PMR Palmview Mechanical

03/10/2026

SMALL DEFECTS BECOME BIG DOWNTIME 🚛🔧
This Volvo FH12 was in at PMR Diesel for a scheduled service and defect repairs — exactly how fleet maintenance should be managed.
A small defect today might not stop the truck.
But left unattended, that same defect can develop into a major failure, unexpected downtime, recovery costs and a vehicle sitting idle instead of working.
That’s why preventative maintenance is more than just changing oils and filters.
It’s about:
✅ Scheduling services before they’re overdue
✅ Inspecting the entire vehicle while it’s in the workshop
✅ Identifying and recording defects early
✅ Planning repairs around operations
✅ Eliminating defects before they become failures
The goal is simple — control the maintenance instead of letting the breakdown control you.
Planned workshop time is much easier to manage than an unexpected breakdown in the middle of a job.
At PMR Diesel, we focus on scheduled servicing, defect management and preventative maintenance for trucks, commercial fleets, 4WDs and heavy plant.
Plan it. Inspect it. Fix the defects. Keep it working.
📞 (07) 5494 5800
📍 PMR Diesel – Chevallum

29/09/2026

🔧 CUMMINS OVERHEATING – FAULT FOUND
Following on from our last post about the Cummins that was overheating and pushing coolant out of the header tank…
There were plenty of good suggestions, but this one came down to a failed water pump — and not in the most obvious way.
We worked through the cooling system step by step rather than simply replacing parts.
✅ Checked the radiator for restriction by running water through it — radiator flow was good
✅ Removed the thermostat so we could check coolant circulation directly
✅ Started the engine and checked flow from the top radiator hose — no coolant flow
✅ Removed the water pump for inspection
That’s where we found the problem — have a look through the photos 👇
The water pump impeller was spinning on the shaft.
The pulley and shaft could still turn, but the impeller was no longer being driven correctly. That meant the pump wasn't circulating coolant through the engine, resulting in the overheating and coolant being pushed out of the header tank.
This is a good example of why we diagnose the problem before replacing parts.
Radiator wasn't blocked.
Thermostat wasn't the root cause.
The engine simply wasn't getting coolant circulation.
🔧 Water pump replaced
🔧 New thermostat fitted
🔧 Cooling system refilled and tested
✅ Coolant flow restored
✅ Engine running at approximately 85°C
Test it. Prove the fault. Then repair it.
PMR Diesel
Quality | Integrity | Care

24/09/2026

23/09/2026

A suspension lift isn’t just about height — it’s about choosing the right setup for how the vehicle is used.

This one was fitted with a 2" lift and 0–300kg rated suspension.

That rating matters because the wrong springs can cause:

harsh ride quality
poor handling
sagging under load
reduced performance

A 0–300kg setup can be a great option for vehicles carrying some extra weight like accessories, tools or touring gear — without going too heavy.

The key is matching the suspension to the actual load and use of the vehicle, not just chasing lift height.

The right suspension should improve ride, handling and load carrying — not just the look.

Need help choosing the right setup for your 4WD?
Get in touch with PMR Diesel.

23/09/2026

**What’s your diagnosis? 🔧🤔**

This Cummins C-Series came into the workshop after overheating and **pushing coolant out of the header tank**.

There are a few possible causes, but before we tell you what we found, we want to hear from the mechanics, operators and diesel heads out there.

**What would you check first?**

🔥 Head gasket / cracked head
🌡️ Thermostat
💧 Water pump
🚛 Radiator blockage
🔧 Or something else?

Drop your diagnosis in the comments 👇

We’ll show you **how we tested it and what the actual fault was** in the next post.

** **

Palmview Mechanical Repairs – Sunshine Coast 4WD & General Mechanics

Trusted Sunshine Coast mechanics for 4WD, fleet, and general vehicle servicing. 5★ rated, certified technicians, mobile & workshop service available.

07/09/2026

This LandCruiser came in with an engine issue that needed investigating.

The more we looked, the clearer it became this wasn’t going to be a quick fix.

What started as a diagnosis turned into a much bigger job - and before long, the engine had to come out.

Wednesday we’ll show you what we found. 🔧

04/09/2026

BE HONEST… have you ever put the wrong fuel in a car? 👀

After this week’s Prado story, we reckon plenty of people have either:

A: Never
B: Nearly did
C: Yep 😬
D: “Someone else did it”… sure they did 😂

It happens more than people think - and if it does, the big one is:

Don’t start it. Get advice first.

Drop your answer below 👇

04/09/2026

⛽ PETROL IN A DIESEL — PART 3

BACK ON DIESEL. ✅

To finish this Prado repair, we first made sure the engine was able to run safely on a separate clean diesel supply.

Once that was confirmed, we moved on to the final stage of the job:

🔧 Drained the contaminated fuel from the tank
🔧 Replaced the fuel filters
🔧 Filled the system with fresh diesel
🔧 Installed new injectors
🔧 Checked the fuel system and carried out testing
✅ Got it running again on clean diesel

What started as petrol in a diesel turned into a much bigger job than most people expect.

That’s why the biggest takeaway is simple:

If you put petrol in a diesel - stop, don’t start it, and get advice before the fuel is circulated through the system.

This one is a good reminder that the right process matters just as much as the repair itself.

01/09/2026

⛽ PETROL IN A DIESEL - PART 2

DON’T TURN THE KEY!

If you realise you’ve put petrol into a diesel vehicle, one of the worst things you can do is start it.

Once the engine is started, that contaminated fuel can be drawn through the fuel system and into the high-pressure components.

That can turn a wrong-fuel mistake into a much bigger repair.

With the Prado we showed you yesterday, we first needed to work out exactly what condition the engine was in.

So before we went any further, we:

🔧 Used a bore camera to inspect the tops of the pistons and cylinder bores for signs of damage
🔧 Carried out a compression test
✅ Confirmed engine compression was OK
🔧 Installed new injectors
🔧 Replaced the fuel filter
⛽ Bypassed the contaminated fuel tank
🔧 Supplied the engine with clean diesel from a separate container
✅ Successfully test-ran the engine

This gave us a safe way to prove the engine and fuel system before moving on to the final repair.

Friday: we’ll show you how we finished the job and got it back onto clean diesel.

31/08/2026

⛽ Petrol in a diesel - Part 1

Remember the Prado we showed you Friday?

Here’s where the story starts.

The vehicle came to PMR after petrol had been mixed into the diesel fuel system.

By the time it arrived, the injectors had already been removed and there was also damage around the 5th injector and wiring.

So this wasn’t a case of simply draining the tank, filling it with diesel and turning the key.

Before we tried to start anything, we needed to find out exactly what condition the engine and fuel system were actually in.

Next up: how do you safely test an engine like this without feeding contaminated fuel straight back through it?

Palmview Mechanical Repairs – Sunshine Coast 4WD & General Mechanics

Trusted Sunshine Coast mechanics for 4WD, fleet, and general vehicle servicing. 5★ rated, certified technicians, mobile & workshop service available.