Trouble Shooting common diesel engine problems

Black Exhaust Smoke (during acceleration)

Black exhaust smoke contains unburned carbon in the fuel
resulting from incomplete combustion of the fuel because the
air/fuel ratio is too small (i.e., the mixture is too rich).
From the nature of this phenomenon, you can conclude that one
of the following is causing the trouble
1. Over- Injection of fuel
This results in incomplete combustion _ that is, as too much fuel
is injected in to the cylinders, there is not enough air to burn
it all, so the left over fuel is emitted along with the exhaust
smoke, turning it black.
Con…
2. Shortage of air
Compared with the amount of fuel injection, the amount of air
drawn in to the engine is too small to allow complete
combustion. This has the same result as over-injection of the
fuel.
3. Overly advanced Injection timing ( engines with auxiliary
combustion chamber)
lf fuel injection is too advanced (early), fuel is injected before
the pressure and temperature inside the auxiliary combustion
chamber can rise high enough to ignite the mixture. This
results in delayed firing.
Con…
The fuel is injected during the ignition delay period causes an over
rich air/fuel mixture in same areas of the auxiliary combustion
chamber. As a result, the air/ fuel mixture present in the rich areas
does not burn completely and is exhausted as carbon particles.
4. Overly- retarded Injection timing ( engines with direct injection
type combustion chamber)
lf fuel injection timing is too retarded (delayed), the fuel being
injected will burn quickly because the temperature is very high
in the combustion chamber. Some of the fuel subsequently
injected in to the combustion flame will therefore fail to come
into full contact with the air, resulting in incomplete combustion,
and thus in carbon particles in the exhaust.
White Exhaust smoke
White exhaust smoke often occurs immediately after
the engine is started when the ambient air
temperature is low. Since the fuel injected under
such conditions is being burnt at a relatively low
temperature, the temperature in the combustion
chamber does not rise enough for efficient
combustion. Therefore, unburnt fuel (i.e.,
hydrocarbon) is exhausted in the form of vapor,
resulting in a white or blue exhaust gas. This may
be caused by any of the following:
Con…
1. Overly retarded Injection timing (engines with
auxiliary combustion chamber)
lf the injection timing is retarded, the fuel will be
injected after the piston has passed top dead center.
As a result, the pressure in the auxiliary
combustion chamber will drop and part of the fuel
will be exhausted unburnet, causing white exhaust
smoke. This problem is accompanied by low
engine power output.
Con…
3. Overly advanced injection timing (engines with direct
injection type combustion chamber)
lf fuel injection comes too early, the fuel will be injected
before the pressure and temperature in the combustion
chamber have risen high enough to burn completely.
There fore the wall of the combustion chamber will be
cooled this is called ‘’quenching’’ by the fuel, and the
combustion temperature will drop accordingly.
As a result, part of the injected fuel will be exhausted
unburnt , creating white exhaust smoke.
Con…
3. Preheating and after glow malfunction (engines with
auxiliary combustion chamber)
lf the preheating system malfunctions, the temperature in the
auxiliary combustion chamber will not be able to rise high
enough to burn the fuel. Part of the injected fuel will
therefore be exhausted unburnt, creating white exhaust
smoke. Naturally, this problem is always accompanied by
hard engine starting. lf the after-glow system malfunctions
after the engine has been started, white exhaust smoke will
be emitted until the engine has warmed up completely.
Con…
4. Excessive burning of engine oil
lf an unnecessarily large amount of engine oil enters
the engine cylinder due to some problem, the extra
amount of oil will be exhausted unburnt, creating
white exhaust smoke. This problem is also
accompanied by excessive consumption of oil.
Since the oil cools the combustion chamber as it
evaporates, part of the fuel is also exhausted
unburnt.
Con…
5. Compression pressure too low
lf the compression pressure in the combustion is too
low, It will take a longer time before the fuel reaches
ignition temperature. As a result, part of the fuel will
be exhausted unburnt, creating white exhaust smoke.
6. Water mixed In the fuel
Water mixed in which the fuel will lower the
temperature in the combustion chamber .Therefore,
part of the fuel will be exhausted unburnt.
Load Diesel Knocking
Loud diesel knocking is often caused by a large
amount of fuel being injected too early during
ignition delay periods. This causes ovely_rapid
flame propagation following ignition. As a result, the
combustion pressure rises abnormally. causing a loud
knocking sound
A louder knocking is often heard if the engine has not
been warmed up completely (especially immediately
after starting) than if the engine is completely
warmed up.
Con…
1. Injection timing too advanced
lf fuel injection comes too early, the fuel is injected
before the temperature in the combustion chamber
rises high enough. This causes delayed ignition. lf a
large amount of fuel is injected during the ignition
delay periods, it will burn all at once when the
temperature has risen high enough to ignite it,
generating a loud knocking sound.
Con…
2. Poor fuel quality
Diesel fuel ignites automatically when the pressure
and temperature inside the combustion chamber
reach a certain level. lf poor-quality fuel or fuel
with a low cetane rating is used, ignition will be
delayed. causing loud diesel knocking.