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Diesel generator troubleshooting

Standby and portable diesel generators: wet stacking, fuel storage, cold starts and cooling.

Enclosed standby diesel generator set on a concrete pad
A standby diesel generator. Photo: Gregsedits, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized), via Wikimedia Commons.

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Starting

Why is my Cummins hard to start when it is cold?

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Starting

My diesel cranks but will not start. Where do I begin?

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Smoke

What does white smoke from my diesel mean?

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Smoke

Why is my diesel blowing black smoke?

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Smoke

What does blue or gray-blue smoke from a diesel mean?

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Power & drivability

Why does my diesel idle rough or miss?

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Fuel system

My water-in-fuel light came on. What should I do?

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Fuel system

Did my diesel fuel gel? How do I prevent it?

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Power & drivability

What causes a diesel knock or injector "nailing" noise?

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Power & drivability

What is wet stacking on a diesel generator or idling truck?

All dieselsGeneratorsRV / diesel pushersMarine+ moreTroubleshoot →
Fuel system

Can a plugged fuel filter cause low power on a diesel?

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Fuel system

How does air get into diesel fuel lines, and how do I fix it?

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Power & drivability

How much oil should my diesel use, and when is it too much?

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Power & drivability

How do I tell if my diesel has excessive blow-by?

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Cooling

What is cavitation and liner pitting in a diesel cooling system?

All dieselsSemi trucksTractors / agMarine+ moreTroubleshoot →
Guides & checklists

What maintenance does a diesel need that a gas engine does not?

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Guides & checklists

How do I get my diesel ready for winter?

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Cooling

Why is my marine diesel overheating?

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Where this comes from

Last reviewed 2026-10-19. General information only: confirm with your service information and a qualified diesel technician.