Common Problems Associated With 2.2L Diesel Lexus Engines

Drivers are always split on which engine is better: gasoline or diesel. There are pros and cons to each type of engine, and in this article, we’re going to take a closer look at some of the common problems that 2.2L diesel Lexus engines can face. This guide can be helpful if you’re looking to keep your existing Lexus well-maintained or if you’re considering purchasing a diesel car for the first time.

Diesel Is Different

Let’s first take a moment to explore how diesel engines work. The difference in how diesel and gasoline engines work largely accounts for the different types of problems you may experience.

Diesel and gasoline engines are both internal combustion engines, meaning that they both use small explosions (combustion) to provide the necessary energy to provide power and motion to the various parts needed to make your Lexus operate. The key difference between the two types of engines is how the fuel is combusted.

Gasoline engines use a powerful electrical spark created by the spark plugs to ignite the fuel and air inside the engine. Diesel engines, however, don’t have spark plugs at all. Instead, the air inside the combustion chamber of diesel engines is compressed to a much higher pressure than in gasoline counterparts.

When air is compressed, it gets hot. When fuel is added into the combustion chamber, the heat from the air is able to ignite the fuel, thus providing the energy needed for motion in diesel engines.

Common Symptoms of Diesel Engine Problems and Causes

As engines are complex pieces of machinery, there are lots of potential points of failure, some minor and some more severe. For this reason, we’ve compiled common symptoms into simple bullet-point lists of the common culprits behind them. This will help you to troubleshoot the most common forms of diesel engine failure more easily.

Black Smoke

Black smoke from the exhaust pipe usually indicates that the air and fuel ratio inside your diesel combustion engine is incorrect. This is commonly caused by:

• failing fuel injectors
• problems with the fuel pump
• clogged air filter
• failing EGR valve
• turbocharger issues
• operating your diesel in cold weather
• the build-up of carbon deposits
• incomplete combustion of fuel

Blue Smoke

Blue smoke usually tells a driver that oil is getting into the combustion chamber and getting burned up. This is usually caused by:

• failed seals or wear to the valve guides
• worn out power assembly
• defective oil filter
• turbocharger problems
• damage or accelerated wear of the pistons

White Smoke

If white smoke comes from your exhaust, your engine is either running rich (burning too much fuel) or isn’t producing the heat needed for total combustion. Common culprits of this issue include:

• fuel injector failure
• MAF sensor failure
• O2 sensor failure
• poor engine timing
• low compression levels

Difficulty Starting

Trouble starting your engine or excessive engine turn over before initial ignition is likely caused by:

• cold weather starts
• problems with the glow plug
• low compression levels
• problems with the fuel delivery system
• weak battery

Engine Noise

Engine noise, known as knocking, is a serious engine problem and should be immediately addressed by a specialist technician. Engine knocking in diesel engines is caused by:

• compression failure
• fuel injector failure
• cold starts
• engines timing is incorrect
• bearing failure
• wrist pin failure

Power Loss

Power loss in a high-performance vehicle such as a Lexus is never fun. The chief culprits for power loss include:

• blocked filters
• contaminated fuel
• low compression levels
• turbocharger trouble
• camshaft failure
• failing fuel injectors
• fuel pump failure

Increased Oil Consumption

An increase in the number of times you need to top up your engine oil almost always indicates an engine oil leak that needs to be addressed to safeguard the health of your engine. Other factors which need to be considered include:

• old engine
• driving at high speeds/tough driving conditions
• viscosity of oil
• the time between complete oil changes
• burning oil
• wear to the valve guides
• piston ring failure
• failure of the turbo seals

Engine Failure

A worst-case scenario will result in engine failure or disruption. This can be caused by:

• cavitation
• bearing wear
• overheating
• fuel contamination
• major system failure

Choose Bavarian Performance Specialist

Bavarian Performance Specialist is the local one-stop shop for diesel drivers of Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills, Westlake, Malibu, and Newbury Park, CA. We specialize in German-manufactured vehicles, such as Lexus. We will have your diesel engine firing on all cylinders to get you safely back on the road.

* Lexus Car image credit goes to: kurmyshov.