Diesel Repair

While diesel engines are known for their durability, even they can encounter problems. Addressing these issues promptly is crucial to prevent further damage and maintain your truck’s legendary reliability. Contact Aero Auto Repair if you notice:

• Reduced Power or Acceleration: Your truck feels sluggish.
• Excessive Smoke (Black, Blue, or White): A clear indicator of engine or fuel system issues.
• Unusual Noises: Knocking, rattling, or turbo whine.
• Decreased Fuel Economy: Your truck is burning more fuel than usual.
• Difficulty Starting: Especially in cold weather.
• Check Engine Light or Glow Plug Light On: Don’t ignore these warnings.
• Fluid Leaks: Especially diesel fuel or oil.

Our ASE Certified Master Technicians are skilled diesel mechanics, trained to diagnose and fix even the most complicated diesel repair issues efficiently and accurately. From fuel injection systems to turbochargers, you can trust our expertise.

How is diesel maintenance different from gas engine maintenance?
Diesels run much higher compression and are far more sensitive to fuel contamination, so filtration is heavier and serviced more often. They also carry systems gas engines do not: glow plugs on many engines, a diesel particulate filter, and on 2010-and-newer light-duty diesels a diesel exhaust fluid system. Neglecting any of those creates expensive emissions-system repairs.

Why is the fuel filter so important on a diesel?
Modern common-rail injection runs at extreme pressure with clearances measured in microns, and it relies on the fuel itself for lubrication. Water or debris that gets past a saturated filter damages injectors and the high-pressure pump a repair that can cost more than the rest of the fuel system combined. Water separators also need to be drained on schedule, not just at filter changes.

What causes black smoke from a diesel exhaust?
Black smoke means unburned fuel too much fuel or not enough air for combustion. Common causes are dirty or leaking injectors, a failing turbocharger or boost leak, a clogged air filter or intake restriction, an EGR fault, or a sensor feeding bad data to the fuel system. Blue smoke points to oil consumption and white smoke to coolant or an injection timing problem.

What does a DPF regeneration warning mean, and can you service a DPF?
It means soot has accumulated past the point where passive regeneration can clear it usually the result of short trips and low-speed driving that never let exhaust temperatures get high enough. We have the manufacturer-level scan tools to perform a forced regeneration at all four locations, and we can clean a filter that is recoverable or replace one that is not. Removing or defeating a DPF is illegal in California and will fail Smog Check.

Which diesel trucks and vans do you service?
Power Stroke, Duramax, Cummins, Mercedes and Sprinter, and Ram EcoDiesel – from half-ton pickups up through F-550-class chassis cabs. We do not take on Class 6 and above. All four locations service diesel, and all four have the manufacturer-level scan tools for forced DPF regeneration.

Does my truck need a CARB Clean Truck Check?
If it is a diesel or alternative-fuel vehicle over 14,000 lbs GVWR operating on California roads, yes including out-of-state registered vehicles. Most diesel pickups and vans fall below that line, but larger chassis-cab trucks and box trucks generally do not. Compliance means an annual fee plus periodic emissions testing, moving to four tests a year for OBD-equipped vehicles from October 2027. We do not perform Clean Truck Check testing, but we diagnose and repair the faults that cause a failure.