Reference on diagnosing engine failures

[ptuomov]

Does anyone know a comprehensive reference for diagnosing engine failures? Looking for a book specifically about the topic.

[hoodeng]

'Engine failure analysis', by Greuter and Zima

Cheers.

[ptuomov]

'Engine failure analysis', by Greuter and Zima

Cheers.

Thank you, ordered.

[Geoff2]

Better glasses & a better hearing aid. Just kidding, couldn't resist....

[Kenova]

Better glasses & a better hearing aid. Just kidding, couldn't resist....

That hits pretty close to home for some of us Old Farts.

Ken

[ptuomov]

Better glasses & a better hearing aid. Just kidding, couldn't resist....

That hits pretty close to home for some of us Old Farts.

Ken

Yes, it's a problem. I'm 44 now and my night vision is basically gone, and hearing has become highly selective.

[statsystems]

'Engine failure analysis', by Greuter and Zima

Cheers.

WTF???? I can only find used books online and the cheap one is ~160 bucks.

Is the book THAT good?

[Frankshaft]

'Engine failure analysis', by Greuter and Zima

Cheers.

WTF???? I can only find used books online and the cheap one is ~160 bucks.

Is the book THAT good?

Not sure why you would even need something like that. If it blows up, what came first, the chicken or the egg? Otherwise, I think it's pretty self explanatory. Piston skirts are scuffed bad? Probably not enough Piston to wall clearance, if the bearings are chewed up, likely a clearance and or oiling issue, bent valves? Only a couple things that could be, Etc Etc

[ptuomov]

Not sure why you would even need something like that. If it blows up, what came first, the chicken or the egg? Otherwise, I think it's pretty self explanatory. Piston skirts are scuffed bad? Probably not enough Piston to wall clearance, if the bearings are chewed up, likely a clearance and or oiling issue, bent valves? Only a couple things that could be, Etc Etc

What's obvious to you isn't obvious to me. I don't build engines for living, and have to spend a lot of time sitting in front of a computer. Because of this, I figured that reading a book might be a good way to mitigate the impact of my experience and deficiencies. What's the worst thing that could happen just because of reading a book? Maybe overconfidence? Overconfidence is something that seems to be a risk in this area regardless of how you learn, from a book or from some parts.

[hoodeng]

Yes ,the book is that good. This is not a book of show and tell amongs't racers, workshops or experience trained experts ,this book is about analysis from and professional metallurgical perspective , it is not a one product focus so don't expect to read about a certain Ford or Chevrolet problem .

Some years back we saw a certain engine have crankpin failures ,there was a manufacture time window involved , that said ,at the time an opinion was formed by a number of guys involved in the repair of these engines ,,,,they were wrong ! the description of the primary fault through to its ultimate failure was documented in this book perfectly ,it was a small machining/ fitting imperfection.

Ultimately it is up to the person inspecting a fault , if he knows enough about what is in front of him, that's great , If he wants to delve deeper into the failure this book will give insight to the metallurgy .If i operated a trunk engine that failed ,i would want a whole lot better than an opinion , i would want the manufacturers expertise involved.These are engines that are designed to give very long service life with 100% reliability and operate at close to their rated power 24/7.

I have a copy of the 'Mahle piston manual' that give the manufacturers assessments of piston failures ,ahhh, not all is as it seems!!!

Cheers.

[hoodeng]

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[vannik]

'Engine failure analysis', by Greuter and Zima

Cheers.

WTF???? I can only find used books online and the cheap one is ~160 bucks.

Is the book THAT good?

It is published by the SAE and if I remember right, $109 new.

[hoodeng]

I bought mine directly from SAE the id is ,'SAE book order number R-320' or ISBN 978-0-7680-0885-2

there is also this from Mahle
https://www.scribd.com/document/3490653 ... Manual-pdf
and this.
https://www.mahle-aftermarket.com/media ... ochure.pdf

The photos i put in above are taken from an old Mahle piston manual that was given to me when the Mahle distributor for Australasia at that time shut down.
Cheers,

[Frankshaft]

Not sure why you would even need something like that. If it blows up, what came first, the chicken or the egg? Otherwise, I think it's pretty self explanatory. Piston skirts are scuffed bad? Probably not enough Piston to wall clearance, if the bearings are chewed up, likely a clearance and or oiling issue, bent valves? Only a couple things that could be, Etc Etc

What's obvious to you isn't obvious to me. I don't build engines for living, and have to spend a lot of time sitting in front of a computer. Because of this, I figured that reading a book might be a good way to mitigate the impact of my experience and deficiencies. What's the worst thing that could happen just because of reading a book? Maybe overconfidence? Overconfidence is something that seems to be a risk in this area regardless of how you learn, from a book or from some parts.

Don't take that the wrong way. I am just saying. And your right, reading never hurts anyone. If the book wasn;t $160 I wouldn't be apposed to it. For engine failures though, it is pretty obvious usually. Just an examples, valve train in clattering, adjust valves. Make a pass, or some laps, or drive it a bit. Starts clattering again, same rocker is lose again. Uh Oh. Under further inspection, come to find out a cam lobe is going flat. Pull engine down, bearings are full of trash, skirts and cylinders have some trama, etc. It's pretty obvious, the lifter stopped rotating, starting chewing up the cam and bottom of the lifter. The damage to the rest of the engine was from the trash floating around from the cam and lifters.

The other thing, make them not fail, and you don't need the book.

[Kevin Johnson]

'Engine failure analysis', by Greuter and Zima

Cheers.

WTF???? I can only find used books online and the cheap one is ~160 bucks.

Is the book THAT good?

It is published by the SAE and if I remember right, $109 new.

https://www.sae.org/publications/books/content/r-320/


Auf Deutsch: https://www.booklooker.de/B%C3%BCcher/A ... n+Ursachen

Aside: It might not be the case here but I have often found that English versions of German technical manuals are dumbed-down.