Do you monitor the engine of your truck? If so, why do you do that? The engine is the powerhouse and the brain of your truck. It is where combustion takes place, and a number of sensors are within the engine. Its temperature can sometimes fluctuate depending on the conditions under which it is operating. However, the temperature of the engines should be roughly between 195 degrees and 220 degrees. The temperature gauge needle should maintain a stand in the middle. 

Causes of High Engine Temperature

High temperatures are risky for your engines, and it is thus necessary to monitor the engine temperature of your truck. Here are the common causes of the rise in your engine’s temperature.

Coolant Leakage

When the truck’s coolant leaks, you will feel a sweet smell and see a colored fluid from your truck. Leakages reduce the quantity of the coolant, and as a result, your truck will heat up.

Less or Old Oil

Engine oil plays two significant roles, lubricating all the moving parts within the engine and cooling the engine. When its quantity goes down, it will not perform these roles. Besides combustion, too much friction will exist in the engine leading to an increase in the engine temperature.

Faulty Radiator

The radiators cool the hot coolant from the engine. When the radiator fan is faulty, it will not cool down the hot coolant from the engine.

 Faulty Thermostat 

The truck thermostat regulates the temperature, just like the thermostat in a home. However, when the thermostat fails, it causes harm to the engine since the coolant doesn’t flow effectively.

Effects of High Engine Temperature

Engine knocking

Engine knocking is a result of premature engine combustion inside a cylinder. It adds a lot of strain and stress to the engine. It is risky to continue driving when the engine detonates as it may damage the rings, piston, and rod bearings. Thus, regular checking may reduce the rate of engine detonation.

Cracking of cylinder heads

When the engine is overheated, cylinder heads expand and may crack with time. In the case of Aluminium, a common material for making cylinder heads, it swells three times faster than cast iron when exposed to high temperatures.

The Explosion of The Radiator

When the engine temperature is high, the coolant boils. Hot coolant can lead to the explosion of the lead of the radiator tank. Hoses can blow off their clamps and even burst. When such happens, your radiator will be ruined, and you might end up replacing the entire cooling system.

Cracks On the Engine Block

The cylinder heads cause the engine, gaskets, and pistons to expand and contract. Cracks form as a result of the contraction and expansion of the machine as it overheats for an extended period. They lead to fluid leakage and loss of compression. 

Conclusion 

It is essential to monitor the engine temperature. For this reason, modern engine trucks have a temperature sensor that monitors the engine’s working temperature and notifies you when it is high or low. When it is high, consider checking if the abovementioned areas work perfectly.

The engine temperature drops, especially during winter. When this happens, fluids within the engine might freeze. During cold seasons, it is necessary to turn on your truck and let the engine warm up.

The invention of diesel engines can be traced back to the industrial revolution. An engineer who invented the refrigerator came up with the diesel-powered engine. To date, technology has gained popularity, especially in the motor industry. Big or heavy-duty trucks rely on compression to tow and haul heavy cargo, and most use diesel engines.

Despite the popularity of diesel engines in the automotive industry, many people need to understand why big trucks use diesel engines. Diesel and petrol are both fossil fuels that are hydrocarbons. But what is the difference? One is denser than the other.

Diesel is denser than petrol. To know more about why big trucks are diesel-powered. Keep reading this guide.

Diesel Engines Have a Higher Life Expectancy

Big trucks carry heavy loads and travel for longer distances. Therefore, they require high maintenance. Diesel engines are preferred because they do not require regular maintenance like gasoline-powered engines. You only need to stick to the service maintenance. Since diesel-powered engines emit less heat than gasoline-powered engines, this causes the metals in the engines not to wear out faster, leading to a longer lifespan.

Diesel Engines Are More Efficient

Big trucks need a quicker ignition achieved by higher temperatures. In the case of a diesel-powered engine, its size does not determine its efficiency. Even though the diesel engine is small, it still can provide a more significant efficiency. In big trucks, slow-combustion diesel is more efficient and can burn at a moderate temperature producing the needed efficient power to run a loaded truck.

Diesel Engines Are Cleaner 

As opposed to decades ago, when diesel fuel was seen to be a significant pollutant of the environment, technology has now improved the consumers’ demand by introducing cleaner fuel. Initially, diesel fuel had higher levels of sulfur, and the emission of sooty fumes was common in diesel trucks. Today diesel fuel has a lesser sulfur concentration and minimal soot. It has helped big trucks powered by diesel engines to minimize and prevent pollution.

Diesel Engines Achieve a Higher Torque

Big trucks require a greater force to turn the engine, even at slower speeds. However, this is advantageous for a diesel-powered engine since it can achieve a higher torque at a low speed. The combustion of diesel fuel is slower than that of petrol. Diesel being heavy and burns at a lower rate makes diesel-powered trucks economical in fuel consumption, but it produces massive energy necessary for towing heavy loads.

Diesel Engines Give The Best Compression Ratio

The vibration and compression levels are ideal when fitting engines in cars. However, the invention of advanced engines has lowered the harshness, vibration, and noise in trucks. In trucks, the vibrations are evenly distributed due to their bulkiness and huge nature. Their higher compression ratio helps in self-ignition without spark plugs.

Conclusion 

It is best to use diesel-powered engines in big trucks since they are more reliable and durable than gasoline. Still, failure to keep up with regular maintenance leads to a mechanical breakdown, which is very costly. The diesel mechanics are too expensive.

However, the advantages outshine the disadvantages. Thus, making diesel-powered engines ideal for heavy trucks.