Tag: engine maintenance

mass airflow sensor in a truck

Troubleshooting Mass Airflow Sensor In A Truck

What is the role of mass airflow sensor in a truck? Two primary ingredients are essential for combustion to take place, that is air and fuel. The ratio of these ingredients is necessary for better combustion. Mass airflow sensor calculates the amount of oxygen that flows into the combustion chamber, which is essential for an ideal fuel-to-air ratio. 

This guide will focus on the common symptoms of a faulty mass air flow sensor and how to troubleshoot it.

Symptoms of a Faulty Mass Airflow Sensor

Common symptoms your truck will show when the mass airflow sensor becomes faulty.

The Appearance of the Engine Check Light

The engine control module monitors all sensors in your truck and ensures everything is functioning effectively. The ECM will illuminate the check engine light when a sensor sends a wrong signal.

When the mass airflow sensor is faulty, an engine check light will appear on your dashboard.

Poor Acceleration

When your mass airflow is faulty, there will be an inadequate fuel-to-air mixture in the combustion chamber. Fuel will only adequately burn when the air supply is high in the combustion chamber. When this happens, your truck cannot generate adequate power when you press the acceleration pedal. 

Black Smoke

Your truck will produce black smoke when your mass airflow sensor is faulty. The combustion chamber will not receive adequate air, leading to a rich air-to-fuel mixture. Black smoke is a result of the engine burning more fuel than oxygen.

Hard Starting

In the morning, you might realize that starting your truck becomes hard, and this is due to a faulty mass airflow sensor. Truck engines are usually sensitive to the proportion of fuel and air that initiates engine combustion. When your engine is rich or lean, your truck will not start or crank quickly.

Rough Idle

Idling is an essential time. During idling, you will note several issues related to your engines, such as problems with the ignition or even the airflow sensor. If you realize that your idling is becoming rough, there are higher chances of your engine stalling. Consider checking the condition of your mass airflow sensors.

Troubleshooting a Mass Airflow Sensor

Knowing how to test your mass airflow is essential, do the following to troubleshoot it. 

  • Connect your OBD2 and note the data from your mass airflow sensor at idle. The reading should be 0mg.
  • Start your truck and check the values of your sensor. These values should go up when revving, but the figures should also drop when the RPM reduces. If the values remain the same when revving and not revving, your airflow sensor might be faulty.
  • Check your truck repair manual to know how you can measure your sensor and its wiring.
  • If the wiring is faulty, you will need to consider repairing them. 

Conclusion

Air is essential in the engine as it facilitates the engine’s combustion process. For proper combustion in your engine, there has to be a uniform air-to-fuel mixture. Mass airflow sensor ensures there is adequate fuel to the air mixture.

A faulty mass airflow sensor has the above symptoms. When you experience them, consider troubleshooting the cause.

fuel injector

Symptoms of Faulty Diesel Fuel Injector

Diesel engines depend on fuel injector to deliver fuel into the combustion chamber. It will provide the right fuel for the engine to function effectively at the right time. The combustion chamber thus receives enough diesel to cater for the production of power.

Diesel fuel injectors usually have nozzles and a body. Sometimes they crack and wear out. When they become faulty, they do not function effectively, making it difficult for the combustion chamber to receive an adequate amount of diesel. Here are some symptoms to note when your diesel fuel injector becomes faulty.

Engine Misfire

Engine misfire indicates that the combustion chamber lacks something fundamental to facilitate the combustion process. Sometimes, this thing can be there but in a limited supply. 

When your injector is faulty, it will not be able to pump an adequate amount of fuel to facilitate ignition. When ignition fails in any of the cylinders, the injector pumps a low quantity of diesel into the cylinder.

Dirty Emissions

Dirty emissions from the exhaust pipes result from a clogged diesel injector. Such emissions result from the incomplete combustion of diesel and oxygen in the combustion chamber. 

