Managing a fleet of commercial vehicles is challenging. You’re not only concerned about your drivers on the road but also the maintenance of your trucks. Fortunately, Jaltest diagnostic scan tools and kits from Triad Diagnostic Solutions help you stay on top of regular maintenance, including vital oil changes.

Regular oil changes are crucial for maintaining proper lubrication and meeting fuel efficiency standards in diesel engines. However, diesel engines are sensitive to oil overfills, which can cause serious problems. Here’s a brief explanation of what happens with excess engine oil:

Engine Damage

Excess engine oil can cause the engine to burn both fuel and oil simultaneously, resulting in the engine continuing to run even when turned off. If the air intake valve isn’t immediately blocked, the engine will run until fluids are depleted, leading to total engine failure.

Frothy Oil

Overfilling can cause frothy oil, as the crankshaft contacts the reservoir, turning oil into foam. Frothy oil prevents the pump from distributing oil properly, compromising engine lubrication.

Bent Rods

Excess oil can also increase pressure, bending rods or collapsing valve pipes. If not addressed promptly, this can lead to total engine loss.

Other Symptoms of Excess Oil

Sometimes, excess oil isn’t detected immediately, leading to other issues like:

  • Oil leaks
  • Burning smells or smoke in the engine bay
  • Smoke in the exhaust system
  • Loud engine noise
  • Check Engine Oil light on the dash

Thankfully, these issues can be diagnosed using your Jaltest diagnostic kit before causing severe damage.

Removing Excess Oil

The best way to remove excess oil is to drain it completely, though it’s messy. Alternatively, an oil suction pump can be used to remove oil through the cap access point or dipstick tube. After adjusting the oil level, recalibration diagnostics may be needed, which can be easily performed using Jaltest software.

Keep Your Diesel Engines Running Smoothly

To maintain your fleet efficiently, your diesel technicians need Jaltest diagnostic kits from Triad Diagnostic Solutions. As a master distributor, we offer the latest hardware and software to support hundreds of makes and models, even in mixed fleets. We also provide kits for off-highway vehicles, agricultural equipment, and ADAS systems. Send us a message today or create a custom kit online.