- Industrial Engine:
- 3054C (S/N: 33498-UP)
There have been isolated instances of poor starting, low power, excessive noise, high blowby and blue smoke. An investigation into these issues has revealed unusually high wear of pistons and piston rings.
The following information describes the possible causes and corrections for excessive wear of pistons, piston rings and cylinder liners. The prime cause of broken piston rings is excessive wear. The main cause of wear that leads to shortened life of a piston and shortened engine life is abrasive wear. Engines with abrasive wear will have a high wear rate between the piston rings and the piston ring grooves. The engine will also have a high wear rate between the face of the piston ring and the cylinder liner bore. Excessive wear of the piston, ring and liner could result in high oil consumption, high blowby and sometimes broken piston rings.
Abrasive wear comes from dirt that enters the air inlet system. This can be the result of the following causes:
- Severe environmental conditions
- Separation of air piping or loose clamps between the air filters and turbochargers
- Inadequate maintenance of the air filter
Refer to the Operation and Maintenance Manual for the correct procedure to service the air filter.
The best way to prevent abrasive wear is proper maintenance of the air inlet system. This includes the following items:
- Proper monitoring of the air filter restriction
- Regular monitoring of the condition of the air piping and the tightness of the clamps
- Ensure that dirt or dust does not enter the air inlet system if the air filter is removed and installed.