POSSIBILITIES FOR REDUCING ENGINE OIL CONTAMINATION

Abstract

The technical condition, service life, and operational reliability of tractor and combine harvester engines are significantly influenced by their operating environment, including climatic conditions, load modes, speed and thermal regimes, external factors, and contamination generated by internal mechanisms. Among these variables, the climatic conditions of Mongolia have been shown by many researchers to exert a particularly strong influence. Due to the continental climate with extreme temperature fluctuations, low annual precipitation, and especially the dry and dusty environment in spring and autumn, airborne soil particles increase sharply, leading to intensified engine contamination for agricultural machinery operating in open fields. Dust particles, abrasive wear debris, and contaminants generated during engine operation are the primary contributors to engine contamination. This study examined the pathways through which dust enters engine oil, and introduced a non-destructive diagnostic method using an ultrasonic leak detector to identify micro-leaks invisible to the human eye in the engine air-intake system. Experimental results revealed micro-cracks in the intake system, which were repaired, leading to a 17.3-fold reduction in engine oil contamination. This indicates that dust entering through microscopic gaps undetectable by visual inspection can directly affect engine wear and performance.