Struggling to find the right diesel part for your truck?
With so many parts only one click away online, it might seem like it’s easier than ever to get what you need. But when you’re not buying in person, there are some pitfalls you can fall into. If you don’t choose carefully, an incorrect or bad part could cost you a fortune in repairs.
It doesn’t have to be this way though! Keep reading for these six tips on how to buy the right diesel part for your vehicle today.
1. Know What the Name of The Diesel Parts Are
Each diesel engine has different parts and setups, so it’s not a one size fits all type of situation. And there is no infinite lifespan for a diesel engine. The wrong part could see a diesel engine repair bill set you back thousands of dollars.
Make sure you know the name of the part or parts you’re looking for. You should also know what type of diesel engine you have, what the model is, and which year it’s from.
Say you have a 240GD Mercedes Benz engine, but the parts got replaced in 2011. You need to know if your replacement is for the new or old diesel engine before you can shop around.
So knowing what’s what will help you narrow down the right part you need to avoid disaster. You can look at where to buy online or if any local stores have the parts for you to see before you commit.
2. If You Don’t Have the Diesel Engine Parts Names, Use Photos
As we mentioned above, the key information you need for your diesel engine parts are:
- Part name (and number, if possible)
- Diesel model
- Manufacturing date
- Date of any previous replacements
If you don’t have this information, then make sure you take pictures of the engine and the parts it uses. While it isn’t as accurate, it can be a good guide for stores and online shops to compare parts.
There are even specific stores that let you search by pictures instead of names. Even if they don’t, most online and in-person retailers will take a look at the photo and try to help you get what you need.
3. Check Out Online Diesel Truck Repair Forums
Online forums are a great place to discuss diesel truck parts and your projects. Especially if you’re looking for diesel performance parts, a lot of owners are keen to share. They’ll share things like:
- Upgrades they made
- Parts they used
- How much they cost
- Which online stores they used
This can be a great source of information when you start to shop around. You have some stores to start with, and you get an idea of what sort of price to expect. Just check the post dates though, to make sure you’re getting up-to-date information.
4. Give Yourself Enough Time to Do the Homework
Research might seem daunting, but it’s the best thing you can do to increase the chance of getting the right part. Make sure you give yourself enough time to get that research on your diesel truck done.
Look at the top sellers of diesel trucks and parts and see what they offer. What are their delivery charges, and how long do they take to ship parts? What are their part prices compared to each other?
Compare these with other online part stores you find to see how they match up. You should also check to see what warranties are on offer. A seller that provides a warranty is a seller who is confident in the parts they sell.
You can have confidence that they’re likely genuine and offering good quality parts. By choosing a seller with a warranty, you should expect a new part that will last its full lifetime and do its job.
5. Go With the Right Online Store
This brings us to our next point about choosing the right online store to buy from. Choosing who you get your parts for diesel trucks from is one of the biggest decisions in the process.
A simple place to start is on a retailer’s website. You want to look for how many years they’ve been in the business and what online support they offer.
Also, check out their reviews on places like Google and the Better Business Bureau. You can’t please everyone, so a few bad reviews here and there isn’t the end of the world.
Read them and see how the company responds and resolves the situation. What you don’t want to see is aggressive replies and more bad reviews than good ones.
Pick someone with a good online reputation, so you’re comfortable with your choice. The relief of going with someone you can trust will make seeking help and finding parts easier.
6. Don’t Get Bogged Down on Pricing
Diesel part quality will play an important role in how smooth your truck runs. You want to choose a seller who offers parts made by the original manufacturer. Using genuine parts gives you peace of mind and a security net to get a replacement if something is wrong.
But these parts often are a little pricier, so it’s important to weigh the pros and cons. Price is a key factor to consider, but it shouldn’t be the only thing you focus on. If you buy cheap, it’s more than likely you’ll get cheap quality.
If you spend a little more for better quality up front, you could save time and money down the line. If a cheap part fails, you need to find a replacement and shell out for it again. It’s better to pay now and avoid paying twice further down the line.
Finding the Right Diesel Part Made Simple
If you keep your wits about you and do your homework, finding the right diesel part isn’t hard. Having the part name, model, and date handy will take a lot of the leg work out of the search.
If you don’t know that information, you can use a picture instead. You’ll have to do more checks, though, to make sure it’s a perfect match as this method is less reliable.
It’s best to get a trained mechanic to check your engine and diesel part health. If you want mechanics you can trust, contact us today. At Diesel Performance Specialist, we provide diesel truck repair you can count on.
