The Effect of Methanol Carburetion on Face and Side Wear of Top Piston Ring of a CI Engine

The conversion of C I engine for operation in part or pure alcohols will be successful only when reliability, performance, life cycle and service expenses compare with the pure diesel operation. The top piston ring wear reflects interaction between engine fuel quality and lubricant performance with particular reference to application of alternate fuels. Radiotracer technique was used to study face and side wear of chrome plated top piston ring of a methanol diesel bifuel engine. The results have shown behaviour of the ring wear when methanol is inducted at different engine loads, speeds and water jacket temperatures. The top piston ring wear was found to increase with increasing engine load and % methanol induction. Peak pressures and rate of pressure rise appeared to be the principal reasons contributing to higher wear.