Unit 8

Diesel Engines
 A. Understanding a printed text
1. What is a cylinder head made of?
An iron alloy containing carbon, silicon and copper.

2. What is its function?

It acts as a sealing surface between the cylinder
sleeve, cylinder top-deck and cooling passages. It covers
the cylinder.

3. What are the parts of a cylinder head called?

Injector sleeve; cooling passages; fuel manifolds;
valve guide; lubrication passage.
 A. Understanding a printed text
4. What part of the engine can you see when the cylinder
head is removed?
The combustion chamber.
 B. Check your understanding
Now study the text carefully. As you do, look for the answers to these
questions:

1. The alloy used to make the cylinder head should have the
following properties: (tick all those which will complete the
sentence)

 Strength
  good electrical conductivity
 Flexibility  good thermal conductivity

 Ductility  stiffness

 Brittleness  low thermal expansion rate

 Elasticity
  high thermal expansion rate
 B. Check your understanding
2. The size of the cylinder head depends on (tick all the
statements which are correct):

a) the number of main bearings 


b) the number of cylinders 
c) The design of the cylinder block 


d) The amount of thermal stress it must withstand 
e) The cost of the engine 

f) The cost of the raw materials 
 B. Check your understanding
3. Tick all the statements below which refer to things that must be
done or must happen:

a) The coolant must flow quickly around the valves and injector
tubes. 

b) The fuel spray must reach the total combustion area. 

c) The cooling passages must have dead ends. 
d) Turbulence must be prevented. 

e) The valves must be located as close together as possible. 
f) The accumulation of scale must be prevented. 

g) The cylinder head must be removed when it is hot. 
h) A screwdriver must be used to loosen the cylinder head when
removing it. 
 B. Check your understanding
4. What problems of a general kind might be discovered by
removing the cylinder head and inspecting the combustion
chamber? Make a list (seven are mentioned in the text)

1.- Cause of high oil consumption

2.- Overfuelling
3.- Water leakage
4.- Overheating
5.- Damage to pistons
6.- Damage to cylinder sleeves
7.- Damage to cylinder block
 C. Increase your vocabulary
1. Now re-write these sentences in the same way.

• The accumulation of deposit was excessive. too high

• The strength of the material was inadequate to withstand
stress. not strong enough
• The cylinder block cracked because it was not sufficiently
strong. strong enough
• The mechanic used excessive force to remove the block.too much
• The inspection was not carried out with sufficient care. enough
• There is an inadequate amount of detail in the text. not enough
 D. Check you Grammar
1. Now complete the following sentences with reference to the text:

• If the cylinder head is not sufficiently strong…..

…it will/can/might crack.
• If the coolant cannot flow freely between the valves…
…the cylinder head will/can/might crack between the valve seats.
• If the cylinder head is removed when it is hot…
…it will become distorted.
• If a screwdriver is used to remove the cylinder head…
…it will damage the surfaces of the cylinder block and head.
• If scale accumulates in the cooling passages…
…the coolant flow will be slowed.
 D. Check you Grammar
2. Express these instructions, using one of the forms given:

What you must do…

• The work area should be kept clean and tidy.
• Make sure that oil filters are changed regularly.
• Carefully examine bearings for wear.
• Be careful to use correct lubricants.
• Make sure that you follow manufacturer’s recommended
instructions.
 D. Check you Grammar
2. Express these instructions, using one of the forms given:

What you must not do…

• Do not use cold water to flush the system when the engine is hot.
• Make sure that you do not spill acid on your skin.
• Never smoke when checking batteries.
• The batteries should not be overcharged.
• Do not use a screwdriver as a scraper or a chisel.
 Unit 8

E. Understanding a lecture
Answers
1. As you listen, take notes and try to complete the table below:

Property 10 W 20/20 W 30 40 50

Specific 31.7 29.1 28.8 27.5 27.4

gravity

Flash point 215.5 232.2 243.3 250.0 271.1

(ºC)

Pour point -26.1 -20.6 -17.8

(ºC) -31.7 -17.8

Viscosity
106 112 97 96 94
point
 Section 2
• What does the lecturer say is “one of the greatest enemies of
the internal combustion engine”?
The heat created by friction.
• What are the four main purposes of engine oil?
To remove the heat created by friction; to clean the
components; to minimise wear; to reduce engine noise.
• How does the engine oil reach the components which it
protects?
It is pumped.
• What are the most important properties of engine oil which
are mentioned in the part of the lecture you have heard?
Ability to withstand temperature; viscosity.
 Section 3
• When the lecturer introduces his lecture, what are the three
main points he says he will cover?
Why lubrication is important; the properties of oil; how oils are
processed.
• Which of these are described in the extract you heard?
Why lubrication is important; the properties of oils.
• Did he finish describing the properties of engine oil, do you
think?
No. (he didn’t mention specific gravity, for example).
• Which do you think is more interesting for the engineer
studying diesel mechanics:
a) the viscosity of oils? b) the pour point?
a) The viscosity of oils
 Section 4
• Viscosity:
Viscosity is the measurement of fluidity or resistance
to flow.
• The flash point:
The flash point of an oil is the temperature at which it
vapourises and will ignite if a source of ignition is brought
to it.
• The pour point:
The pour point of an oil is the temperature at which it
solidifies.