Changed from Petrol to Diesel- What should I know?

Bang_Bang

The missus changed from a Honda CRV 1.6 petrol to a Kia 1.5 CRDI. What do I need to know about Diesel engines, that differs from petrol in terms of servicing etc. This is the very first Diesel car we have bought and I usually did all the servicing on all our previous cars. Will I have to change out glow plugs during servicing? stuff like that. I must say the car is a rocket and reallly gives you value for money on Diesel.

I know the CRV was 4WD but there is some difference in fuel consumption, I wasn't really expecting that.:)

Henry Ford III

Nothing really. Regular servicing - oil and filter is similar to a petrol engine.

Bang_Bang

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Nothing really. Regular servicing - oil and filter is similar to a petrol engine.

What about glow plugs, change out same as spark plugs?

hoodie6029

Glow plugs last a long time, in my Jetta they were changed at 80,000 miles.
Check the procedure for changing the fuel filter as you could cause an air lock. I do mine every year for piece of mind.
Leave the car ticking over for 5 or 10 seconds before shutting it off too preserve the turbo.
That's moat my diesel knowledge. I'm sure the actual mechanics will have more to add.
Best of luck with the new car!

daveohdave

Might have been an idea to ask this before you bought. :-)

I hope your mileage will justify the diesel? A lot of low-milers have been caught out with expensive maintenance costs by unscrupulous dealers.

Sam Kade

Bang_Bang wrote: »

What about glow plugs, change out same as spark plugs?

Make sure the light goes out with a few added seconds before starting from cold otherwise the glow plugs won't last.

Bang_Bang

daveohdave wrote: »

Might have been an idea to ask this before you bought. :-)

I bought it from my sisters fella, he's a mechanic and runs a garage. He had a few other cars that I wanted but he wouldn't sell to me as he thought they were a bit rough. I and her do a fair few miles so I hope it will justify the diesel.

I am only asking here because I don't see my sis and her fella very much.:)

Bang_Bang

Sam Kade wrote: »

Make sure the light goes out with a few added seconds before starting from cold otherwise the glow plugs won't last.

That's good info, now to show the missus...............

Duckjob

To preserve the longevity of the turbo - dont drive hard until engine is properly warmed up, and at the end of a drive give it a bit of cool down time before turning off the engine. Don't just welly it into your driveway and cut the engine off!

Also, if you've got an EGR valve I would try to learn how to take it out and clean it yourself - I do mine every 9-12mths and it really helps keep the cars performance sharp. If you do it yourself you can save a fortune since a lot of mechanics will just replace it instead of cleaning it if it gets clogged.

Bang_Bang

Duckjob wrote: »

To preserve the longevity of the turbo - dont drive hard until engine is properly warmed up, and at the end of a drive give it a bit of cool down time before turning off the engine. Don't just welly it into your driveway and cut the engine off!

Also, if you've got an EGR valve I would try to learn how to take it out and clean it yourself - I do mine every 9-12mths and it really helps keep the cars performance sharp. If you do it yourself you can save a fortune since a lot of mechanics will just replace it instead of cleaning it if it gets clogged.

Thanks, must check this one out and see if this car has an EGR valve, and where. I don't welly cars anyway so hopefully I'll be ok. How long does a turbo normally last?

Duckjob

Turbo can last years if its treated well. I've had my 2nd hand car over 4 yrs now and, its an 05 and no problems with turbo (touch wood)

Also, be aware that diesels, more so than petrols, don't like short trips, so you need to be aware of the type of usage your car is getting. If you use if for lots of short runs, then I actually would recommend a good welly down the motorway every 2-3 weeks to try to avoid DPF problems.

Bang_Bang

Duckjob wrote: »

Turbo can last years if its treated well. I've had my 2nd hand car over 4 yrs now and, its an 05 and no problems with turbo (touch wood)

Also, be aware that diesels, more so than petrols, don't like short trips, so you need to be aware of the type of usage your car is getting. If you use if for lots of short runs, then I actually would recommend a good welly down the motorway every 2-3 weeks to try to avoid DPF problems.

She will do about 300km per week on long stretches of road. That's good info you have there, I didn't realise short trips could give the car "jip"

Zcott

Diesels hate labouring, so use plenty of revs when warmed up.

Bigcheeze

Zcott wrote: »

Diesels hate labouring, so use plenty of revs when warmed up.

I thought they hated revs. I take it with an auto box, optimal revving is all handled for you anyway.

Leonard Hofstadter

Bigcheeze wrote: »

I thought they hated revs. I take it with an auto box, optimal revving is all handled for you anyway.

They do hate medium to high revs, but they also hate low revs. If you're in the wrong gear in a diesel you'll really know about it, petrols are far more tolerant of being in too low or too high a gear for the given speed, not that you'll notice too much since you've got an auto:).

There's about 1000 rpm of a powerband in most diesels where they're happy (typically 1700 - 2700 rpm). In order to keep the DPF (particulate filter) and EGR valve try and keep the revs over at least 1700 rpm, if the revs are too low for a sustained period of time the filter will clog up (also you'll get plenty of vibrations through the pedals and gear lever when the revs are too low), if the revs are too high it will be breathless and have no go.

