Often people ask me about boat mechanics because they think it is just like working on a car, but it is much more precise. When your engine is not square with the shaft, you get bad vibrations and potential seal…
No, you do not need to sit in your driveway for twenty minutes before you start driving. Many people think idling helps, but it actually keeps the engine cold for far too long. That can lead to oil dilution or…
One afternoon, I heard a sound that made my skin crawl. It was a truck in my driveway, and its engine was screaming at a pitch that sounded like it would explode any second. Smoke poured out like a heavy…
All diesel owners know the sinking feeling when the key turns and nothing happens. The air is freezing, the oil feels like thick molasses, and the engine refuses to fire. I have been there plenty of times, standing in the…
Unless you have worked on a diesel truck before, you might find yourself stuck with a motor that refuses to turn over after a filter change. That air pocket inside the fuel lines is a common headache for any home…
With a loud thud, the engine quits and you feel your heart sink into your gut. You just drove through that deep puddle, water got sucked into the air intake, and now the cylinders are full of liquid. It is…
Who has not felt that pit in their stomach after seeing a thick cloud of white smoke pour out of their tailpipe? It looks scary, it smells weird, and it usually happens when you are already running late. I have…
Since I bought my first truck, I learned that diesels are tough beasts. They work hard, they pull heavy loads, and they last forever if you treat them right. But these engines are picky about how you feed and maintain…
You might think a new truck is ready to haul a trailer the second you drive it off the lot. That is a dangerous mistake. Diesel engines need a specific break-in period to seat the rings and clear out tiny…
As we all know, diesel engines hate air in the fuel lines. It stops them from starting or causes them to sputter and die. I remember the first time this happened to me, I sat on the side of the…