Know The Heart Of A Diesel Engine: The Diesel Injection System

A number of vehicles, from small cars to heavy locomotives run on diesel engine. Diesel engines are much better off than the petrol engine in certain aspects, such as, pulling capacity, fuel economy, heavy carrying capacity, etc. Though the mechanism of working of both gasoline and diesel engines s almost same, there are some differences exist in their operations. Diesel engine comprises of a diesel injection system, which is responsible for injecting the fuel into the engine to wither away the problem of cold starting. Diesel injection systems have evolved from direct injecting method to mechanical one and then it further advanced to electronic injecting systems. These systems are used in minimizing the emissions and maximizing the fuel economy. These systems are very complicated to be fixed domestically and one should not take chances with repairing it. Nevertheless, we describe some of the key aspects regarding diesel injection systems.

Diesel Injection Systems

Fuel injectors of early days attached with a mechanical pump for the process of injection. These used to contain a valve assembly driven by crankshaft using a timing belt. These valves are connected with springs which are responsible for opening and closing of the valve, due to fuel pressure. This system has been overtaken by modern fuel-injecting systems, which has a separate fuel pump for doing the job. These pumps supply the fuel to the injectors through a solenoid attached to it. Each solenoid is connected to an Electronic Control Unit (ECU), which tenders a supreme control over the system.

The new design is much simpler than the older complex designs involving pump and valve assembly, more reliable and less noisy. The modern injecting system also includes the spring system into it. The injecting systems also have an electronic governer into it which monitors the speed of the engine by controlling the time rate of fuel injection into engine. Thus it is quite clear that the modern fuel injectors contain some highly sophisticated control units into it. Any discrepancy in these systems needs specialized handling and a commoner can't do much to fix it.

Some of the common issues may include worn-out spring system or an errant fuel pump. However, we can check the alignment of this sytem and ensure that the system is structurally integrated with the components it is attached with. The structural coherence between the system and the components can be maintained by screwing the connecting lugs and bolts adequately.

The injecting may get doped with some unwanted impurities, which will ultimately hamper the functioning of the engine as a whole. We can look for this excessive deposition and clean these with the help of a suitable cleaner. Timely lubrication of the system can also help in smooth functioning of the spring system. But, lubrication should be done consciously and contact of ECU with the lubricant must be avoided.

If you are a novice in handling the engine systems of the automobile, then you should rush to a qualified mechanic, if any disturbance in the engine occurs. Amateur handling can prove to be dangerous.