Diesel engines don’t operate like the normal fuel or gas engines, and several fluids are needed in engines that function with gas that when they are out in diesel engines, they can destroy the engine.
People who are more accustomed to gas engines tend to think that the same fluids that propel gas engines will also work in diesel engines, but that’s a big lie. If not careful, the self-same fluids can and will destroy diesel engines.
It is paramount to know what fluids will destroy a diesel engine to avoid them coming in contact with your diesel engine, and this is what this article will help you achieve.
Four major fluids that can destroy a diesel engine if poured into a diesel tank are coolants, fuel (yes, the fuel that is used in gas engines and gas tanks), water (water will destroy any engine), and finally, oil.
Can Fluids Destroy a Diesel Engine?
Yes. The wrong fluids in a diesel engine will gradually, and subtly destroy the engine. It is important that as a diesel engine owner or driver, you have to ensure you are not misfuelling your engine.
Misfuelling means putting in the wrong type of fluid in your diesel engine. For example, putting gasoline instead of diesel, putting water instead of proper lubricants, etc.
When you put the wrong fluids in your diesel engine, over time, your engine gets damaged and you have to repair it. You can avoid this altogether if you know what fluid to put into your diesel engine and what to avoid completely.
What Fluids will Destroy a Diesel Engine?
Diesel engines are peculiar, completely different from fuel or gasoline engines, and several fluids can destroy a diesel engine when put into it, or if by any chance, leaks into it.
Although they vary in terms of the amount of danger they can cause, here are some fluids that can damage a diesel engine:
1. Coolant
Coolants are used to maintain the temperature of an engine to avoid overheating. It is a fluid that is poured into the engine’s cooling system to reduce the heat and simply cool down the temperature of the engine.
The Coolant’s purpose is to act as a ‘heat exchange fluid’ to reduce the temperature of water in the engine.
The coolant tries to balance the temperature between freezing and boiling point. It must be confined to a chamber called the cooling circuit, and must not be allowed to get into the engine.
If it does, it is going to damage the engine as it will invariably mix with the oil meant to lubricate engine moving parts, dampening the effects of the oil and causing friction amongst the moving parts.
Coolant should never get into your diesel engine!
2. Petrol Fuel
Putting petrol inside a diesel engine is harmful. It is called misfuelling. You are putting the wrong liquid in the wrong engine. It is like drinking urine instead of water or using urine as fuel for your gas tank.
Petrol simply doesn’t have what it takes to fuel a diesel engine. There are certain lubricating properties necessary to power a diesel engine, and these properties are present in diesel but not in petrol.
Hence the reason why petrol can damage the engine parts of a diesel engine. It just won’t have enough lubricating oil present to work the diesel engine parts.
3. Ether
Ether in a diesel engine is very dangerous because its combination can be very explosive and lead to detonation, causing loss of lives and damage to properties.
The irony is, that a diesel engine needs ether to start because it lowers engine compression, especially when you bend the rods more.
When mixed with diesel, however, ether causes an explosion on the compression stroke and pushes the engine behind, and this can be very unsafe, both to your engine and to you.
4. Soot
When soot is present in diesel engine oil, it causes the engine to fail beforehand. Even new engines give way and break down when there is the presence of soot in the diesel.
Soot is produced in diesel engines when there is unfinished fuel combustion in the internal combustion engine.
Once combustion is complete, it turns into smoke (carbon dioxide) and sometimes water, but when it is incomplete, soot is produced, and too much soot in a diesel engine destroys the engine.
5. Water
Whether diesel engine or not, water damages any type of engine. It dilutes the lubricating oils, and the diesel itself blocks filters and causes hydro locking. You must ensure water stays away from your diesel engine as much as possible.
If you want to drive through water, ensure that the level of water you are driving is not high enough to penetrate into your engine. Also, on no account should you allow water into your tank. The consequences might be too much for you to comprehend.
What Other Things Can You Put in a Diesel Tank To Ruin the Engine?
There are different things that you can put in a diesel tank that will destroy the engine. In truth, anything that is not the proper diesel oil, when put into the tank of your diesel engine, has the potential of destroying the engine.
Some of the things that can destroy a diesel engine once they are poured into the tank are;
- Bleach
- Coke
- Urine
- Mentos
- Sugar
- Salt
- Petrol, etc.
These things should remain far away from your diesel tank, as they have destructive potential for your engine. The only thing that you should put in your diesel tank is diesel. Anything asides that is the wrong thing, and it will destroy your engine.
What is the Fastest Way to Destroy a Diesel Engine?
The fastest way to destroy a diesel engine is to use gasoline (petrol) instead of the normal diesel recommended for the vehicle.
If you want to destroy a diesel engine, run the engine using gasoline. This is called misfuelling, and there is nothing that destroys a diesel engine than misfuelling it; using gasoline instead of diesel.
Gasoline doesn’t have the necessary oil properties that will lubricate the parts while the engine is running, therefore, chances are, friction will occur and cause breakages and leakages to the engine, destroying it.
Tips on How to Preserve a Diesel Engine
Here are several tips on how you can preserve a diesel engine and make it last longer:
- Always Check and Change your Oil: You have to change your oil at least every three months. If not, your engine will keep running on bad oil and eventually get damaged.
- Ensure you Check the Fluid Levels Regularly: Make sure that the necessary fluids are enough in your diesel engine.
- Check the Oil Filter Regularly: This is to ensure that it is clean and not blocked by any residue of soot or dirt. If the oil filter isn’t clean, it will cause hindrances and cause your engine to lag.
- Test and Service your Vehicle Regularly. From time to time, invite your mechanic to service your engine, to bring it to an optimal level. If your engine keeps running for many months without necessary check-ups, it will lag.
- Use the Proper Fluid: Ensure you are always using the proper fluids at the proper times recommended by your mechanic or the manufacturer of your engine.
- Remove Old Oil Before Adding New Oil: Whenever you want to add new oil or fluids, ensure you remove the old ones. Clean them out before pouring the new fluids into the engine.
Final Thoughts
Before you start using any diesel engine, be sure to research all you can about it. They operate differently from a gasoline engine and should be treated as such. Always ensure you are using the right fluids at the right time, and learn the proper ways to maintain a diesel engine.