Initially, your truck will emit white smoke that pollutes the environment. As soon as you notice such emissions, it is essential to check on your diesel injectors since such emissions contaminate the environment.

Diesel Fuel Smell

When your diesel fuel injector is faulty, you will feel the smell of diesel fuel in your truck. Such a smell is an indication of leakages. A truck requires the right amount of diesel to function smoothly, and the diesel injector has to supply fuel at the right time. 

If the diesel injector is faulty, diesel may flow at the wrong time or even in excess. In such a scenario, the smell of diesel will be rampant in your truck. 

Engine Check Light

The engine check light will appear on the dashboard whenever your truck develops issues. When the light appears, it is necessary to scan the ECU error code. 

Scanning the error code will help you determine the cause of the appearance of the engine check light. The glow plug might be faulty if the engine misfires accompanying the check light. Check the condition of the glow plugs before checking the diesel fuel injector.

Reduced Fuel Economy

Your truck will consume more fuel when the diesel injector is faulty. Apart from increased fuel consumption, the performance of your truck will reduce. The efficiency of your truck will decrease, and if you delay checking the cause, it can escalate into other issues that might be costly to fix.

Hard Start

A faulty diesel fuel injector will not let your engine start. Instead, it will crank and fail to start immediately. If you experience such, consider checking the diesel fuel injectors.

Conclusion

A faulty diesel fuel injector can reduce the performance of your truck, increase fuel consumption and give your truck other complications. The above are the common signs you should know to help you determine if your truck has a faulty diesel injector.

engine control module

Signs of Bad Engine Control Module In A Truck

Your truck will show various symptoms when your engine control module is faulty or bad. After reading this guide, you can tell whether you have a bad engine control module and what to do. The Engine Control Module has various names, such as the Engine Control Unit (ECU). It is a vital part that sends a message to the motor to ensure they operate smoothly. 

The ECM controls several operations of your truck, and when it malfunctions, your truck will have various performance issues. 

What are The Signs of a Bad Engine Control Module?

When the Engine Control Module starts or malfunctions, your truck will exhibit signs that are discussed below.

The Appearance of the Engine Check Light

All modern trucks have an engine check light on the dashboard. The role of the engine check light is to communicate to you that there is a problem in the engine that you should address. The light can show as a result of various issues with the engine, and a faulty ECM is one of them.

If a sensor, circuit, or any electronic component of the Engine Control Module becomes faulty, it will turn on the engine check light. 

Your Engine will Start Misfiring or Even Stall

Your engine will receive a message when the ECM starts to become faulty, and this will create an imbalance. You will experience misfiring. If it is extreme, your truck can even stall. However, the engine stall or misfiring will be erotic, sometimes your engine will run perfectly, but sometimes it becomes challenging to control. 

The Engine Performance Issues

The problem of engine performance can be linked to a faulty ECM. When the module is faulty, there will be an imbalance in your engine’s fuel-air ratio or even the timing settings. In such a situation, the performance of your engine will reduce, especially when you try to press the gas pedal. When you experience acceleration issues, link it to ECM.

Reduced Fuel Economy

When the ECM of your truck is faulty, it will be difficult for your truck to regulate the fuel intake, and your truck will start to burn more fuel. 

If you are always keen on fuel economy, you will realize this problem as soon as it starts. But spending more time at the gas pump is a clear sign that your fuel economy has reduced.

Your Truck May Fail to Start

When your ECM dies, your truck will not start because the engine management will not function, and the truck will not know what to do. You will hear your truck cranking from little or no fuel and air injected into the combustion chamber. However, if your truck does not start, it does not mean that the ECM is faulty. Other common causes are a dead battery, a faulty fuel system, or a problem with the ignition system.

Conclusion

The Engine Control Module controls all the processes that take place in your engine. When it becomes faulty, various parts of your engine will either stop or not function properly. The signs in this guide are common, and you will experience them once your ECM becomes faulty. 

