Hydraulic systems can be basic or very complex depending on system design & function.

But they all have they same basic preventative maintenance principles:

• Keep the oil clean: Clean hydraulic oil is a must as the oil is a lubricant as well as having a cooling effect on hot components. Water contamination can be very harmful and can cause rusting, corrosion and cavitation.
• Keep the oil cool: If the oil gets too hot it starts to breakdown and components such as pumps, cylinder’s, valves etc. can get very hot causing hydraulic oil leaks from seals and o-rings.
• Use the correct oil type: Ensuring you use the correct oil will extend your hydraulic systems service life.

​
Lack of servicing can cause the system to not function as intended, hydraulic pumps to fail and oil leaks to develop.

Carrying out regular preventative maintenance on your hydraulic system such as hydraulic filter changes, oil changes, fixing hydraulic oil leaks can ensure your hydraulic system on your truck, wheel loader, skid steer or excavator will work hard for you & your business day in day out.

If you have hydraulic faults or need some servicing and repairs on your earth-moving equipment or other machinery get in touch with Diesel West

Most modern day diesel engines have a Diesel Particulate Filter or DPF as standard to meet government set emissions control. This brings in other maintenance requirements.

In normal operation the DPF is activated automatically on your vehicle whether it’s a car, 4wd or Japanese truck. As long as they are fitted from factory with a DPF system.

There is some key points to remember:

• It is normal operation for your car to run this automatically and it will blow smoke
• Some Vehicles have manual DPF burn activation switches (consult your vehicle manual)
• The engine will go to higher rpm while conducting a DPF burn
• Do not turn your vehicle off or use the accelerator as it will cancel the process
• Some vehicles require dealer level diagnostic equipment to conduct manual regenerations

               
If you have a DPF warning lamp or flashing check engine light your DPF system may need some diagnostics carried out and require repairs to the Diesel Particulate Filter system.

In simple terms no, but there’s more to it.

A major reason for people choosing to get there vehicle or machinery serviced by the dealership is “it will void my warranty”. This is not true, providing the mechanic that has previously serviced the vehicle is qualified, registered & has used reputable or genuine parts.

If you’re comparing genuine vs aftermarket parts pricing it’s worth finding out what brands your mechanic is using. If your mechanic is using a reputable brands for their aftermarket parts than there will be no product quality issues as most reputable brands can’t afford to have a “bad name” in the industry they are supplying parts to.

Non-dealer servicing is usually cheaper mainly because their overheads are lower, but it’s important to note that they can’t carry out any warranty work in regards to issues covered under your warranty.
​
Diesel West uses high quality aftermarket parts whenever possible to pass on the lower pricing to our customers. If you need 4wd, commercial vehicle, truck or earthmoving machinery servicing or repairs contact us to discuss.

If you have heard of diesel engines clogging up their intake systems and costing a lot of money on repairs, then you’ve probably heard of fitting a catch can.

Modern diesel engines are designed to burn as much of its own fuel burn by-products as possible to help with emissions control.

During the combustion process not all the pressure created by the burning fuel is sealed in the combustion chamber, the small amount that escapes becomes what is called “blow-by”, which then goes out through the crankcase ventilation. This blow-by contains an “oil mist” which then sucked into your engine intake system. Over time, the oil accumulates to leave an oily residue from the point of entry to the intake system all the way into the engine.

There is also Exhaust-gas-re-circulation or “EGR” systems fitted to all modern diesel engines. Similar to the “oil-mist” is re-ingested into the engine via the intake system usually into your engine intake manifold. This exhaust gas contains a lot of exhaust contaminants & carbon.

How does this become a problem?

When the exhaust gas enters the intake it sticks to the fine oil residue on the inside of your intake manifold. Over time, this can build up and even block up your intake ports to the engine, as well as covering engine management sensors.

This is where you come into problems with the diesel engine starting, running smoothly or using more fuel.

One of the ways you can help limit this is by getting a diesel engine catch can fitted to your vehicle.

