Car engine block

The crankcase is made of the engine casing, the cylinders and the cooling jacket. The crankshaft is situated inside this part. Sometimes the entire engine block is called a crankcase. In general, the crankcase is produced from iron or aluminum. In rare cases, it is also use a spheroidal graphite cast iron, if the stress of the material is particularly high. Sometimes, welding steel structures are possible, especially for very large motors. The crankcase has a cooling function, because it removes the heat generated during combustion and forwards it outside.

In addition, the crankcase must be very stable, because it must endure the forces which is generated during combustion. The cylinder tubes, in which the pistons are located, are taken from the crankcase. The mechanical stress that occurs during movement of the cylinders is enormous, so that the case must be appropriately dimensioned. A complete loss of the crankcase happens in very rare situation. The exchange of this part is very expansive, because it is necessary to dismantled almost the entire engine. Usually, you need to replace only the gasket.

The installation of a new crankcase is a work that should be taken over by an automotive shop. A small mistake during installation process can lead to further defects. In addition, it is necessary to move large weights, so the car owner does not have necessary conditions for repairing. If you also need a belt, a belt cover, a protective tube, one side flashing lamp, a wishbone, a wheel brake cylinder, or another car part, we can help you! Our “quick search” will assist you in our online store! We have a wide range of high quality products.

How to detect malfunctions of the engine cylinder block

First, the engine should be diagnosed with a computer. This will allow checking the correctness of the engine operation cycle in the context of strokes, and the condition of pistons.

For a more thorough check, the engine should be removed from the vehicle. Dismantling the engine is a long and laborious process that requires a lot of knowledge and experience, therefore, it is recommended to entrust it to specialists at a service station.

After removing the Crankcase and dismantling its head and pistons, the component should be checked for damages inside.

The engine cylinder block service life is not limited to a certain duration. In most cases, replacement is not required during the entire service life of the vehicle. However, if the engine is operated incorrectly or foreign objects have got into the engine cylinder block, the component should be replaced. Poor quality lubricants and fuel cause clogging of the component.

You may notice that the Crankcase may need diagnostics by the following symptoms:

• the engine has significantly lost power;
• the engine coil does not produce sparks;
• the vehicle does not accelerate to its maximum speed;
• the engine misfires;
• the motor spontaneously stalls at idle or low RPM;
• the engine operates incorrectly at any RPM.

The reasons for the engine cylinder block malfunctions

The Crankcase is constantly exposed to intensive mechanical loads. Therefore, the reason of premature wear of the component may be poor quality of its manufacture.

Insufficient amount of lubricant and overheating of the connecting rod bearing often result in breakage of the connecting rod, mechanical damage on the bottom part of the component, and destruction of the crankshaft. Scratches in the central part of the cylinder are caused by incorrect installation of the piston pin.

Improper tightening of the bolts of the cylinder head may be the reason behind cracking of the cylinder sleeve. High pressure due to the ingress of the cooling fluid may result in rupturing of the cylinder sleeve.

A frequent reason for component deformation and appearance of burrs on it is engine overheating.

The reason of cracks on the component is sharp temperature changes inside it. This may be caused by freezing of the fluid inside the cooling system, severe overheating and excessive loads on the component.

Repairing and replacing the Crankcase

Very often, incorrect operation of the cylinder block is caused by dirt in the component. Note that only this malfunction can be removed by repair. To do so, first remove the crankcase, then dismantle the internal system, and purge the component. To remove the dirt inside the component, sandblasting is used in most cases.

If the block is damaged inside or outside, or separate components are worn, a new component is installed. It is expensive, therefore try to avoid the damages that may lead to replacement.