Bad Piston Rings

How To Know You Have Bad Piston Rings in Your Truck

How do you know that you have bad piston rings in your truck? The internal combustion engine has cylinders. The cylinders are the powerhouse of your engine. Inside the cylinders, there are pistons that have rings around them. The rings’ primary function is to help keep the combustion chamber pressurized, making it easy for combustion.

How To Know You Have Bad Piston Rings

The piston rings are the primary seal between the piston and the walls of the cylinder. If the rings wear out or fail, you will experience your engine becoming less powerful, together with other problems. This guide will focus on the common signs your truck will give when it has bad piston rings.

Emission of Blue Smoke

When your piston rings are worn out, your truck will start to emit blue smoke. The blue smoke results from oil getting into the combustion chamber and mixing with fuel and air. This mixture produces a blue smoke when burning. When you see blue smoke, consider consulting your mechanic as soon as possible. If you ignore these warnings, your truck will develop other serious problems that might be costly.

Weak Acceleration

The combustion chamber loses pressure when the piston rings are damaged. Less pressure in the combustion chamber will lead to poor acceleration as your engine will lose power since the pistons cannot effectively compress the air-fuel mixture.

When you press the accelerator pedal against the floor, but your engine is still not giving you adequate power, consider checking and replacing your piston rings. Doing this will restore the compression pressure.

Oil Leakages

High pressure develops inside the crankcase and interferes with the sealings of the engine. Poor sealing makes oil leak. When you experience many leaks, consider checking the pressure in the crankcase of your truck.

To check the crankcase pressure, leave your engine idle as you carefully open the oil cap. You should not experience any pressure while doing this, but your piston rings might be faulty if the oil cap flies away with smoke pouring out.

Oil Disappearance in Large Quantities

When your piston rings are faulty, they will not stop oil from leaking into the cylinder. When oil leaks into your combustion chamber, the chances of it mixing with fuel and air are very high.

Your oil will leak into the combustion chamber gradually, which will make you experience a drastic drop in the oil level in your truck. Drastic drops in oil levels will compel you to refill it regularly. 

If you were used to changing the oil after every 5000 miles, you might find yourself doing it at 3000 miles. When you experience such an event, stop wasting your time and book an appointment with your mechanic as soon as possible. A professional mechanic will take time to diagnose your valve seals and piston rings and give necessary advice according to their findings.

Conclusion

The piston rings provide sealing for the piston. Good sealing prevents oil from getting into the cylinders and also offers the needed pressure within the cylinder. When your truck has bad piston rings, it cannot function effectively and needs to be tended to.

What Does Ticking Noise From Engine of Truck Mean?

What Does Ticking Noise From Engine of Truck Mean?

The production of ticking sound from your engine can be normal or can result from other parts of your truck which are faulty. Your engine will produce a clicking noise when the truck is in motion, when you press the acceleration pedal or when the engine is idling. This guide will focus on the causes of ticking noise from engine and how you can fix it.

What Does Ticking Noise From Engine of Truck Mean?

Causes of Engine ticking Sound

There are parts of the engine which are in constant rotation and reciprocation, and such movement is likely to cause a ticking sound that should not worry you. When you hear a ticking sound, this is what it means.

Operating Noise and Normal Engine Wear

The design of your truck’s engine can make it produce the ticking sound when functioning. When your engine starts to wear, it will likely have a ticking sound. Such should not bother you, but some ticking noises should concern you.

Your engine will produce ticks when the fuel injectors fire. The fuel injectors are parts of your truck’s electric system, and their primary function is to open and close to allow the right amount of fuel inside the combustion chamber. When the injectors open and idle, you will hear sounds like someone tapping a pencil on the table. Such a ticking sound should not worry you.

The exhaust manifold leak will produce a ticking sound when the engine is idling or on a low RMP which should not worry you as it ensures that the exhaust fumes are at their correct position.

