Valves & Seats: There’s More Than Meets The Eye
The valves and seats in an internal combustion engine play a central role in engine breathing, compression, performance and longevity. It doesn’t matter if an engine has two, three, four or even five valves per cylinder or if the engine is gas or diesel because the valves all do the same thing: they open and close to allow air into the cylinders and exhaust to exit the cylinders.
13 Alternator And Battery Testing And Diagnostic Tips
If only battery voltage is present at the battery on a running engine, does this mean the alternator is “bad?” No, it does not. That only means that the alternator is not charging, but does not reveal why. Therefore, it does not prove a faulty Âalternator.
Diagnosing Belt Wear
The original equipment belts on late-model vehicles are made of synthetic materials and are far more heat-resistant and wear-resistant than older materials. These innovations mean serpentine belts may last up to 100,000 miles before they need to be replaced. If a belt fails sooner, you need to be a detective and investigate why it failed.
Stretch Belts: Inspection And Installation
Why stretch belts? For the more than two decades, automakers have consolidated accessory drive components onto one belt. It worked for most engines, but for some it presented issues with noise and vibration as the A/C compressor engaged.
Coolants Can Lose Their Ability To Protect The Engine
Coolant at 100,000 miles may look the same as coolant with zero miles. The real difference between good and bad coolant can’t be seen with the naked eye; it is in the chemistry.
Engine Bearings Under Pressure
Engine bearings have to withstand punishing loads in today’s engines. Smaller displacements, turbocharging and higher horsepower ratings mean crankshaft and connecting rod bearings are being subjected to heavier loads. This has led to the development of some new bearing alloys and coatings that enable these parts to survive.
Infiniti Creates Its Most Advanced V6 Engine Yet
The new compact and lightweight 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbo engine is the most advanced V6 gasoline engine that Infiniti has ever offered, striking an ideal balance between drivability, efficiency and performance.
Steve Morris Engines’ House-Built V16 Engine
Steve Morris Engines’ in-house built V16 with quad turbochargers is slated to appear in the much-hyped and much-criticzed Devel Sixteen hyper car.
How Oil Change Habits Are Killing Turbos
Turbochargers are used to enhance an engine’s performance and optimize combustion. To achieve good and complete combustion in the engine, a mixture ratio of 2.2 lbs. fuel and approximately 33 lbs. air is necessary (stoichiometric fuel ratio). During turbocharging, the density of the intake air is elevated and the air volume increased.
Secondary Ignition: The Art Of Spark
From the beginning of the internal combustion engine, several different ignition systems have been used to create a high-energy spark. The most popular system, and the one that’s in use today, is a step-up coil.
Keep The Valvetrain On Track
Valvetrain components such as lifters, pushrods, rockers and valve springs are often replaced when rebuilding stock engines. Worn rocker arms and lifters should not be reused to prevent failures down the road. If you’re installing a new flat tappet cam, new lifters are a must. Any pushrods that are not straight must also be replaced, along with high-mileage valve springs that have weakened with age.
Auxiliary Water Pumps – How One Component Can Upset Your Cooling System Diagnostic Logic
A Mercedes comes into the shop with a complaint of poor heater performance. The driver says during cold mornings that the heater will blow cold while he’s driving to work during rush hour traffic. The car is not overheating and the air is coming from the correct ducts. Your first reaction might be to install a new thermostat and inspect the heater core for a blockage. During a test drive, the system may perform great for you. Is the customer just cold blooded?
