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Leak down tests on diesels

  • Thread starter Thread starter Regal2800
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Regal2800

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can leak down tests be used on larger diesel motors to help identify a low compression problem in one of the cylinders? ie, bad rings, valves not seating correctly, head gasket? I know this test is used on gas engines, but for some reason i am having trouble finding much information on it with diesels. any input would be great.
 
Yes, Cat and Cummins have procedures for leak down tests. DD does compression tests.
 
ya dd has compression tests, but what do you do once you find one cylinder has low compression? i would think a leak down test would help diagnose the problem for low compression. I understand that either way the head must come off to repair the valves or head gasket, but intuitively it would seem like this test would help isolate the problem, before you start work.
 
Keep in mind that a 2 stroke DD does not have an intake valve so the "seal" for the intake is the same as the seal for compression - the piston rings. So any leakage from the rings will be through to both the crankcase and the intake ports so it's not a meaningful test for a DD.
 
well that is true, which is why it would be more useful for 4 stroke diesels, however there is still the exhaust valves and head gasket which can be tested through this test. Either way, the head must come off, but i think this helps isolate the problem before hand. I guess everyone has their own way to trouble shoot. thanks for everyones input.
 
https://ddcsn-ddc.freightliner.com/cps/rde/xbcr/ddcsn/121-13.pdf

Just found this article. seems as though even Detroit diesel is recommending leak down tests. Granted the engine they mention in this article has intake valves but that shouldn't matter much as both 2 cyc and 4cyc have area for leakages other than the rings.
 
If there is low compression, the head needs to come off no mater what. it is easy enough to turn the head over and pour mineral spirits on the valves and see how they hold.

Don't know, it might be faster to use the tester to listen to the valves with the manifold removed.
 
Last edited:
Certainly a leak down will tell you something on a 2 stroke DD but it cannot isolate isolate well as it can on a 4 stroke. I am a big fan of leak-down testing on 4 stroke motors, in fact I consider it the "other half" of the evaluation that starts with a compression check. IOW, a compression check foliowed by a leak down is an extremely valuable; a compression check by itself can be misleading.

My issue with it in this application is that it doesn't seem worth the trouble due to the difficulty in isolating. Basically, as described, the test results sort of mimics a compression test. In fact, that may be the point since it's easier to perform than a compression test - no need to run the engine for each test.

One thing seems very odd re the test shown in the link. Unless I missed it, there is no mention of piston position for the test. You can't do an accurate leak down without the piston at TDC, or at least with each piston under test in the exact same position - TDC would be the easiest to find. In fact, if you did this test with no regard for piston position - as the guide seems to indicate - you could end up with total, immediate leak down if the piston is below the intake port.

Frankly, it appears to me that the test as described could ONLY work with a 4-stroke motor...

In any case, if you feel a leak down is a useful test procedure for a 2 stroke dd, by all means use it. It certainly can provide "additional information."
 
In aircraft the leak down test is used because you don't want to stand next to a spinning prop doing a compression test. In the leak down test you move the up to TDC because of cylinder choke then work the prop back and forth to seat the rings. With out being able to get the rings seated I don't see that the leak down is all that telling.
 
" In the leak down test you move the up to TDC because of cylinder choke then work the prop back and forth to seat the rings. '"

Yes, exactly the same way it is done with an auto engine...

I just can't see the method outlined in that DD bulletin as being workable/useful at all on a 2 stroke DD.
 
the outline in the article i mentioned is most likely for their newer 4 stroke engines as i saw it indicated 2 of the valves as intake. Obviously on our 2 stroke motors we dont have intake valves, just 4 exhaust valves.

Mike, on a 4 stroke motor you have the following points for leaks:

Intake valves
Exhaust valves
head gasket
rings

On a 2 stroke motor you have the same exact leak points except all four of the valves are for exhaust rather than 2 exhaust and 2 intake. But you still have 4 valves per cylinder where the pressure can leak from. This test just helps us determine the location of the leak prior to disassembly. Of course once you take the head off there are other methods to test whether the exhaust valves are holding pressure or not. For me this test seems the easiest.
 
The easiest and best test for the rings is to remove the air box covers and look at the rings and check ring tention. In a 4 stroke you can measure crankcase pressure on the leak down test 2 strokes the blow by air will escape out the intake ports.
 

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