When Your Valves are Poorly Adjusted

Your engine has two valves, the intake, and the exhaust valves. When these valves are poorly adjusted, you will hear the ticking sound.

The rocker arms help in the valves’ opening-closing and depend on pushrods to function. The pushrods must be far from the valves to work effectively.

The valve opens and closes twice as your engine functions. You will hear the ticking sound when the valves open and close correctly.

Bad Lifters

The cylinder depends on various lifters for its valves to open and close. The lifers wear out with time. Bad lifters will produce a ticking sound in the engine. 

Filter Spacing Problems

The filters are in between the pushrods and the camshaft. When the space between the filter, pushrods and the camshaft is loose or tight, it will be problematic for your truck. When the space is too loose, the three components will have adequate contact, and you will hear a ticking sound.

Bad/Contaminated engine oil

As you drive your truck on various terrain, its oil will come into contact with dirt contaminating it. For this reason, every manufacturer will advise you to replace your oil after a specific mileage. If you fail to service your oil, the dirt will accumulate and block the oil filters making your engine produce a clicking sound. 

Conclusion

It would help if you did not worry when your engine is producing a ticking sound. Sometimes the ticking sound might signal an issue or the regular engine operation.

Difference Between a 4-Cycle and a 2-Cycle Engine

What Is the Difference Between a 4-Cycle and a 2-Cycle Engine?

The internal combustion engine depends on introducing fuel and oxygen into the cylinder to burn. The spark plug located at the cylinder does the role of initiating the explosion. The cylinder has a piston that moves up and down, and such motion is called cycles or strokes. In this guide, we will be looking at the difference between a 4-cycle and a 2-cycle engine system.

In a 4-cycle engine, the piston moves 4 times in the cylinder to initiate air and fuel intake, combustion, and emission of exhaust gases. On the other hand, in the 2-cycle engine, the piston moves only two times in the cylinder for air and fuel intake, combustion, and release of exhaust substances.

Difference Between a 4-Cycle and a 2-Cycle Engine

The difference between the 2 and 4-cycle engines is how fast the combustion cycle occurs. The complete combustion of the mixture of fuel and air solely depends on the number of upward and downward movements the piston makes in the cylinder. 

The 4-Cycle Engine

The 4-stroke engine goes through 2 complete revolutions for complete combustion. One revolution is compression, and the last one is the exhaust stroke. At the end of every stroke/cycle, the piston goes to the upper part of the cylinder. The spark plug only fires once after the air and fuel mix in the cylinder, and the end of every 4-stroke is marked by the production of mechanical energy, which initiates motion on all the engine’s moving parts. Such kinds of engines do not need fuel that has been mixed with oxygen, and they have a different oil component. 

The 2-Cycle engine

Only a single piston movement completes the entire combustion in the cylinder. A compression stroke leads to an explosion, and the exhaust gases get out on the return stroke. The spark plug only fires once in every single revolution. Such engines operate efficiently when the fuel and oil are mixed before combustion.

Differences Between the Two Engines

Here are some of the differences between the two engines. After reading, you will be able to make a verdict on which is better and why. 

The 4-cycle engine consumes fuel only once after every 4-cycle, making them more fuel efficient than the 2-stroke engines. 

4-cycle engines are relatively heavy compared to their 2-cycle counterparts, which weigh 50% less than the latter.  

In terms of torque, the 2-cycle engines require a higher RPM to generate torque. On the other hand, the 4-cycle engine generates more torque at a lower RPM.

The 4-cycle engine works quietly, making it the best option for luxury and comfort. On the other hand, the 2-cycle engine is loud when running and usually produces a buzzing sound.

The 4-cycle engines are more durable, while the 2-cycle engines wear out very fast but produce a lot of power. 

The 2-cycle engines require the fuel and oil to mix first, while the 4-stroke engines do not. 

Conclusion,

Both the 2 and 4-cycle engines have different working principles to generate mechanical energy. You have learned from this article that they also have various strengths and weaknesses.