Q6 (16 Marks) Materials & Testing 🔥 Repeated 4x in exams
MEKM • Written Exam

State the probable engine defects and rectifying action needed if the following conditions are indicated on a single unit of a large two-stroke marine diesel engine having seven units. State any additional information which might be of help in forming an option.

(a) Increased exhaust temperatures

(b) Reduced exhaust temperature.

(c) Reduction in jacket cooling water outlet temperature.

(d) Increase in jacket cooling water return temperature.

Appeared In: Aug 2025Sep 2019Jun 2019Dec 2018

Verified Model Answer (Text Solution)

Structured for DG Shipping MEO Class II examination scoring criteria.

Exam Ready

The engine has seven cylinders; symptoms are on a single unit. For diagnosis, additional information would be: load/speed, the specific cylinder's exhaust gas temperature, jacket cooling water inlet/outlet temperatures at that cylinder, Pmax/compression pressure measured on a draw card, fuel pump index, and the condition of that unit's injector.

Part (a)

Increased exhaust temperature at one cylinder:

Probable defects: over-fueling of that cylinder (faulty fuel injection - leaking/dribbling injector, worn plunger, large rack index, or the injection timing retarded), late ignition, poor combustion, leaking exhaust valve, loss of compression (stuck ring, worn liner, burnt head gasket/blow-by) reducing power and so the other cylinders carry the load. Also scavenge-air starvation to that cylinder (blocked air ports) giving incomplete combustion and high exhaust temperature. Could also be a leaking or burnt exhaust valve.

Action: Take the cylinder's power out (reduce the fuel pump index/injection for that unit if individually adjustable) to bring exhaust temperature down; check the injector (atomization/leak-off), the exhaust valve seating, compression with a draw card; check scavenge air and charge air pressure; investigate with a single. Increase the load on other cylinders if possible, adjust the load distribution.

Part (b)

Reduced exhaust temperature at one cylinder:

Probable defects: under-fueling of that cylinder (fuel pump fault - sticking plunger, broken spring, empty fuel line, plugged injector hole), retarded injection, too much air (air leaking in), or a leaking exhaust valve letting gas through early, or a slightly open injection dribble reducing fuel. Could be a stuck-open injector/needle or a faulty pump giving too little fuel.

Action: Check the fuel pump delivery/index of that unit, injector lifting, fuel rack; take a draw card to see the work done - if Pmax is low, the cylinder is starving; check the exhaust valve function and the fuel supply. Bring the exhaust temperature back up to the mean by adjusting the load/fuel feed to that cylinder.

Part (c)

Reduction in jacket cooling water outlet temperature at one cylinder:

Probable defects: reduced heat input to that cylinder (under-fueling, poor combustion), reduced water flow through that cylinder due to a blocked jacket passage, or a stuck closed outlet thermostat; also possible internal leak/air. A cold jacket on one unit usually means that cylinder is doing less work or the cooling water isn't circulating properly.

Action: Check water flow (bleed air from the jacket), compare jacket temperature with others; check for blockage; check the unit's injector and fuel feed; if water flow is restricted, the cylinder will overheat locally even if outlet is cool - investigate carefully; re-circulating pump faults.

Part (d)

Increase in jacket cooling water return temperature at one cylinder:

Probable defects: This indicates excess heat input to that cylinder or reduced cooling (blocked water passage, salt/scale, fouled jacket, throttled outlet, air lock, defective thermostat/circulator), and could correspond to over-fueling/poor combustion in that cylinder, overheating, or a scavenge/exhaust heat feedback. It may also be the beginning of a scavenge fire in that cylinder leading to high liner heat.

Action: Check water supply and circulation to that cylinder, and the jacket temperature; reduce load on that unit; check injector, rings, combustion; investigate the possibility of a local scavenge fire (check scavenge temperature and exhaust) and act; ensure the cooling water pump/circulator state; check for air lock and confirm the cylinder liner is not over-heating leading to damage.

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