Effective Measures to Prevent Wear of Marine Diesel Engine Cylinder Liner
Early wear of the diesel engine cylinder liner can lead to a decrease in engine power, difficulty starting, increased oil consumption, and in severe cases, automatic engine shutdown. The most common wear location is the top dead center of the piston ring.
Types of Cylinder Liner Wear
There are generally three types of cylinder liner wear:
1. Adhesive Wear
This mainly occurs when the diesel engine operates at high speed and under overload conditions, caused by harsh lubrication conditions.
2. Corrosion Wear
The sulfides in diesel fuel are the primary cause of corrosion wear.
3. Abrasive Wear
Mechanical impurities enter the cylinder, forming abrasives that adhere to the cylinder wall surface, causing abrasive wear.
Causes of Cylinder Liner Wear
- Improper running-in or premature engine usage.
- Long-term overload operation or idling with poor lubrication.
- Premature fuel supply or sudden accelerator operation leading to an unbalanced air-fuel ratio and incomplete combustion, resulting in carbon deposits.
- Frequent starting, insufficient oil supply, or dry/semi-dry friction accelerating cylinder liner wear.
- Use of EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) producing acidic substances in the cylinder, causing corrosion and wear.
- Air filter issues or aged oil leading to abrasive wear or poor lubrication.
- Bent, twisted, loose, or improperly fitted connecting rod parts causing mechanical wear.
- Problems with cylinder liner material.
Preventive Measures
- Newly installed or repaired engines must undergo a strict running-in test.
- Regularly check and maintain all three filters.
- Regularly replace oil and clean the oil pan and lubrication circuit.
- Never start the engine before adding water, as this can quench and crack the cylinder.
- Maintain the engine at normal working temperature and avoid excessive heat to prevent oil degradation.
- Perform pre-lubrication before starting the engine to prevent dry or semi-dry friction.
- Preheat the engine after starting; begin operation at 40°C and full operation at 60°C.
- Avoid long periods of rapid engine operation or frequent starting to prevent uneven fuel-air mixing, incomplete combustion, carbon deposits, and increased wear.
- Never abruptly press the accelerator, which can deform the connecting rod or crankshaft and cause incomplete combustion.
- Do not operate the engine while it is malfunctioning.
- Select a reasonable pair of cylinder liner and piston that matches engine operating conditions.
