THE increasing demand for lighter diesel engines by the U. S. Navy and by long-distance truckers is spotlighting aluminum as essential for major diesel-engine castings, Mr. Jardine states. In practically every division of transportation, he continues, the light-weight power unit is becoming more important, and some of the new highway laws make the use of weight-saving aluminum a necessity.
The author theoretically dismantles a conventional light-weight, high-output diesel built by the National Supply Co. Unit by unit, he shows how aluminum has been substituted for iron and steel, and gives specific reasons for each substitution. Parts thus covered are: crankcase and cylinder block, cylinder sleeves, pistons, bearings, cylinder heads, valve seats, camshaft gears, flywheel housing, and gear cover. This particular aluminum-and-steel engine, Mr. Jardine points out, weighs approximately 7.8 lb per hp, and the aluminum units were substituted with practically no change in design or manufacturing practice.