the cleanliness of your driving licence!
3 Don’t routinely redline, as temping as it is!
Anyone who’s driven a turbo diesel car will know this feeling: you’re revving hard to accelerate from a junction, or to carry out an overtaking manoeuvre, and suddenly the engine goes completely flat.
That’s because the power range in a turbo diesel is narrower than on a petrol car, meaning you can’t rev it so hard for so long. More often than not, diesels are fitted with a limiter to prevent them being revved too much, and when that kicks in it’s a bit like hitting a brick wall.
But there’s another good reason not to thrash your turbo diesel lump, especially when it’s cold. If the engine hasn’t heated up sufficiently, the oil that lubricates the turbo charger won’t do its job properly.
Make a habit of forcing it to spin under duress and you’ll almost certainly be faced with a blown turbo. And the upshot of that is a hefty repair bill. And you just end up looking like a white man van driver. Never a good look.
4 Enjoy a regular spin, Sundays aren’t just for hairy Bikers….
That said, there’s no harm in giving your diesel car a good run out on a regular basis, especially if you tend to use it for mainly urban journeys.
Modern diesel engines are fitted with particulate filters to trap harmful emissions. These are designed to self-clean, or regenerate, at high speeds.
If you don’t regularly drive your car fast enough to clean its diesel particulate filter (DPF), it will become clogged with soot. That can prevent the engine from running properly, and necessitate installation of a replacement DPF. The cost of this could be as much as £1,000.
5 Keep up to date with maintenance
Modern turbo diesel engines are far more complex than the rather more unrefined units they replaced. In consequence, it is important to maintain them on a regular basis.
That includes replacing oil and filters in line with manufacturer guidelines – something that is crucial to preserving the life of your car’s turbo.
Old lubricant won’t work effectively, and could impair your car’s performance, as well as storing up mechanical problems for the future.
Moreover, it is worth paying attention to cambelt (sometimes called timing belt) service intervals and any particular instructions regarding DPFs. Some vehicles utilise an additive to clean the DPF, and this needs topping up once the car has covered a set mileage.
By ignoring such milestones, you’ll seriously curtail your car’s ability to achieve its potential, resulting in a disappointing driving experience and a much higher risk of large-scale repairs. And you’ll just end up with a clapped out ride.
