Gem State Diesel's team of specialists encourages diesel owners to make an important resolution this year: better maintenance for their GMC-Chevy Duramax, Dodge Cummins or Ford Powerstroke engines.

Diesel engine parts are engineered to higher standards than those for gasoline-fueled vehicles. They have to be more precisely machined because diesel engines put more stress on parts; these engines run at a higher compression ratio and generate higher temperatures than a conventional gas-powered engine. While this gives a diesel more power, it also means a tighter maintenance schedule than some drivers may realize.

According to Gage Burlingame, Gem State Diesel Master Technician, “All vehicles need regular oil changes, but a diesel engine may need them more frequently. Pulling heavy payloads, driving through dust or smoke and operating at temperature extremes can shorten the effective life of the engine's oil. Some vehicles may need an oil change every 2,000 miles while others may approach the standard 3,500 miles recommended for in-city driving. A diesel engine repair facility can assess a vehicle's need for oil changes and recommend a customized maintenance schedule based on the work it does”.

Oil changes are only a part of the necessary maintenance schedule, said one GSD source. Air intakes and filtration systems, cooling systems and diesel fuel injection pump maintenance are all part of keeping an engine performing well. An infrequent maintenance schedule can lead to rust, dust or other particles wreaking havoc with precision-made diesel engine parts. A malfunctioning fuel injection pump is a leading cause of loss of power, and some owners may mistake an easily corrected problem for a natural aging process and start shopping for a replacement engine unnecessarily. When a new truck costs $50,000 or more, maintaining an engine to keep it running smoothly for years makes good economic sense.

As winter still grips the greater Boise metro area, drivers may be tempted to delay maintenance, but cold can be brutal to diesel vehicles. GSD recommends going for a maintenance assessment while the year is still new to protect engines in the Meridian, Nampa and Caldwell, Idaho, area from the problems that cold weather can cause. It's worth the trip in the cold to get more reliability from a diesel engine throughout the year.

Gem State Diesel
505 North Main Street
Meridian, ID, 83642
208-288-5555


For more information about Gasoline fuel injectors please visit http://gemstatediesel.com/