Diesel engine failures due to combustion disturbances, caused by fuel with insufficient lubricity

Abstract

A large number of diesel engine failures have been reported in the immediate past. The large proportion of these engines that were investigated, were recently overhauled engines that failed soon after the overhaul process. In some cases, these engines failed on the dynamometer, while it was tested before delivery to the customer. The most common failure on a large number of these engines, were pistons seizing in the crown region causing seizure of the piston in the cylinder. Tests were done to correlate the lubricity of the fuel that was used and the failure of the engines. Limits were obtained from which it could be determined when the fuel was not of a proper quality and where engine failures took place. It is finally recommended that the specification SABS 342 be amended to include the requirements for the lubricity of diesel fuels.

Citation

von Wielligh, A.J., Burger, N.D.L. and Wilcocks, T.L. (2003), "Diesel engine failures due to combustion disturbances, caused by fuel with insufficient lubricity", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 55 No. 2, pp. 65-75. https://doi.org/10.1108/00368790310470895