What's the reason for one cylinder not working in a twin-cylinder diesel engine?
2 Answers
Twin-cylinder diesel engine having one cylinder not working is due to engine misfire. Reasons for engine misfire: Aging of ignition coils and spark plugs leads to failure of the cylinder's ignition system. When ignition coils have issues, it most commonly results in reduced power, and in severe cases, can cause sudden engine stalling; clogged fuel injectors or fuel lines prevent sufficient fuel supply for combustion in the cylinder, naturally causing the cylinder to malfunction; long-term poor combustion leads to carbon buildup at the spark plug ignition point. When these carbon deposits are moistened by fuel, they create a parallel shunt resistance, resulting in spark plug leakage, weak sparking, or even spark plug failure. Hazards of engine misfire operation: Engine speed and power decrease. Fuel consumption and emission pollution increase. Accelerates wear on moving parts, shortening the lubrication oil change cycle. The engine load increases in misfiring vehicles, causing more noticeable body vibrations and making sudden stalling highly likely.
After driving trucks for so many years, I often encounter single-cylinder failures in twin-cylinder diesel engines, mostly due to fuel system issues. Clogged fuel injectors are the most common problem, where impurities in the diesel block the injector nozzles, or the injectors themselves become worn or malfunction. Another frequent issue is insufficient compression, possibly caused by a blown head gasket or worn piston rings, leading to inadequate compression pressure for ignition. When troubleshooting, try starting the engine and listening for the silent cylinder, or use an infrared thermometer to check for temperature differences in the cylinder block. Additionally, sensor failures, such as a faulty crankshaft position sensor, can misdiagnose a single-cylinder failure, so it's essential to read fault codes with a diagnostic tool. For safety, don't push it—take the truck to a repair shop for a thorough inspection. Otherwise, severe engine shaking can affect driving stability. Diesel engine repairs require expertise; attempting DIY fixes might cause more problems.
