10 Tips All Diesel Mechanics Wish They’d Learned Sooner

I wanted to put together a list to help that struggling mechanic out there. Sometimes even after years of turning wrenches there are tips and tricks that the old man in your shop just never shared.

1. Work smarter not harder
2. If there is a special tool for the job, get it
3. If it’s in the way, remove it
4. Inexperience overtightens
5. If you borrow it twice, buy on
6. Stay off the tool truck
7. Take a picture. Mark your spot.
8. Go get a cup of coffee and come back
9. Ask for advice and Listen to advice
10. Have fun

Intro by: Bensound

Some extra tips from the article

15. Listen to the driver’s story
Often overlooked is the confusing and sometimes hilarious driver story. So, they come in the shop to let you know what is wrong and maybe if you’re lucky how to fix it. 😆 So you sit back and listen trying not to roll your eyes and they tell you how to do your job.

The drivers at one place I worked always liked to tell the mechanics that they had it made. To this I would always reply, The only way my job would be easier is if I had a steering wheel to hold. But, with that said, there in some truth in those stories if you know what to listen for.

Don’t just dismiss everything they say just because their annoying. Listen for info to help you fix it. If they say it won’t pull. That could be lots of things but if you’ve heard it before you know to check the turbo clamps intercooler for leaks and so forth.

This really just takes time and experience but don’t just dismiss everything they tell you. You can find out a lot for the guy who spends hours in the cab.

16. Ask for help
In diesel mechanics everything is big, and the parts are heavy. Sometimes you need a hand. Whether is removing a drive shaft or lining up a tranny, some jobs need two people. Don’t be afraid to ask for a hand. It is not worth the back pain. Get a friend and team lift it.

17. If you borrow it twice, buy one
A good rule of thumb for a new mechanic. Look I am sure your friend doesn’t mind loaning you his automatic wire strippers but, after a few times you should realize you need one yourself and just come off the money and get you one. Again, when you do borrow something, take care of it. Clean it up when you are done and take it back ASAP after the repair.

Don’t hold on to it for weeks and make them come and ask you for it. Be contentious, think of others. That’s not how you would want people to treat your things. Tools are expensive, but if your borrowing all the time just go ahead and pick one up.

18. Clean your tools
Overlooked important tip here. When you clean your tools after every job, you do a couple things

You keep up with all your tools. When you clean them and put them up you are more likely to notice that missing wrench you left in the frame rail.
Your tools last longer. When you take care your tools, they take care of you.
The correct time gets charged to the job. Cleaning up is part of a repair. By cleaning up after each repair you charge the correct amount of time to the job and avoid overcharging others.

[realaussiemale]

No.1 rule for any young person starting their working life, improve & maintain your fitness, particularly core muscles. Doesn’t mean you have to push yourself to have a show quality abs, just as long as they’re strong.

[Barlando]

Hi, I am 32 and going to school to learn to be diesel mechanic. Thank you for the advice.

[Gage-ot]

Use colored zip ties on Hydraulic lines. Put a zip tie on the end of the hose than one on the end of the fitting but they have to be the same color zip tie. Make sure you get big Wrenches for holding valves and hydraulic lines. Harbor fright honestly on big wrenches is the best option or yard sales and flee markets. Make sure if you have a mechanical fuel pump you make sure it’s in time before you take it off. Wire terminal kits are nice to have but if you don’t have one take a pocket screw driver file it down to fit in the terminal and it will do just be careful. Get lights and a good pocket flashlight a Streamlight Stylus pro is my go to they work great. If your prying on heavy heavy things stay away from a harbor freight pry bar they will snap or bent and muff you up trust me get a good Mayhew set off line. Personally I got a snap on set and never looked back. Get a drill and a cut off wheel. Get a Decent Tap and Die set and learn how to use it. I can go on and on but honestly your not going to truly know what you need until you start working and growing. And have patience and don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you don’t know ask most the time you’ll learn how to do it and not risk destroying a part or worse.

[alabaster]

Great video, please create more content. As a fellow Diesel Mechanic, i would of loved this advice when i first started.

[gasperajdnik]

Great video 👍🤝, i'm a diesel mechanic, warren Lane from ( western truck and tractor repair ) inspired me to become a diesel mechanic 🤝

[rscdieselsnetwork]

Very wise words well said John sounds like you had good teacher

[henrylawsky]

I’m not sure if it’s just me but your talking is way off from the audio, I think like 20 seconds behind.. but good tips

[brianmeister]

Tip #1...if you have a steam pad, USE IT!! Working on a truck covered in shit slows you down, you actually lose more time than it would have taken to "clean" it in the first place. (And the guy who follows you won't be pissed)

[hunterhall]

Oh damn, you're in Clearwater. I work in a service shop at a dealership in Clearwater. I do auto, but want to switch to diesel.

[cd]

Good advice and a great video brother keep them coming!

[dirtracer]

Around 7:00 u said u thought asking another mechanics second opinion would be disrespectful, I kind of see it a little different, if somebody were to ask me for advice then go ask somebody else I wouldn't take any offense at all.. u never know what kind of gem somebody else might have to offer that you either forgot or didn't know or whatever.. we're not all perfect

[dontate]

Do you recommend a manual torque wrench or digital torque wrench?

[lalo]

Ive been a trucker for many years and now im thinking of getting into diesel mechanic school. But im 50 years old and by the time i finish i should be 52. Im i too old to start a trade like this?

[paulwilhelmsen]

“If you borrow it twice; buy it” :)

It’s become a running joke that I’m the shop’s tool lending library now. I like to have just about any tool I might need (I mean I don’t have my own AC machine or anything) but things like my digital 3/8 torque angle wrench might as well belong to the shop it’s borrowed so much. And it drives me nuts cause I let it get to a point where if someone needs a tool, then foreman, manager, sales peeps all just tell the new guys to come over and ask me to borrow shit.

It used to be a shop of techs and master techs, now At this point how do I tell some peeps no when others borrowed something from me right in front of em.
My fking jump box got left in a rental for two weeks! For those of you that haven’t had to buy one lately, they’re fucking expensive now.

[Beefsnorkel]

not in diesel, but auto mechanic regardless. just the other day some dude asked me how to diagnose a problem on a car, i told him exactly how since i've fixed probably 200 of them (dealership) then 5 mins later i see him asking someone else. he did what the other person said, misdiagnosed it, broke it, got mad, and bitched about later on. the fuck did you think was gonna happen?

[markdstump]

Don’t...dismiss everything they say just because ["They're" is correct--short for "they are"] annoying.
"Their" is possessive...it's not your vehicle, it's their vehicle!