Bright Hub Engineering

Civil Engineering Electrical Engineering Marine Engineering Mechanical Engineering

Home > Marine Engineering > Machinery and Ship Systems

Custom Search

Share

8 Tweet
Like
Leave a comment
Overheated Piston Failure, Detection & Correction

written by: Ricky edited by: Lamar Stonecypher updated: 7/17/2009

The piston performs its work silently within the cylinder liner invisible from outside, but there might be problems inside
which could make it overheated causing a knocking sound. Learn how to detect piston failure and how to correct the

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD
 situation

Introduction
Despite the best of maintenance and care, faults and piston failure can occur in the engine room and in marine diesel
engines. One of the main requirements of the job profile of a marine engineer at any rank is to act quickly and thoughtfully
to handle any kind of situation. It is important for a marine engineer to know what to do when he hears diesel engine
knocking. This diesel engine troubleshooting guide will show you what to do when a piston gets overheated.

Causes of Overheating

A piston is constantly in contact with the high temperature and high pressure region of the combustion chamber while it is
performing its functions of pressure sealing and motion transmission to the crankshaft. It can get overheated due to any or
several of the following reasons

The obvious reason could be the failure of the piston cooling

system to perform its function which leads to temperature
rise
If the piston rings have insufficient clearance or are broken
down and get seized, this also will lead to heating of the
piston
If the cylinder jacket liner lubrication system fails, this would
result in increase of heat due to friction
Leakage of combustion gases past the piston due to ring
fault or failure
Bad combustion which could be due to valve timing
problems and so forth

External Symptoms
Hence we see that there can be a number of reasons for piston overheating, but remember when this situation occurs you
cannot peep inside to find out immediately. First you need to know the external indicators of an overheated piston and they
are as follows.

Additional Info
Engine RPM falls without any reasonable cause
Knocking is heard from the cylinders
Abnormal rise in piston cooling temperature

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD
 Abnormal rise in exhaust temperature
Abnormal smoke in exhaust form the funnel

Handling the Situation

So what should be your first reaction if you see or sense an overheated piston? Well the first instinct would be to run and
shut down the engine but just take care to avoid this reflex action and this could lead to other problems.

SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW:

RELATED TOPICS:

Machinery & Ship Systems

Marine History

Naval Architecture

Seafaring
Tweets by @BH_Engineering
Slow down the engine to a very low speed but NOT complete shutdown. This results in considerable reduction of heat
in the relevant piston.
Since not all pistons would likely develop this fault simultaneously (unless you are totally out of luck that day) so first Additional Info
identify the particular cylinder in which the problem has occurred using parameters such as temperatures, sound etc.
The fuel supply to the affected cylinder should be cut-down from the fuel pump
Lubrication to that cylinder should be increased from the appropriate arrangement depending on the specific engine
SIGNUP FOR EMAILS
under consideration Click here to signup for our newsletter
Only stop the engine when it is sufficiently cooled to avoid any thermal stresses. Even after stopping the turning gear
should be used to keep it moving for some time while cooling and lubrication is continued.
Finally the piston needs to be dismantled and checked and this is a detailed procedure which we might take up in
future.
In the next article we will learn about replacing the piston in case such a need arises on board the ship.

WE ALSO RECOMMEND...

15 Comments Bright Hub Media

1 Login

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD
 Sort by Newest
Recommend 1 Share

Join the discussion

LOG IN WITH
OR SIGN UP WITH DISQUS ?

Name

ALVARO BASTOS 6 years ago

I would like to get copy of Commissioning procedure for diesel engine
Reply Share

Lamar Stonecypher 6 years ago

Hi, Anonymous,

You can find a Bright Hub article about decarbonization of aux engines here:

http://www.brighthub.com/en...

Thank you for visiting Bright Hub!

Reply Share

David 6 years ago

"The piston performs its work silently" You have obviously never heard a diesel engine
let alone worked one. Maybe you just like reading your own writing and I'm sure you like
hearing yourself talk. Stop spreading gibberish on the internet and get your hands dirty
first! Have you ever actually seen a piston?
Reply Share

4th Engineer M.V Hamnavoe > David 4 years ago

Your an idiot. Why dont you take a minute to understand what it is that hes saying
before you jump toy your hostile conclusions. I think you'll find that if you were to
take the piston moing in the liner doing its work specifically then it IS practically
silent. It's the combustion of the fuel and other assosiated processes that cause

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD
 the noise.
3 Reply Share

kenny 7 years ago

plz send me some useful infomation on decarbonisation of aux engine .. like all the
checks and precautions to be taken ... checks on piston,liner,connecting rod ,conrod
bolts etc..

what can be the probable damages to piston, liner etc. and the reasons for the same and
what should be done on encountering such problems.
Reply Share

Amar 7 years ago

Request you to mail a copy of pre-commissioning and commissioning checklist and
procedures for main engine and and diesel generators for marine application
Reply Share

irwan 7 years ago

pls send me more information about main engine problem including probably caused
and handling the situation. thanks
Reply Share

Rashedul Islam 8 years ago

Pls send me boiler maintenance schedule
Reply Share

Rashedul Islam 8 years ago

Pls send me marine generator troubleshooting and commissioning steps
Reply Share

jai prakash 8 years ago

i would like no about volvo d3 engines any one can help me out
Reply Share

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD
 virat seth 8 years ago
lube oil cooler choked ; expain other reasons
Reply Share

prateek ahuja 8 years ago

plz send me info regarding the boiler working principles, safety valve,all tests,
Reply Share

prateek ahuja 8 years ago

plz send me some useful infomation on decarbonisation of aux engine .. like all the
checks and precautions to be taken ... checks on piston,liner,connecting rod ,conrod
bolts etc..
Reply Share

MANOJ KUMAR SAHOO 8 years ago

what u r tailing r really right. thanks for helping me
Reply Share

sukumar 8 years ago

pls send me brief study of boiler working principles
What is feed water pump used for.
What is boiler water circ. pump used for
1 Reply Share

Subscribe d Add Disqus to your site Privacy

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD
Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD
 About BH Engineering Terms of Use
Contact Us Privacy Policy
Advertise With Us Copyright Policy
RSS

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD
 2012-2016 Bright Hub Inc. All Rights Reserved

See Also ads by media.net

Automotive Truck Aftermarket Automotive Discount Automotive

Chevrolet Automotive Auto Parts Warehouse Subaru Auto

Privacy Policy

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD