It goes without saying that this is the era of technology in which each and every model of vehicle is replaced constantly by the concerned company in the contemporary market, and every automobile company pays full heed to its product to adorn it with all autonomous features, so that no one could find a fault and resultantly afloat high in making its brand name. Every new version is claimed matchless and having all the latest technology skills. Yet, it is pertinent to mention that uncontrolled and unforeseen incidents could happen anytime, in which there could be some sudden fault which might interrupt your smooth travelling or your car tyre get punctured. It is matter of fact that your car engine is ailed either due to some mechanical fault or due to your own negligence.
Main Reasons of Engine Failure
Common causes of engine failure are overheating; oil leakage, wrong fuelling, ignored cooling system, sinking the car, detonation, and may be due to inappropriate lubrication. To have prior knowledge about various defects which an engine could have, let us look at some details so that you have some remedy and preventions in this regard.
Over Heating
Many factors can be associated with excessive overheating. It may be due to leakage of hoses, leakage in radiator, or even from the engine or due to loss of coolant level, or loss of coolant. Actually, the main cause of overheating could be due to lose/weak radiator cap which loses pressure and allows the coolant to escape. The changed antifreeze would lower its cooling and eventually there would be overheating. Now it should be noted that if the cooling system is not filled up to its limit, the changed antifreeze would result in overheating of the car engine. Actually antifreeze forms steam pockets causing the increase of engine temperature.
Here it would not be exaggeration that electric cooling fan get out of order due to slipping fan clutch, relay, wiring, thermostat, or motor which should never be taken for granted. Substandard thermostat also contributes in increasing engine heat hindering in flow of coolant from engine to radiator. In addition to it, missing fan shroud reduces the fan efficiency is another factor to spark it. It would be better if “fail safe” thermostat is affixed that even continue to transmit coolant if the thermostat get failed.
Oil Leakage
Oil leakage is a common cause which is mostly due to our acute negligence. You can easily identify it if you see fuel spots on the road or may be in your garage. Worsened steering components or rundown rubber engine are the causal agents of the oil leakage which should never be taken easy. Obviously if you do not do a prompt action, this oil leakage lowers the car oil level which results in increased friction levels.
Sinking Car
It is advisable to always avoid sinking your vehicle in some source of water which is harmful for your engine especially if you have modified the air intake. So doing the fun of drowning your vehicle into the water might be very costly for you. The experts say that water spoils the piston rods and your car engine is damaged severely.
Detonation
Detonation is the result of off-beam plug gaps, raised engine temperature, ignition timing and of course bad fuel. It could also be due to unfitting combustion in engine and loss of recirculation obviously. Accumulation of high pressure therein, causes the engine to detonate.
Inappropriate Lubrication
Your consistent driving especially long distances cause the damage to oil pump and obviously the clearances in the main rod bearings. This is due to your ignored attention toward oil change and filter.
Neglected Engine Lights
Warning lights are an indication to avert the wrong things right. So, make your habit while driving long or short to have a vigilant look over warning lights, and if you want to avoid any abnormality, take immediate remedial measure.
How Wrong Fuel is Dangerous For Engines
Have you ever pondered over it! Why does it happen so? Many reasons can be attributed to it. As mentioned above, the wrong fuel issue is mostly concerned with first hand drivers, but it is a matter of fact that it could be due to your mind slip or may be overburden of your hectic schedule of routine work.
Of course, this is a very serious threat to your car engine and mechanically your car parts would damage but fuel tank, valve guides, valve seats, fuel pump and injectors will be having more damage if in time remedy is not made. Thus fuel system of the car is damaged severely if you do make an instant decision to set it right. In case if petrol is put into diesel run car, the lubrication is reduced resulting in damage of fuel pump because in this way its parts are exposed and by rubbing together, loose strength.
Effects of putting diesel in a petrol tank
It hardly occurs and further it is not as dangerous as putting petrol in diesel tank. In addition to it, you would find nozzles at fuel stations with different size which rule out the possibility to occur such incident. But what can happen if you put diesel in petrol tank? Surely, it will have very serious effect on the car engine. Among other minor faults, it will damage oxygen sensors and catalytic convertor. Even by just dropping some drops of diesel into petrol, the engine chokes and badly loses its efficiency.
Effect of putting petrol in a diesel tank
Unluckily it occurs mostly by the motorists and carries serious consequences as compared to putting diesel in a petrol tank. It is also noted that diesel not only gives power to engine but by its lubrication effect, the injectors and injection pump work properly but petrol has no such properties. So, addition of petrol in diesel causes the spoilage of engine and the cost of replacement is greater manifold. Piston crank system is also damaged because petrol with air is quite flammable than diesel.
Now let us have a look at some instant actions needed in this regard:
• Have fitted a diesel fuel cap on your fuel neck. This will deter petrol nozzle to be inserted into it.
• Turn off the car engine and remove the key from the ignition.
• Intimate the pump station officials about this.
• If your car is insured, then tow it to some safe place or your garage.
• Be attentive while fuelling.
• Pick the right fuel from the filling station.
• Get the help of a professional technician in case of some problem.
• Get a diesel fuel cap affixed on the fuel neck of the car as petrol nozzles cannot be fitted here.
• Consult your car manual to know which fuel your car needs.
• Best to inform, to whom you are selling your car, about the kind of fuel the car need.
It goes without saying that you must be very vigilant while fuelling into your car. Furthermore, there are some labels on fuel tank opening cover. If you find the circle, it will be an indication of petrol that your car is petrol-based while if you notice the square, then it will be a sign of diesel. Similarly, you will also see some letters identifying the fuel types explain which renewable fuel is going to be put into the car. E specifies ethanol and B specifies biodiesel. Likewise, some numbers are also affixed which are for the percentage of fuel mixture.E5 is a symbol that this fuel has 5% ethanol while B7 symbolises that this diesel has 7% ethanol.
Engulfed in on-going happenings in your luxurious car joyous mood, you can head towards your desired destination smoothly without any hindrance and at no time your car heaves its last sigh if you have had due care of it. This troublesome situation awakens you from your dreams of thoughts and hectic schedule. You wondered what did happen. You sank into the ocean of thoughts and think about earlier defects occurred so far. You also memorise that oil leakage and overheating is often ignored by you. This embarrassing situation jerks you severely.
This is the first and foremost responsibility of a motorist to nip the evil in the bud and take immediate action if he notices some unusual sound or jerking. Otherwise, if you ignore such disorders, then it could be havoc for your engine which may succumb in case of some serious defects. Always be vigilant about your car defects and whenever you note some kind of defect, get it right from the certified mechanic as the right decision matters a lot for your safety and as well as sustained quality of your car.
Callum Wright has been in automotive industry for years and now a day’s researching and figuring out the issues and solutions related to petrol in diesel car mistakes in especially in UK.
