How to tune your diesel toyota up
Every three months or when the oil change is due, is the right time to perform a tune-up. A diesel engine needs good, clean oil, fuel, and air. Traditionally good car owners think that they are doing well by changing the oil when needed, take a look at the engine once a year, and let the state inspection guy tell them if they need something safety related. With this logic, the car seems fine and later on, down the road, the owner wonders what is wrong. I say this because some or most car owners don't perform a tune-up every year. Cars are lucky to see one in five years. A clogged fuel filter will increase fuel usage, wear out fuel injectors faster, cause more wear on the fuel injection pump and the fuel transfer pump, and cause O-rings to leak or fail. An over due oil change will affect the life and performance of the fuel injectors, fuel injection pump, engine cylinders and valves, and the turbo. An old, clogged air-filter will not allow the right amount of air to enter into the engine. This will cause carbon build-up (from unburned fuel). So now that I preached your ear off (lol). This is why I recommend performing a "Tune-up" at every oil change. I don't know how many miles you put on the vehicle each year and I don't know how much you want to do yourself. So I'll just put the information out there and you will need to decide if you want to do it or have someone else take care of it. Every time I perform an oil change I check the following (I work on a lot of different cars and trucks so some of the items may not be in your car): Oil level and color, last oil change interval, fuel filter, air filter, serpentine belt, related pulleys, damaged wiring or hoses, antifreeze lever, color, age, and the cap on the radiator and overflow tank, windshield washer level and performance, power steering fluid lever and color, brake fluid level and color, wiper blades, all lights, cracked lens, license plate and sticker, state inspection sticker, seat belts (need to function and be free of defects), Steering wheel is tight(no excessive play), horn works, All warning lights are working and none are are on while vehicle is running, climate controls work, wipers and washer fluid works, glass and mirrors are clean and not damaged, window glass, door handles and locks, exhaust (is it secured or leaking and are the heat-shields in place), gas cap, Tire wear, inflation, tread depth, even tread wear, no bubbles in side-walls of tread, no cuts, and the that all the valve stems have a valve cap in place, rims are free of defects (not bent, warped, cracked, or damaged), shocks, both front and rear suspension, brakes, E-brake operation, wheel bearings, steering components, transmission level, color, and condition, gear oil level, color, and condition inside the drive axle, rot, holes, and damage underneath, inspect E-VAP lines, fuel lines, brake lines, transmission lines, power steering lines, U-joints, yokes, seals, CV joints, grease components (like ball-joints and tie-rods), and that your spare tire is secure, and full of air. That is about it. If this is done then future repairs will not be a surprise, components will last longer, and when you do need a repair it will cost you less because you caught it before it damaged something else. I hope this helps you and if you have any other questions, please feel free to ask. Good luck. Also I do believe in Diesel fuel treatments. The new diesel fuel does not lubricate injectors well. Look for additives that clean and lubricate the fuel system and boosts Cetane levels.
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