Well, Van Zeist begins here because it's useful now and then to be reminded of the basics. Viince Lombardi, the great Packers coach in whose honor the Super Bowl trophy was named, began training camp the same way every year. "Gentleman, THIS is a football."
The author begins with this opening paragraph:
The piston is a very important component of any engine. It moves up and down inside the engine cylinder through varying stages of the combustion cycle, connecting to the engine’s crankshaft via a connecting rod. One role of this piston is to draw air and fuel into the cylinder when the piston moves down then when it moves up, the air and fuel are compressed.
There's the first clue as to why he begin with describing the role of a piston. It may seem easy forget that the downstroke draws the air-fuel mixture into the combustion chamber. We're accustomed to thinking it is squirted or sprayed in, rather than being drawn in by the vacuum suction.
In addition to this function, Van Zeist points out that it also has a role to play, to absorb heat and conduct it away from that intensely hot combustion furnace.
He follows this introductory section with the six most common causes of piston damage, elaborating a bit on each.
1. Worn Piston Rings
2. Piston Skirt Damage
3. Piston Snap
4. Burned Piston
5. Cracked Piston
6. Snapped Timing Belt
For details on these six problem issues, you can read the full article here.
The reason that proper engine maintenance is important is self-evident. Pistons are in the very center of your power block and you have to take the whole engine apart to deal with it. It's labor intensive.
For this reason the author stresses a regular maintenance that includes oil and filter changes. Also make sure your engine coolant is in good condition. All these things contribute to the life of your engine, and isn't longevity one of the primary benefits of your diesel?
Need help making sure you have the right oil for your diesel? Ask Jake.
Forged steel pistons are the norm in the diesel market. For performance guys, steel pistons are favored because they best handle the severity of the combustion environment and the associated challenges it presents to optimum performance and long-term durability.
ReplyDeleteSteel pistons are significantly stronger than aluminum pistons, and they offer potential combustion and thermodynamic advantages that favor fuel consumption and reduced emissions levels.
Improved ring land wear characteristics and the ability to cool the piston through design features are two of the major advantages attributed to steel pistons.
As the Cummins, Powerstroke and Duramax continue to push their engines to higher and higher power levels, they have reached the limits of what cast factory pistons can withstand.
These high performance conditions are particularly hard on piston rings. If ring performance deteriorates, combustion efficiency is compromised, and emissions tend to rise. Steel pistons also have the advantage of large internal cooling galleys to help stabilize piston temperature and thus ring performance within the ring grooves and against the cylinder walls.
In addition, steel pistons expand and stabilize at close to the same rate as the cast iron engine block, further contributing to improved ring seal and overall emission characteristics.