The diesel engine has been claimed as one of the most economical engines. Unfortunately, with stringent emissions laws, rising fuel prices and a change in the demographics of diesel owners, service costs have increases and no longer meet some driver’s expectations.
Since starting Diesel Help Australia 13 years ago, my time dealing directly with diesel owners has been greatly reduced. But that’s not to say I don’t know how they operate. I am an observer, a people watcher, particularly diesel owners.
These observations combined with thousands of diesel diagnostics in my career, have led to an obsession with diesel and the individual humans’ perception of their beloved fuel efficient, awesome towing capacity, yet now what is becoming a costly purchase.
But what if you could reduce the cost for your customers? Simply by educating the correct treatment of their diesel vehicle. How to drive and a personalised service schedule.
Diesel Driver Profiles (DDP)
What started out as a personal tool to assist with creating hundreds of technical bulletins and training, has become a tool I use daily to reduce diagnostic time for the members. I have established several trends that can also be a helpful guide for your diesel owner customers.
Based on several stereotypes of diesel owners/drivers I havecreated the Diesel Driver Profile. Most manufacturers have two types of servicing – normal and severe. I believe there is a need to provide owners with more service options to assist with budgeting and how long they want to own the car. Witnessing certain failures, faults or worn components, I have linked them to:
• Driving style
• Distances and time travelled
• Family status
• Employment status
• Social network
• Hobbies
• Destination
• Location
• Temperature
• Altitude
• Type of holidays/recreation
• Gender
• Unique habits
I’ll share an extreme case recently provided by one of our members. Without knowing exactly what their diesel ute was used, based on the evidence provided, I have nominated the owner – Bunnings Greenthumb, weekend use only, average 20km distance, rarely exceeding 60kmh.
Vehicle: Mitsubishi Triton 2025
Odometer reading: 300kms
Location: Southern part of Australia, as cold as the South Island towns I have visited. Annual daily temperatures average around a max of 17.5˚C and a minimum of 7.1˚C. Elevation around 435m above sea level.
It was reported to have been used for one year since its purchase brand new and involved stop start idling in and out of the driveway and the occasional short trip to nearby shops.
This is what I consider inappropriate diesel engine use. Extended idle, short trips and no load put on the vehicle. A misfire became evident, and the owner booked the vehicle into the dealership, expecting the new car warranty to cover it. As soon as the dealer workshop had established the operating conditions, the claim was rejected as the car has been operated inappropriately.
As a diesel fuel injection specialist for over 30 years, it’s not uncommon to witness this. Cold corrosion which is the result of poor chemical reaction from the oxygen and the diesel fuel. It’s as damaging as hydrochloric acid in the engine. This is when sulphur in diesel fuel doesn’t work because the engine conditions are not met!
It’s too cold too often.
Diesel, a thermal combustion engine, meaning increased temperatures, effective and efficient burn takes place. When the engine is rarely operated under load conditions, rather than burning clean from the exhaust, the atomised fuel remains in the cylinder as a liquid on vital metal components. Overnight, temperatures drop, and that’s when the equivalent of hydrochloric acid intervenes.
Unfortunately, this is no service advice you could provide this type of customer. I would only advise reconsidering owning a diesel and look at purchasing a PHEV type vehicle. A diesel is not the right choice for this style of use.
Outcome of this case – the engine was replaced at the dealership, at the customer’s expense.
