Engine ‘finetuning’.
In the March edition of this newsletter we’ve already been discussing engine performance issues on large 4-strokes. Unfortunately we still come across a lot of situations where engine performance and fuel consumption could have been improved with the right knowledge and experience, and even expensive visits of OEM service engineers could have been avoided.
Although OEM service and operations manuals provide you with a lot of relevant details, detecting and recognizing actual performance issues are still a matter of engineers’ experience.
Some do’s and don’ts:
DO:
-fill out an OEM engine data of performance protocol on regular basis. Preferably monthly,
-do not only measure peak pressures with a electronical device, but put in in the context of other parameters. Nice coloured lines only give information to experienced engineers….
-thoroughly inspect your fuel linkage system. Inviting governor-experts only to find excessive clearance or wear on a linkage rod is an expensive lesson to learn!
-check your fuelpump timing; wear in the pump drive system may change your cylinder pressures and temperatures. On some engines it is possible without dismantling any major parts, so consider it a decent training exercise for younger engineers during a portcall.
DON’T:
-adjust individual fuelrack settings to ‘balance’ exhaust gas temperatures. Temperatures often vary due to difference in penetration of the probe, pressure differences in the exhaust gas system or local deposits. Rather check fuelpump setting and firing pressures.
-change any PID setti
ngs in electronic actuators without backing up or simply writing down original settings. If not, better call an expert if your changes do not work out.
-neglect warnings that your engine is giving: different sounds between cylinders may indicate either balancing issues or mechanical problems in drive train.
In the end proper expertise will save you on parts, fuelconsumption, increase your TBO and even major damages!
We could go on a bit more but if you’re curious how our expertise can be of service, simply contact us!
