How the DK-20 Can Help Identify Faults Before a Service
The Diesel Doctor is used to ensure engines are performing efficiently, correctly and safely. By regularly carrying out engine tests changes in the engine’s operation can be identified and remedial action taken. It is also very useful to verify the results of any maintenance work made.
In this example, the engine was due a service. Prior to this service, a test was made using the Diesel Doctor DK-20 with the following results.
The indicator trace (Cylinder Pressure versus crank angle is shown). The view has been zoomed in to show the area of interest between -20 degrees and + 20 degrees of Top Dead Centre (TDC). Immediately it can be observed that there is quite a lot of variation between cylinders in terms of compression and maximum pressures. The red dots are the ignition points as identified by the Doctor software and there is one cylinder that is firing much earlier than the others.
The overview of the automatic diagnostic report from the program reflects this and also shows that power balance is not good.
The service was made after which a further test was made with the following results.
In general, there is a lot more consistency between the cylinders. The diagnostic report is now as shown below:
The variation between compression pressure, peak pressure, power and firing angles are within the thresholds for either alerts or alarms. The service has been successful, but would it have been so simple to confirm this without the Doctor?