Feature

New solutions allow engine braking on heavy-duty hydraulic valve-lash engines

Current heavy-duty diesel engines often lack a feature that is virtually standard in most other automotive engine applications: hydraulic valve-lash adjustment, or hydraulic lifters as they are sometimes known.

28/04/2023 16:38:03

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Hydraulic lifters remove the need manually to set valve clearances during manufacturing or to adjust them in service. There is no requirement to remove rocker covers during services, reducing the risk of
the internals being contaminated by foreign objects falling into the engine. This also means that clearances cannot be mis-set, which at best causes poor performance and excessive noise. and, at worst, damage to
the valve and cylinder head.

There is also an obvious saving in service time, particularly where tight engine packaging requires the removal of components before the rocker cover can be accessed.

Hydraulic
valve-lash adjustment is likely to become an attractive technology to engine makers in the medium and large-capacity segments. Regulation of diesel engine emissions is becoming increasingly stringent in on and off-highway markets across
the world. This applies not only to the engine’s emissions output when new, but also to the length of in-service time that the engine must remain in compliance.

Read the full article in DPA's May issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.