A diesel engine is rough and rugged and will probably last for many years without any type of problem, but once you do have something go wrong with a diesel engine, you want to repair this right away. A diesel engine already takes on more wear and tear from towing heavy weights or being used in heavy vehicles, so you don't want to add to that stress by overlooking needed repairs. Note a few tips for troubleshooting your vehicle's diesel engine so you know what may need fixing or replacing.

Low cranking speed

If your diesel engine doesn't turn over right away, it may be that the fuel pump is not working properly so as to deliver the right amount of fuel needed for the engine. This can happen as the pump begins to break down, but note that a worn battery can also cause this problem. A worn or old battery is not providing enough power to the fuel pump in order to get the engine going in the morning. Have the battery first tested before the fuel pump as it may need recharging or you may need a new battery altogether. This is especially true if you often plug in electronic equipment that runs off the battery, such as an MP3 player, phone recharger, and the like. These easily drain a battery before its expected lifespan.

Rough running

If the fuel pump is not the issue with a low cranking speed and the vehicle is running rough even after it starts, this may be a problem with the fuel filter. A primary water and fuel filter or separator may need to be changed less often than the secondary filter, but if your engine comes with only one filter, it may need more frequent replacing; this may even be once every year, depending on your driving. If you haven't change the filter or filters in your diesel engine recently, this can cause clogs of the fuel and a rough start and rough running.

White smoke

Usually you'll see white smoke from a vehicle when there is not enough heat to burn fuel properly; fuel particles go out the tailpipe and produce that white smoke. This isn't unusual during very cold months when an engine is heating up, but if it continues, check the fuel injectors. The engine may be getting too much fuel to burn it properly, or there may be air in the system that keeps the fuel from burning.