At Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia, CA, we know that diesel engines play a huge role in many of our customers' daily ways of life. If you drive a Duramax, Powerstroke, or Cummins diesel pickup, you obviously appreciate the power of the diesel engine. Diesel engines are prevalent all over the road, but where did it all start, and why are diesel engines most commonly found in trucks today? 

At Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia, we understand how important it is to have ice cold AC in your truck on a long, hot day. Whether you drive a Chevy, Ford, or Dodge diesel pickup, chances are you have a lot of cab to cool down, and a subpar AC just won’t cut it.

Your Ram, Chevy, or Ford diesel pickup is a big truck. All that weight takes some strong stopping power and takes its toll on your brake pads - especially if you ever pull a trailer or carry heavy loads. Whenever you need a brake job, Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia, CA has your back.

Like anything else on your vehicle, keeping various systems clean and in good shape is essential to long life and reliability. Your fuel system is especially important - parts are expensive, problems can be difficult to diagnose, and it doesn’t take much contamination to cause a huge issue. It’s much easier to keep your fuel system clean than it is to clean a dirty or problematic system. Performing regular fuel treatment can prove very beneficial to the life of your vehicle.

Coolant leaks can be a pain - they’re elusive and have a lot of damage potential. Fortunately, at Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia, CA, our technicians know exactly how to diagnose and repair a coolant leak, no matter where it is. Knowing more about where these coolant leaks appear and why they're a problem will help you to recognize a problem and get it repaired before it does further damage.

It doesn't matter if you are driving a car or truck, jeep or SUV, a diesel 4x4 or a classic when those dash warning lights go off the first thing you do is think "how bad is it?" and "how much will it cost me?" followed quickly by "when was my last service visit?"!!  Driving your vehicle longer safely is all about getting it serviced based on what your vehicle manual recommends and these warning lights are alerting you to a situation that requires your attention. 

While not all warning lights are a sign that disaster is imminent, no warning indicator light should ever be ignored!

Your brake master cylinder is an integral part of your brake system. When one fails, some odd symptoms may arise, and it may be difficult to diagnose. Here’s some information to help you decide if yours has gone bad. At Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia, CA we want you to know what to look out for so that you can be safely on the road.

If you own or operate a fleet or commercial truck, you’re probably pretty familiar with diesel vehicles. But why are diesel engines predominantly used in commercial vehicles, and where did they start?

When you think about diesel engines, you probably think about large trucks and machinery, and maybe a few oddball cars over the years.  But how long has diesel really been around, and why is it used the way it is today? Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia, CA has the answers you need to become more in-tune with your diesel truck and engine. 

No matter what type of fleet vehicles or commercial trucks you maintain, the fuel system on your diesel is an integral part of keeping you on the road. Gas systems are pretty simple - there’s basically just a pump that pushes gasoline to the injectors. Diesels are a bit more complicated.

Your fuel system is comprised of a variety of parts, each tasked with keeping your engine running strong - Chevy, Ford, and Ram all have small differences, and diesel systems have changed over the years with innovation in the field; however, the fundamentals haven’t changed. At Zylstra Automotive & Diesel, our technicians are familiar with the differences between models and generations, but for the intents and purposes here they aren’t necessary to know. Here’s an overview of the major components you’ll find in most diesel fuel systems.

Diesel engines are known for their reliability - that’s probably at least partially why you bought one. However, like all things, diesels and their components wear out eventually. Fortunately, the technicians at Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia, CA have you covered. Here are some fuel system issues to watch out for.

Good diesel technicians and shops that service diesel engines are hard to come by. At Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia, CA, diesels are our specialty. There are many reasons to have diesel truck maintenance performed by diesel specialists - here are just a few.

At Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia, CA, we understand that no matter how well something is maintained, everything breaks eventually. Fortunately, our team of expert mechanics can repair just about anything, saving your business a lot of money in the process.

If you drive a Dodge, Chevy, or Ford diesel pickup, you know the amount of hard work your truck puts in. You may also be aware that diesels run a little dirtier than your average gas burner. At Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia, CA, our goal is to keep your Duramax, Cummins, or Powerstroke truck on the road for many miles to come. A huge part of that is keeping your oil maintained.

Your turbocharger will work in essentially the same way, whether you drive a Powerstroke, Cummins, or Duramax diesel pickup. While there are differences in designs and applications, turbos haven’t changed all that much over the past century. Now that you know what one is made of, we’ll look at how it works.

Diesel engines are known for their durability, but even the best engine has to be replaced every once in a while. At Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia, CA, we want you to be aware of signs that your engine is about to call it quits.

You’re Chevrolet, Ford, or Ram diesel pickup is a heavy-duty machine, designed to tackle all kinds of situations. The ball joints that connect your suspension to the rest of the truck are under a tremendous amount of strain, both on and off-road - it’s important to keep an eye on them, and make sure they’re in proper working order. Here’s how to gauge the condition of your ball joints, from the professionals at Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia, CA.

Keeping your fuel system maintained will prevent premature parts failure and poor running conditions. Here at Zylstra Automotive & Diesel we have tips on the important aspects of diesel fuel system maintenance, to keep your diesel fleet trucks running smoothly - longer.

Air.Air in the system causes all kinds of issues, from hard starting, poor running conditions, or an engine that won’t run at all. If too much air gets in the system, the fuel pump won’t be able to deliver fuel, and the engine will stall, die, or fail to start.  Air enters the system via a leak or a bad seal - a deteriorated o-ring, worn component, faulty hose, or otherwise. Here we inspect your lines and connections to ensure they are in good shape and track down any leaks we notice air in the system.