What Is The Hardest Working Part Of A Diesel Engine?

[Doc Tinker]

Boy. . I sure killed this thread. I thought I'd get at least one arguement!



Doc

 

[rrausch]

Doc, is this all you do... sit around up there and trick us????

 

[MLee]

yep, the nut behind the wheel, keeps every thing together and going straight.

 

[High Voltage]

My big right foot

 

[JohnE]

The simplest and probably the smallest element that takes the most abuse in all internal combustion engines, the piston ring. It has to contain the mighty powerstroke (it does in a Power Stroke, too); withstand the friction of the cylinder walls; respond to the constant change in direction (no not your spouse) from the piston; and adjust to the infinitely variable cylinder diameter.



Oh, this is a rhetorical question! The hardest working part of a diesel is the loving owner that has to pour hard earned dollars into the purchase, upkeep, and (ah hem) preventative maintenance (bombing) of the diesel and the vehicle it owns.



What else is up ... Doc?



-John

 

[Doc Tinker]

TTT



{revisit for more input - let's give the new guys a chance to answer this}



Doc

 

[jerrethomas]

injection pump, lets see you make 15,000 psi in a metal to metal clearence of . 0004 or maybe even less, i forget at the moment.

 

[rkressg]

By far the hardest two things to work on are the muffler berings and the Rotator Splints :{

 

[me4osu]

The engine mounts? They have to handle the full brake reaction torque of the engine.



Or could it be the 7th phetser valve?

(Reference to the movie "Fletch". "You must be a stunt pilot or sump'n. ")

 

[tarussell]

The whole rotating assembly... ... . Especially with additional fuel and boost under load. I am very proud that Cummins over built the bottom end of the ISB and I am glad that Dodge contracted Cummins to use an overbuilt motor in thier trucks. It is good to have parts with a serious service factor built into them.

 

[jpolston]

LarryB,



You are correct, the Rasamatonic Rebaflexor is the hardest working component in the diesel engine. The reason you never hear of a failure or replacement is because of it's construction material. It is made of austinetic metals, annealed, hardened to a Rockwell hardness of 300 and teflon coated. If it were to fail, the cost of repair will make engine repair less cost effective than replacement. Also, most local mechanics don't know how to diagnose the failure. A new engine is the only way to go.

 

[patrobertson]

I know

The Blinker fluid right? Kinda like the muffler berrings. Maybe the fuel in the wiper moter?





Sorry couldn't help myself



Shane

 

[Double 6]

I think the fuel injection pump and especially the injectors as they have to work in a high temp. and high pressure enviroment.

 

[Hohn]

No-- You are ALL wrong! It's the distributive drive adapter bearing washer housing enclosure



Seriously though, if Work=Force*Distance, then it would have to be whichever component had the highest AVERAGE force on it times the distance it had to move.



It would probably be part of the reciprocating assembly (rod, pistons, related stuff like rings and bearings), only because the injection pump plungers, while having a lot of force, don't have to move that far. Technically, how OFTEN the part does this work doesn't apply to the definition of "work" in physics.



Now if we account for time [ (force*distance)/time], then THAT, my friends, is what we call good old fashioned HORSEPOWER!



HOHN

 

[skobylenski]

Originally posted by MLee

yep, the nut behind the wheel, keeps every thing together and going straight.

ROFLMAO! :-laf :-laf How'd I miss this thread back when it started? Sheesh, you guys are a hoot!

 

[Wheaties]

I'd vote for the little spring in the injector. It has to be one of the smallest parts doing the biggest job.



MTE

 

[Mike Ellis]

Gentlemen,



In spite of the many flawlessly logical mechanical answers in this thread, I believe the REAL answer has been overlooked. In truth, the hardest working part on our engine is the VALVE COVER. Seductively shaped, artfully colored for aesthetic appeal, it quietly does its job day after day, mile after mile, and nobody ever thinks about how hard its working.



Don't believe me? Just ask your wife or GF how much work it takes to sit around being pretty all the time... .

 

[Peterbilt379CJ]

I think the hardest working part of a ctd is the driver controling the loud pedal. I know I am the hardest working part of my truck.