Contributed by: Sciemetric Staff
Engine manufacturers require a reliable and cost-effective end-of-line test to catch any defects missed during engine assembly. Manufacturers commonly rely on an engine hot test for this process. But many manufacturers are learning of the benefits of incorporating engine cold testing into their end-of-line testing strategy.
What is Engine Cold Testing?
Compared to engine hot testing, which requires longer cycle times and dedicated resources and facilities for the complex test systems, engine cold testing provides an economical and flexible alternative for regular gasoline engines or diesel engines.
A cold test is performed when an electric motor is used to rotate the crankshaft with the engine “cold” (i.e., not running, so no gasoline or special ventilation are required). During this process, sensors monitor operations, including torque, crankshaft angle and pressures, to ensure proper functioning in conditions that mimic actual function in the field.
What to Test During Engine Cold Testing
Sciemetric’s engine cold test systems identify issues introduced during the final engine assembly stages and include high-speed tests, low-speed tests and static tests with operator inspection. Cold test can detect low vacuum, bad oil pump, EGR valve functionality, incorrect engine timing, leaking fuel rail, damaged fuel injectors, knock sensors, missing/damaged gaskets, and more.
Sciemetric’s engine cold test systems are strengthened further with the use of our data collection and digital process signature analysis capabilities which enable full visibility into the tests and processes and the most accurate defect detection.
During the test process, Sciemetric’s process monitoring tools and software records the data collected from each test sensor. This data is then made available in the way of digital process signatures, or waveforms, which provides a visual representation of each moment of the process. By comparing waveforms with those of known “good” engines, the system quickly identifies and pinpoints defective processes, rejecting abnormal or substandard engines.
Below are some examples of the main tests and checks during an engine cold test:
Mechanical
The crankshaft is rotated at a fixed speed and process signatures are collected and analyzed for crank torque, intake vacuum, and exhaust pulses. The mechanical check finds defects such as low vacuum, missing or damaged gaskets, valve train defects or mechanical defects.
Oil system
To test the oil system, the crankshaft is rotated by an electric motor at a fixed speed. The signatures examined during this test include oil pressure vs. angle and the time and frequency domain analysis (FFT). The oil system test will identify missing or damaged gaskets and oil pumps not meeting specifications.
Fuel system
To test the fuel system, the engine is rotated. A standard leak test – either pressure decay or flow – for the fuel rail is performed and the Electronic Engine Control (EEC) pulses injectors are examined. Signatures for the fuel rail and injector pressures are extracted to identify faulty components, leaks and wiring defects.
Ignition system
An ignition test is performed under 2 conditions: engine static and engine running (rotated by an electric motor). We can test two types of ignition coils: COP (Coil on Plug) and COPID (Coil on Plug w/ Integrated Driver). To test the ignition system, the engine is rotated and clamps are placed on the inductive sensors or information inferred from primary sensor readings. The system analyzes ignition pulses vs. time for spark height (in volts) and width (time), to find shorted spark plugs, swapped ignition wires, and faulty spark plugs that are not firing.
EGR valve
To test the EGR valve system, the engine is rotated and engine sensors are monitored. The signature of the intake vacuum as the EGR valve is cycled is analyzed by the system to find valve malfunction or misconnection and missing and/or damaged gaskets.
Sensors
The static test verifies the operation of engine sensors, electrical components and the wiring harness using voltage, current and resistance signatures. This test will detect oil pressure, oil temperature, coolant temperature, vacuum, Crank Position Sensor (CPS), CID (Cylinder Identification), MAP (Manifold Absolute Pressure), and SENT (Single Edge Nibble Transmission) sensor and wiring defects, as well as faults within the wiring harness.
Vibration
To test for unwanted vibration in the engine, the crankshaft is rotated by the electric motor at fixed speeds (high and low). The signatures examined during these tests are Accelerometer readings and FFT (Fast Fourier Transformation) analysis. The defects that can be identified include compression problems, balance issues, valve train defects, gear or timing chain issues, missing bearings, other mechanical defects, and reversed sprockets.
Experience the benefits of engine cold testing with Sciemetric’s proven solutions
Sciemetric has provided cold test systems to top engine manufacturers around the world. Sciemetric’s data collection and digital process signature analysis technology and tools provide the most accurate defect detection for end-of-line engine testing, and beyond.
Looking to discuss end-of-line engine testing? Contact us today to discuss your application.