At Link Automotive Services in Nashville, TN, we know your Ford, Chevrolet, or Dodge pickup was designed for optimal power, torque, and towing and hauling ability, no matter what the job is. We also know that while getting up to speed in a timely fashion is important, your diesel pickup’s ability to stop is equally essential.

It doesn't matter if you are driving a car or truck, jeep or SUV, a diesel 4x4 or a classic when those dash warning lights go off the first thing you do is think "how bad is it?" and "how much will it cost me?" followed quickly by "when was my last service visit?"!!  Driving your vehicle longer safely is all about getting it serviced based on what your vehicle manual recommends and these warning lights are alerting you to a situation that requires your attention. 

While not all warning lights are a sign that disaster is imminent, no warning indicator light should ever be ignored!

In the diesel world, "blow-by" is a term you're bound to run across at some point if your line of work involves diesel-powered vehicles of any kind. What is blow-by, what causes it, and how concerned should you be? At Link Automotive Services in Nashville, TN, our fleet maintenance and diesel technicians see it on a regular basis. Here we'll take a quick look at blow-by, correcting it, and preventing it.

What is Blow-By? - Diesel blow-by is a term that describes an event of lost compression into the crankcase. Blow-by occurs whenever a burnt or unburnt fuel and air mixture escape from the cylinder and past the piston rings and into the crankcase. In a perfect world, the piston would be sealed tightly in the cylinder, able to move up and down but keeping all the air and fuel and exhaust that enters or exits the cylinder during the combustion process out of the crankcase. As you'll see, this perfect world doesn't exist, but it is important to minimize the amount of blow-by in a diesel engine.

When you think about diesel engines, you probably think about large trucks and machinery, and maybe a few oddball cars over the years.  But how long has diesel really been around, and why is it used the way it is today? Link Automotive Services in Nashville, TN has the answers you need to become more in-tune with your diesel truck and engine. 

Diesel engines are known for their reliability - that’s probably at least partially why you bought one. However, like all things, diesels and their components wear out eventually. Fortunately, the technicians at Link Automotive Services in Nashville, TN have you covered. Here are some fuel system issues to watch out for.

We know how important a good exhaust setup is on a diesel truck. Whether you’re powered by a Cummins, a Duramax, a Powerstroke, or something else, your exhaust plays a major role in performance, engine sound, and even aesthetics. At Link Automotive Services in Nashville, TN, our professional mechanics have the equipment, knowledge, and ability necessary to get your exhaust in shape.

The fuel system is an integral aspect of any combustion engine, but it’s particularly important on diesel trucks. Your Ford, Dodge, or Chevrolet pickup requires a perfectly functioning fuel system, devoid of buildup, leaks, and debris, to provide you with the most powerful and efficient engine performance possible. At Link Automotive Services in Nashville, we understand that fuel system flushing is an essential process in maintaining a properly functioning engine.

No matter what type of fleet vehicles or commercial trucks you maintain, the fuel system on your diesel is an integral part of keeping you on the road. Gas systems are pretty simple - there’s basically just a pump that pushes gasoline to the injectors. Diesels are a bit more complicated.

Every year, more and more trucks come equipped with turbochargers. What was once a novelty or a performance option has become increasingly common as stock equipment. What are they for, and how do they work? Link Automotive Services in Nashville, TN is here to help.

Your turbocharger will work in essentially the same way, whether you drive a Powerstroke, Cummins, or Duramax diesel pickup. While there are differences in designs and applications, turbos haven’t changed all that much over the past century. Now that you know what one is made of, we’ll look at how it works.

Diesel engines are known for their durability, but even the best engine has to be replaced every once in a while. At Link Automotive Services in Nashville, TN, we want you to be aware of signs that your engine is about to call it quits.

Keeping your fuel system maintained will prevent premature parts failure and poor running conditions. Here at Link Automotive Services we have tips on the important aspects of diesel fuel system maintenance, to keep your diesel fleet trucks running smoothly - longer.

Air.Air in the system causes all kinds of issues, from hard starting, poor running conditions, or an engine that won’t run at all. If too much air gets in the system, the fuel pump won’t be able to deliver fuel, and the engine will stall, die, or fail to start.  Air enters the system via a leak or a bad seal - a deteriorated o-ring, worn component, faulty hose, or otherwise. Here we inspect your lines and connections to ensure they are in good shape and track down any leaks we notice air in the system.

At Link Automotive Services in Nashville, TN, we see our fair share of damage that could’ve been prevented. Leaking injectors are one of the main ways a diesel engine can meet its demise - but the good news is, engine failure can be avoided, as long as the problem is taken care of.

At Link Automotive Services in Nashville, TN, we know that your diesel pickup is more than just transportation; you want a truck that can perform, both at work, off-road, and on the street. A major aspect of your truck’s abilities lies in the suspension components you choose to install. Our team of expert technicians has the knowledge, equipment, and ability necessary to take your truck to the next level and provide you with a suspension setup tailored to your specific needs.

Keeping your fuel system maintained will prevent premature parts failure and poor running conditions. Here are some important aspects of diesel fuel system maintenance, to keep your fleet running smoothly. While your system and components should typically be serviced by a professional technician, there are some things you can be conscious of that will go a long way toward keeping your engine in good shape.

The turbo on your diesel pickup is a precision-engineered component. As a result, proper maintenance is essential to keeping it going strong. At tens or even hundreds of thousands of RPM, keeping everything in good shape is absolutely necessary. Fortunately, turbos don’t really require any special maintenance - they just make the maintenance you do all the more important.

You have determined your Cummins, Duramax, or Powerstroke engine needs to be replaced. You might be on the fence about whether you should replace the engine in your diesel, or just get a new truck. At Link Automotive Services in Nashville, TN, we’re here to help.

Fuel Systems are particularly important on diesel trucks, whether you drive a Ford, Chevrolet, or Dodge pickup. At Link Automotive Services in Nashville, TN, fuel system maintenance and repair is a service we prioritize, since we know how essential a reliable fuel system is.

Once you’ve settled on an engine, the last thing you want to do is cut corners on the final steps. At Link Automotive Services in Nashville, TN, we understand the importance of your investment.