PREVENTING BREAKDOWNS

How many times have you been on a remote trip and come across a horror story of a broken down vehicle? What might seem like a phone call and 30 minutes away for the help to arrive can turn into days and thousands of dollars in obtaining help in the Outback.

As always, prevention is better that the cure. I know when I go away I don’t want to be putting a finger on my vehicle and so setting up a pre-trip inspection routine is the best start.
Of course in my eyes, diesel is the only way to go when travelling and towing. Other than changing the oil, there isn’t much more to do other than good checks. The simple areas that are commonly left out by mechanics following the manufacturers service are air and fuel filters. These are long term service items in the eyes of the manufacturer. The problem is the manufacturer did not consider where you would be heading. Lead off your pre-trip inspection with a new fuel and air filter element. By doing so you are starting with 100% ready filters. As an example of the benefit of starting a trip with a new fuel filter; if you were to get 20% contamination from a load of fuel and then followed by some more crud from another fuel load, you can see you have plenty of spare capability from that fresh 100% ready fuel filter. Whereas if you started your trip with a filter already 70% blocked, you have very little safety margin for contamination to block your filter and get you stranded. When this happens you will have 3 issues. Firstly, do you know how to change it? Secondly, you have to get dirty and change your filter and third do you have a spare with you?
In summary, saving your diesel from problems on a trip really starts at home with you. Consider the benefits of starting with a freshly checked vehicle on your next trip. For more advice on what you can do to prevent issues on your next Outback journey speak to your Diesel Expert.

Safe Towing

Andrew Leimroth

Berrima Diesel- The Diesel Experts