The Five of the Most Common Diesel Engine Myths Busted

Misconceptions about diesel engines abound. From diesel pros and cons to the best (and worst) diesel performance parts and trucks, there are a lot of diesel engine articles and myths floating around. Diesel engine myths have tarnished diesels' reputation for years, and drivers deserve to know the truth. Here are five of the most popular diesel engine myths and misconceptions, along with a more accurate take on diesel performance, facts, and features:

1. Diesel Engines Are Too Loud

Much of the public still believes that diesel engines are all noisy, rumbling, smoke-belching monstrosities. While the earlier direct-injection diesel vehicles were indeed much more noisy, these days newer common-rail technology makes diesels nearly as quiet as gasoline engines.

2. Diesels Are Expensive to Repair and Maintain

This is a pervasive myth, but it's simply not true. The diesel engine's primary benefit is longevity. While a 300,000-mile engine might need a lift pump, a set of injectors, or even an injection pump, there rarely is a catastrophic failure. Diesel engines have very good fuel economy, especially while towing. Oil changes for diesels can be pricey, but 10,000-mile intervals are normal for newer models, so you'll pay for fewer of them.

3. Diesels Are Difficult to Start in Winter

While many believe that diesels don't start in cold weather as well as their gasoline counterparts, most modern diesels now come equipped with block heaters that bring them up to speed. Some users don’t take the time to utilize their block heaters in cold weather (or aren't aware they are an option), but this can make a big difference. Keeping your intake grid heater functioning properly, glow plugs and relay-optimal, and batteries charged, also helps significantly with cold-weather starts.

4. Propane Is Like Nitrous for a Diesel Engine

Not true -- in fact, these two fuel types are polar opposites. While both propane and nitrous are gases within an engine, adding propane is like burning an additional fuel, while the oxygen content of nitrous is tantamount to adding another turbo. Propane injection can result in a small surge of power and improve fuel economy, but nothing earth shattering. Doing this is best for unmodified engines. If used for horsepower gains, propane can ignite prematurely and lead to excess heat, holed or melted pistons, and corroded injector nozzles. Propane can be dangerous, as there's no way to regulate its ignition point. Nitrous is best used for competitions at high boost and high rpm, and it can add hundreds of hp.

5. Kerosene Is the Best Way to Keep Fuel from Gelling

No. It can help, but this requires adding quite a bit of it. You'll need a minimum of 30 percent kerosene to reduce fuel pour point by 15 degrees. Kerosene also doesn't help very much with fuel line freeze-ups. It will lower the cetane rating of diesel fuel, and fewer BTUs means less energy and lower fuel economy. It also decreases lubricity. To best prevent fuel from gelling up, use additives that are specifically made to do so.

Diesel engine myths have impacted perceptions about diesel vehicles for far too long. Drivers deserve to know the truth, and hopefully the general public will come around to a more accurate take on diesel performance parts and facts. From diesel performance misconceptions to the best diesel engine stories and diesel performance parts info, there's myth and then there's reality. Hopefully this article can help to bust some of the more insidious diesel engine myths floating around, and encourage you to not only use diesel, but to shop at Custom-Diesel.com for all of your diesel performance parts needs.