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A lot of Columbus residents who are excited about the new diesel engines that are becoming available in passenger cars and SUV's and they're curious about the preventive maintenance requirements for diesels. Columbus residents may not know that diesel engines have long been used extensively in Europe and Asia. In fact, in some markets, there're nearly as many diesel powered passenger cars as there are gasoline.

You may ask, why has it taken so long getting in North America? There are a bunch of reasons like GA fuel tax policies and such, but the biggest hurtle was that North American diesel fuel had a high sulfur content – too high for the latest generation of highly refined diesel engines. Recent government mandates to remove sulfur now opens North America up to the engines the rest of the world's been enjoying for a long time.

Why are diesels so popular worldwide? Well, for starters, diesels get up to 30% better than gas engines. And they last a lot longer. And modern diesel engines are refined, quiet and powerful – and there's none of that black smoke we used to see. Some Columbus residents may think that diesels create more pollution. But, you need to rethink diesels. Environmental pollution standards for diesel cars and light trucks are scheduled to be as strict as they are for gasoline vehicles.

A modern diesel engine is as clean as a gas engine. And, there are not a lot of trade off's with diesel in terms of performance. A modern passenger car diesel is very smooth, quiet and quick. Most Columbus residents wouldn't notice any difference. For those Cataula area folks who tow trailers and haul heavy loads, diesels will be an improvement.

Now diesel engines are heavy duty, so they cost more than gas engines in Cataula. But they get better – so the break-even point is largely dependent on the difference between gas and diesel prices at your Columbus pump and how many kilometers you drive. And diesels have a higher resale value in GA.

Now, let's get back to diesel maintenance in Columbus. Diesels do require very clean fuel, air and oil, so their filters are much higher capacity than gasoline filters and cost more. The engine air filter needs to be changed more frequently as well. Repair costs in Columbus are similar. As with gasoline engines, proper maintenance is the key to long engine life and to avoiding repairs. So pretty much what we have come to expect with gas vehicles; coolant system service, transmission service, power brakes, power steering, differential, filters, fuel system, and so on. And the payoff for you, if you're one of the Columbus residents that likes to keep your vehicles for a long time, is that a properly maintained diesel engine can last for hundreds of thousands of kilometers.

Give us a call

Tires First
5454 Miller Road
Columbus, GA 31909
706.563.5555
http://serviceassistant.autonettv.com

- See more at: http://tiresfirst.napavision.com/2016/02/18/diesel-maintenance-at-tires-first#sthash.oa5IVM4M.dpuf