Diesel Repair in Portland OR
McCollum Automotive has been the trusted auto mechanic shop for Pacific Northwest drivers since 1980. In that time, we’ve developed strong relationships with so many great customers who need mechanical work in Portland, Eugene, and Vancouver.
As our business has grown — so has our ability to provide top-notch diesel repair. McCollum Automotive has the experience and the knowledge to keep your diesel engine throttling like new.
Why McCollum for Diesel Repair?
We are expert diesel repair technicians. As with all our high-quality auto services, when it comes to repairing diesel engines, we’re fast, efficient, and meticulous. Plus, we use only the latest auto repair technology to diagnose and repair diesel engines. And the friendly and knowledgeable staff at McCollum always guides customers through every step of the repair process.
Finally, if your fleet is in need of regular diesel engine service, then you should absolutely contact McCollum right away. We partner with several local firms to provide them with the best in diesel truck repair, including ServiceMaster Restore, Precision Recreation Contractors, and Big Sky Landscaping.
McCollum on 82nd is your Diesel Repair Choice!
McCollum on Southeast 82nd Avenue provides our diesel repair services for the Portland and Vancouver metro areas. What powers you? Cummins, Duramax, Power Stroke? We work on them all using state of the art technology, a little elbow grease, and a lot of know-how.
We’re staffed by an expert crew of vehicle repair and maintenance technicians, so if you’ve been googling diesel repair Portland, then you need look no further. Bring your machine in today to get the best service and to keep your diesel engine running as efficiently as possible.
Best of all, there’s no appointment necessary. Come on by!
Remember, we also provide other auto services, such as:
- Windshield and Glass Repair
- Window Tinting
- Tires
- Wheels and Alignments
- Vehicle Sales and Replacement
- Clear Bra Installation
- Oil Changes
- Diesel repair – Cummins, Powerstroke, Duramax, Specialist
- Accessories: winches, bumpers, steps, rock sliders, skid plates, and armor.
- Lights: fog and driving lights, LED light bars and more
- Full engine replacement
- Lockers, gears, differentials, driveline
Mechanical Auto Repair Services
- Engines, transmissions, suspension, drivetrain
- Fleet accounts
- Automotive electrical repairs
- Air conditioning repair and recharge
- Brakes and tires
- Oxygen sensors, catalytic converters
- Free loaner cars
Contact McCollum Automotive with any questions about our diesel repair services or any of our other auto body and mechanical services.
In the meantime, check out some information we’ve gathered regarding the interesting history — and the promising future — of diesel engines.
How Do Diesel Engines Work?
The history and mechanics of the diesel engine are fascinating topics. HowStuffWorks has an excellent overview, but the basics begin with this fact: All gas engines convert fuel into motion.
“The purpose of a gasoline car engine is to convert gasoline into motion so that your car can move,” HowStuffWorks writes. “Currently the easiest way to create motion from gasoline is to burn the gasoline inside an engine. Therefore, a car engine is an internal combustion engine — combustion takes place internally.”
Both gasoline turbine engines and diesel engines are internal combustion engines. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages, as we’ll see later in this blog post.
Let’s take a quick step back. It’s important to understand the basic principle behind an internal combustion engine. Since gasoline is a “high-energy-density” fuel, a tremendous amount of energy is released when ignited in a closed space (like your car’s engine). The energy, in this case, is in the form of expanding gases.
HowStuffWorks describes the process like this: “Almost every car with a gasoline engine uses a four-stroke combustion cycle to convert gasoline into motion. The four-stroke approach is also known as the Otto cycle, in honor of Nikolaus Otto, who invented it in 1867.”
The four strokes:
- Intake stroke (letting in air and gasoline)
- Compression stroke (compress the mixture of air and gasoline, making the explosion more powerful)
- Combustion stroke (a spark plug in gasoline engines sparks to ignite the mixture)
- Exhaust stroke (as the piston is driven down, the exhaust valve opens and releases the exhaust)
“In an engine, the linear motion of the pistons is converted into rotational motion by the crankshaft,” writes HowStuffWorks. “The rotational motion is nice because we plan to turn (rotate) the car’s wheels with it anyway.”
Rudolf Diesel
German mechanical engineer Rudolf Diesel thought there must be a more efficient way to convert fuel into forward motion. He experimented with several types of engines, including steam engines, and almost killed himself in his quest to see his ideas through to completion.
“Diesel was trying to create an engine that didn’t waste heat from the combustion process,” writes Autoblog, “therefore getting the most work out of the fuel. Instead, he was nearly killed when an experimental ammonia vapor steam engine exploded. Recovery took many months, and during some of that time, he was no doubt planning his next experimental engine.”
But Diesel eventually found the solution — before dying under mysterious circumstances.
The benefits? Diesel engines are lower revving and more fuel efficient than gasoline engines. Diesel fuel itself contains about 15 percent more energy by volume than gasoline. Another difference: Diesel engines don’t use spark plugs; they also feature a higher compression ratio and a longer stroke.
Remember to contact McCollum Automotive with any questions about our diesel repair services!