As others have mentioned, constant town or low speed driving is a no-no, they need to be driven quickly (at least 80-90 kph and ideally motorway speeds) for a sustained period of time every month to keep everything all the emissions stuff tickety boo:).

bazz26

Make sure to remember your refuelling it at the diesel pump and not putting petrol into it out of habit. Misfueling is very common place these days and can be a costly mistake.

naughtysmurf

Not service related but when you are used to lifting the petrol pump, it's easy enough to put the wrong fuel in until you get used to it, stick a couple of 'Diesel only' labels on it

Bazz26 beat me to it

Bang_Bang

bazz26 wrote: »

Make sure to remember your refuelling it at the diesel pump and not putting petrol into it out of habit. Misfueling is very common place these days and can be a costly mistake.

I'm worried about herself doing this, there are diesel stickers all over the cap so should be ok. I could never understand why they wouldn't design two different nozzles to ISO standards, say square for diesel and oval for petrol. One doesn't fit into the other and vice versa.

mawk

Don't stay in high gear at low speeds. The diesel has more torque at low engine speed and it's a good way to break your gearbox laboring the engine in 5th

Bang_Bang

mawk wrote: »

Don't stay in high gear at low speeds. The diesel has more torque at low engine speed and it's a good way to break your gearbox laboring the engine in 5th

Have to say I noticed this, petrol cars practically beg you to change at high revs, this diesel preferres the higher revs at lower speeds.

visual

Enjoy the better MPG

it will take you a little while to get use to the way the power is delivered. Then you'll enjoy the torque of the engine. Too many get fixed on comparing the revs between petrol and diesel
diesels dont need to rev as high because they more efficient.

I drove many diesels and currently in a petrol but I rather the diesels.

Glow plugs are only change when worn out. Easily get 80 to 100k maybe more before needing changing.

City driving the car wont go through regeneration cycle for DPF it needs a 20 to 30 minutes on b road or motorway.

Servicing usual inspections and checks.
mini service oil + oil filter
regular service oil + oil filter, air filter, fuel filter.

marvsins

hoodie6029 wrote: »

Leave the car ticking over for 5 or 10 seconds before shutting it off too preserve the turbo.

Brother in law is a mechanic told me the same.

Also DO NOT run a turbo on fumes. Was warned about it from my mechanic.

Bigcheeze

marvsins wrote: »

Brother in law is a mechanic told me the same.

Also DO NOT run a turbo on fumes. Was warned about it from my mechanic.

What does that mean?

marvsins

Bigcheeze wrote: »

What does that mean?

I was told not to leave fuel to run down near empty. Something about possible damage inside fuel line if no fuel is present

jprboy

marvsins wrote: »

I was told not to leave fuel to run down near empty. Something about possible damage inside fuel line if no fuel is present

I try not to let our diesel car ever go below 1/4 full.

Bought it 2nd hand 2 years ago and let it go near empty on the first few fills and ended up with car going into limp mode and a €400 bill to sort out.

No problems since and not going to chance it again.

kevin65

Does the extra maintenance and care when driving a deisel outweigh the benefits?

zbluebirdz

Buy a pair of thin garden gloves and use them when refuelling - helps to keep the diesel fumes off your hands.

rex-x

Sam Kade wrote: »

Make sure the light goes out with a few added seconds before starting from cold otherwise the glow plugs won't last.

I'm sorry, but what?

visual

kevin65 wrote: »

Does the extra maintenance and care when driving a deisel outweigh the benefits?

What extra maintenance
there is a reason nearly every commercial vehicle and taxi is diesel and its not higher running costs

CiniO

visual wrote: »

What extra maintenance
there is a reason nearly every commercial vehicle and taxi is diesel and its not higher running costs

Is it not that you can get VAT returns only on diesel (you can't on petrol)?
That would explain why nearly every vehicle used for business in this country is diesel.

Pure nonsense IMO.

visual

CiniO wrote: »

Is it not that you can get VAT returns only on diesel (you can't on petrol)?
That would explain why nearly every vehicle used for business in this country is diesel.

Pure nonsense IMO.

Vat isnt the reason they are diesels neither is the emission tax system. There diesel because they are much more efficient and cheaper to run than petrol counter part.

The only nonsence is those posting about diesels who know nothing about them except hearing the DMF or DPF cause problems or not realising that turbos and egr are also fitted in petrol engines too.

But no one has highlighted most petrols will have CAT problems suffer more from piston wear and burned leaking valves than diesels.

But back to on topic

Oil cost no more neither do the filters than petrol oil and filters.
glow plugs are very close to good spark plug price and not replaced as often.

Apart from diesel being cheaper at the pumps it returns much better mpg over its petrol counter part.

Bang_Bang

visual wrote: »

Vat isnt the reason they are diesels neither is the emission tax system. There diesel because they are much more efficient and cheaper to run than petrol counter part.

The only nonsence is those posting about diesels who know nothing about them except hearing the DMF or DPF cause problems or not realising that turbos and egr are also fitted in petrol engines too.

But no one has highlighted most petrols will have CAT problems suffer more from piston wear and burned leaking valves than diesels.

But back to on topic

Oil cost no more neither do the filters than petrol oil and filters.
glow plugs are very close to good spark plug price and not replaced as often.

Apart from diesel being cheaper at the pumps it returns much better mpg over its petrol counter part.

Very good info there thanks, I'm running around like a madman today, so I haven't had a chance to read the manual. Is 10W40 the standard oil in diesels?

visual

Bang_Bang wrote: »

Very good info there thanks, I'm running around like a madman today, so I haven't had a chance to read the manual. Is 10W40 the standard oil in diesels?

Double check you get the right oil weight as 10w40 is often in older diesels and newer are 5w30

Synthetic long life oil is usually the best but more importantly is getting the correct oil for your car.

Check your car manual for precise oil weight and type.