What are the causes of engine piston misalignment?
2 Answers
Engine piston misalignment causes: 1. Inaccurate positioning during cylinder boring, resulting in the perpendicularity error between the cylinder centerline and the crankshaft main journal centerline exceeding the limit; 2. Connecting rod bending causing non-parallelism between the big end and small end bearing hole centerlines; the non-parallelism between the connecting rod journal centerline and main journal centerline exceeding the limit. 3. Cylinder block or cylinder liner deformation, causing the perpendicularity error between the cylinder centerline and crankshaft main bearing centerline to exceed the limit; 4. Crankshaft bending or twisting deformation, or failure to perform maintenance according to technical specifications, causing the connecting rod journal centerline and main journal centerline to not be in the same plane; connecting rod brass bushing machining not meeting technical requirements with uncorrected deviation. 5. Improper piston pin hole reaming; the piston pin centerline not being perpendicular to the piston centerline.
I previously researched engine piston misalignment, which simply means the piston tilts while sliding inside the cylinder, leading to serious issues. Common causes include bent or deformed connecting rods—usually due to impacts or severe vibrations; eccentric or worn crankshafts, which directly cause the piston's path to deviate from the center; loose or damaged piston pins, losing their fixing function; uneven wear on the cylinder walls, such as scratches from insufficient lubrication; and imprecise assembly, like misaligned components during installation. I've also experienced cases where overheating caused metal expansion and deformation, worsening the misalignment. If not addressed promptly, the consequences include rattling noises, reduced power, increased fuel consumption, and even piston seizure, damaging the engine. For prevention, regular oil changes and maintaining a properly functioning cooling system can reduce risks. If piston misalignment is suspected, using a stethoscope to locate the noise source or seeking professional inspection is advisable.