The catch can will help filter out the oil mist from the air intake which will then drastically lower the amount of carbon build up in your engines intake manifold. It will also reduce the oil build up that can accumulate in intake pipes, hoses, inter-cooler & can coat airflow sensors or other sensors on your intake system.

When it gets to the stage that the engine no longer runs smoothly or the cause has been determined to be the intake system build up, there’s only one option….to pull it apart, get it clean, then put it back together.
​
If you’re looking at installing a catch can on your vehicle, Diesel West can help.

Maintaining your trucks brake system is essential to make sure your truck stops safely, whether you carry large loads or a smaller delivery truck they all play an important role….to stop your truck.

Truck systems can be complex using either air or hydraulic based systems. Getting regular truck servicing should pre-empt brake system issues such as air leaks, brake fluid leaks, worn brake components & incorrect truck brake adjustments.

Getting reliable professional service & advice is the best way to have peace of mind that your truck and its brake system are functioning correctly and not in need of repairs.
​
If you need professional service & advice contact Diesel West today! 

Hydraulic cylinder repairs can be a costly exercise depending on what is wrong with the cylinder & cost of parts. Getting the right professional advice will give you an idea on what the labour & parts costs can be.

• What are the symptoms that it needs repairs? They can leak internally and externally.
• What condition is your cylinders chrome in? Damaged chrome will cause seal failure and leaks.

You may also want to consider if the hydraulic cylinder repairs can be done onsite or in a workshop.

Parts availability can also be an issue as genuine parts & aftermarket parts might not be in stock which may impact your downtime.
​
If you’re looking for mobile hydraulic cylinder repairs as well as EWP mechanical repairs get in touch with us, Diesel West offers service & labour support to all makes and models.

This would be a question you would have to answer yourself. If your bobcat or skid steer loader is having issues:
​

• Do you know what is wrong with it?
• Do you know how to fix it?
• Do you know what to look for to stop it breaking down?

If you answered no to any of these it’s probably best to leave it to a mobile diesel mechanic who specializes in earthmoving machinery. If you have the mechanical know-how you can probably do some of the basic maintenance steps yourself which will save you some money and prolong the working life of your bobcat components and prevent it breaking down. Regular greasing and maintaining your fluid levels such as hydraulic oil, engine oil and coolant will go a long way to keeping maintenance costs down.

If you need an expert opinion it’s best to seek out a mobile diesel mechanic who has the knowledge and experience in bobcats or earthmoving machinery. Contact Diesel West about your bobcat or earthmoving machinery servicing and repairs.

Periodic servicing of your diesel generator will assist in keeping it work hard for you & doing what it is designed to do….give you power when you need it.

General maintenance tips such as:

• Daily pre-start checks
• Regular Diesel Engine servicing
• Ensuring anything unusual is inspected or repaired

Can be cheap assurance that your generator’s diesel engine will be in good working condition.

Other points to consider when thinking about servicing could include:

• What does the manufacturer recommend for service intervals
• How much work does it do
• What is its working environment like
• Is there a better quality engine oil I can be using
• What brand filters should I use
• How clean is the fuel system
• How clean is the method of re-fuelling

​
If you need a diesel generator serviced or have a diesel engine generator enquiry contact Diesel West to discuss.

Whether you own a 1.5t mini-excavator to a 30t excavator regular greasing with the correct type of grease does make a big difference to extending the life of your work equipment pins & bushes.

Excavators have numerous pivot points for the hydraulic cylinders to give the basic functionality of movement required to dig dirt. Each pivot point will consist of a pin and either one or two bushes depending on the length & work load.

Pins & bushes are made of special hardened steels so just replacing it with mild steel will work in the short term but you will be replacing it fairly quickly as it will wear out a lot quicker. In the same turn you cannot simply weld onto the hardened steel as it will cause it to crack due to heat induced molecular changes to the steel compound. Simply if it's worn you have to replace it with the right parts, which in turn will be most cost effective in the long run.

Using the correct type of grease is the cheapest way you keep everything lubricated and minimizing down time.

If you have some pins & bushes that need replacing call DieselWest for some expert advice and professional repairs.