Galloway Engines

Crack Testing Of Components

A vehicle's engine is a precision machine which operates according to a fine line of critical specifications.  The slightest imperfection, incorrect component or faulty part will affect your engines performance and reliability greatly. 

A vehicle's engine is a precision machine which operates according to a fine line of critical specifications.  The slightest imperfection, incorrect component or faulty part will affect your engines performance and reliability greatly.  There is simply no margin for error.  This crucial set of conditions requires far more detail than what can be seen by the naked eye.  It is therefore necessary to employ various methods of detecting imperfections when rebuilding engines.

Something as mnior as a hairline fracture can have a huge impact on an engine.  In high stress applications such as diesel engines, industrial engines and high performance engines, where the components are subjected to extreme pressures, a minute crack can worsen to become a threat to engine reliability.  It is absolutely vital that conditions are faultless to prevent catastrophic component failure which may result in engine damage, or the engine having to be rebuilt.  In this situation, you will be faced with loss of time and money, which could have been easily prevented. 

Crack testing of components can be carried out using different methods.

Magnetic crack testing is a specialised procedure where the component is magnetized using an electromagnetic field.  A mixture of magnetic particle fluid is sprayed over the component.  The particles in the fluid will congregate along any crack, which can be seen with a black, ultra-violet light.

 

Dye crack testing is another procedure which is used.  Although this method is not as efficient as magnetic crack testing, it is still useful for components such as those made of aluminum which is not able to be magnetized.  In this process, the component is sprayed with a penetrant.  the surface is then wiped down.  The penetrant seeps into any cracks which may be present.  A developer spray is then used which shows up the penetrant which is left behind, therefore displaying the cracks.

If the situation arises where the component is cracked, Galloway Engines can advise if the part will be serviceable or not.  In some cases the component may be repairable.  However, in extreme cases, or where the crack is found within a crucial component, it will be recommended that the part be replaced.

This procedure is good value and well worth the time and effort, as it is good insurance against component failure and gives piece of mind that your reconditioned engine is reliable.