What is a Diesel Piston? How do they work?
A diesel piston is a cylinder made of metal that moves up and down in the engine cylinder’s combustion cycle. It is connected to the crankshaft via a connecting rod. A piston falls down and sucks air into its cylinder. The piston then rises to compress the air. This raises the temperature and fuel is then fed into the cylinder. The engine generates power by exposing the fuel to compressed gas at high temperatures and the ignition. The piston’s second essential function is to create a low pressure zone within the cylinder in contrast to the higher air pressure outside. A piston is the bottom section of a diesel engine. It collects heat from combustion and directs it away from the metal temperature in order to maintain safe limits.
So you can identify the cause of piston damage before it causes engine problems, we have compiled a list.
Common Types of Piston Damage
- Piston that has been burned
Unclean fuel injectors are the leading cause of a burned piston. A burned piston can be identified immediately after the engine’s top has been removed. You should see visible evidence of melting and a burned hole inside the piston. A burned piston can also be caused by overheating or a defective oil injection jet.
- Cracked Piston
Cracked pistons can result from continued use of low-quality gasoline. The exhaust gas recirculation system may also fail, which could cause a cracked piston. A cracked piston could also be caused by chip tuning, poor piston cooling, or a defective injection nozzle.
Piston Damage: What Causes It?
- Worn Diesel Piston Rings
Wearing diesel piston rings can cause white smoke to rise from the exhaust pipe and an overall reduction in engine oil levels. Your engine could show signs of piston ring damage due to the fact that the seal between the pistons and the cylinder is not as tight. Oil will seep into your crankcase and firing chamber. Wearing diesel piston rings is a common source of piston damage.
The diesel rings transfer heat from the cylinder walls and control oil temperature. Unfortunately, piston rings eventually wear out and there isn’t much that you can do to prevent this. You can prevent engine damage by changing them regularly before they wear out.
- Piston Skirt Damage
The main source of damage to the skirt of the piston is from the rust entering the air filter system. The piston can rock inside the cylinder, causing the skirt to wear down and eventually causing the piston’s destruction.
- Piston Snap
It could be a sign of a large gap between the piston wall and the cylinder wall if your car starts making a rattling sound or banging sound after heating up.
How to Prevent Diesel Piston Failure and Damage?
Piston wear or damage is a common cause of engine failure. This causes a loss in compression, increased emissions, gas leakage from combustion chambers, and lubrication losses. Oil can leak into the combustion chamber if piston rings become damaged. Piston damage can be very costly due to the labor required to repair the engine piston parts. The cost of repairing any engine fault requires the entire engine to be disassembled. To avoid any damage or failure to your pistons, make sure you are using the correct engine oil. Also ensure that the filter is changed at the recommended intervals. Also, check the condition of your engine coolant by opening the radiator cap and looking into the coolant reservoir.