U.S. Army diesel mechanic
Former Diesel & Heavy Equipment instructor
Dean of Automotive & Trades
Where do you want to start?
Pick your path. Every guide is written for people who work with their hands.
Start a Diesel Career
What diesel techs actually do, what they earn, and how to get trained — trucks, heavy equipment, marine, and power generation.
Now live
Get ASE Certified
ASE T2 Diesel Engines practice tests with instant explanations of every answer. Find your weak areas and fix them before test day. Start free.
Tech & Repair Tips
Shop-tested how-tos and engine breakdowns — brakes, emissions, DEF systems, and the latest engines hitting the market.
Latest from the shop
Where diesel skills take you
One skill set, a lot of doors.
Diesel Technician
Diagnose and repair trucks, buses, and fleets — as much laptop as wrench.
Heavy Equipment
Keep excavators, dozers, and combines running on job sites and farms.
Marine Diesel
Service the engines on ships, ferries, and tugboats in ports and shipyards.
Power Generation
Maintain the backup generators behind hospitals and data centers.
Who’s behind Learn Diesel
I learned diesel the hard way. You don’t have to.
I’m Lester Burkes. I started as a diesel mechanic in the U.S. Army, spent five years teaching Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technology, and now lead an automotive and trades division at a technical college in Washington State.
Learn Diesel is the resource I wish I’d had: honest career advice, practical shop knowledge, and the study help I would have paid for when I was preparing for my ASE tests.
From the shop
Watch on YouTube
Hands-on diesel repair, tools and troubleshooting. The newest video plays first.
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