The diesel engine may be one of the most, if not the most, complex system on a truck. In order to function as it was designed to, its many components must work in conjunction.
Although some engine components are more complicated than others, each has a vital role in proper engine performance.
Some of the major parts of a diesel engine include the crankshaft, cylinder block, rods, pistons and liners. “These components make up the short block,” said Zack Ellison, director of customer technical support, Cummins Inc. “The cylinder head, which normally is a large casting, bolts to the top of this block and seals in the top of the cylinder.”
Look inside the engine and you’ll find components such as the camshafts and roller followers, which open and close the valves.
On the outside of the engine there are a couple key components including the fuel pump, the fuel injectors and the turbocharger, which is more important today than ever before in order to achieve proper engine performance and power, Ellison explained.
Thomas Miles, marketing manager, North American Aftermarket, BorgWarner Turbo Systems, said that turbochargers have been an important component of the internal combustion engine for many years, starting with their use on diesel engines on WWII bombers.
“The turbocharger’s primary function was for normalization of the engine at high altitudes, and currently, the turbocharger is an integral part of the emissions reduction and fuel conservation objectives set before engine manufacturers,” he said.
