Advanced Engine Performance

Diagnosis
SIXTH EDITION

CHAPTER 2
Engine and Misfire
Diagnosis

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Sixth Edition
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James D. Halderman
 OBJECTIVES

 Prepare for ASE Engine Performance

(A8) certification test content area “A”
(General Diagnosis).
 Discuss engine noise and engine smoke
concerns and its relation to engine
condition.
 Describe how to perform dry, wet, and
running compression tests.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Sixth Edition
All Rights Reserved
James D. Halderman
 OBJECTIVES

 Explain how to perform a cylinder

leakage test.
 Discuss vacuum testing to determine
engine condition.
 Describe how to test for excessive
exhaust system back pressure.
 List the possible causes of an engine
misfire.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Sixth Edition
All Rights Reserved
James D. Halderman
 OBJECTIVES

 Explain how to perform a diagnostic

step-by-step procedure to determine
the root cause of a misfire.
 Describe how to perform a cylinder
power balance, cylinder contribution
test, and cylinder pressure testing.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Sixth Edition
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James D. Halderman
 ENGINE NOISE DIAGNOSIS;
ENGINE SMOKE DIAGNOSIS
• The color of engine exhaust smoke can
indicate what type of engine problem
might exist
 Blue
 Black
 White
• Items that may cause engine noise
include the following:
 Valves clicking
Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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James D. Halderman
ENGINE NOISE DIAGNOSIS;
ENGINE SMOKE DIAGNOSIS
 Torque converter
 Cracked flex plate
 Loose or defective drive belts or
tensioners
 Piston pin knock
 Piston slap
 Timing chain noise
 Rod bearing noise
 Main bearing knock
Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,
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James D. Halderman
Figure 4.1 White steam is usually an indication of
a blown (defective) cylinder head gasket that allows
engine coolant to flow into the combustion chamber
where it is turned to steam.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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James D. Halderman
Figure 4.2 What looks like an oil pan gasket leak
can be a valve or cam cover gasket leak.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

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James D. Halderman
 Figure 4.3 A noisy valve was discovered to be a
pushrod that punched through a rocker arm on this
General Motors 3.1 liter V-6 engine.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Sixth Edition
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James D. Halderman
Figure 4.5 A cracked exhaust manifold can make
a clicking sound that is often difficult to find.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Sixth Edition
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James D. Halderman
 ENGINE-RELATED MISFIRE
DIAGNOSIS
• Cylinder Contribution Test
 An automated test that a scan tool
performs by turning a fuel injector off to
one cylinder at the time and monitors
the drop, or increase in engine speed.
 This change in engine speed should be
the same for all cylinders if all cylinders
are working correctly.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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James D. Halderman
Figure 4.10 The Ford IDS scan tool has a graph function
that allows the technician to view the data on the cylinder
contribution test visually, making diagnosis easier.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Sixth Edition
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James D. Halderman
 ENGINE-RELATED MISFIRE
DIAGNOSIS
• Cylinder Balance Test
 Used to determine if all cylinders are
contributing power equally.
 This is determined by shorting out
(disabling) one cylinder at a time.
 If the engine speed (RPM) does not drop
as much for one cylinder as for other
cylinders of the same engine, then the
shorted cylinder must be weaker than
the other cylinders.
Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,
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James D. Halderman
Figure 4.11 Using a vacuum hose and a test light
to ground one cylinder at a time on a waste spark
ignition system.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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James D. Halderman
 COMPRESSION TEST

• Cranking Compression Test

 An engine cranking compression test is
one of the fundamental engine
diagnostic tests that can be performed.
For smooth engine operation, all
cylinders must have equal compression.
 An engine can lose compression when
air leaks through one or more of the
following three routes.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

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James D. Halderman
Figure 4.14 The coil-on-plug ignition coil and spark
plug were removed and the pressure transducer was
threaded into the spark plug hole.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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James D. Halderman
Figure 4.15 A Pico scope connected to a laptop
computer is being used to capture the cylinder
pressure waveform.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

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James D. Halderman
Figure 4.16 It often requires an assistant to perform
a compression test: One person watches the first
puff reading on the gauge and the other person cranks
the engine.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

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James D. Halderman
 COMPRESSION TEST

 Intake or exhaust valve or seal

 Piston rings (or piston, if there is a hole)
 Cylinder head gasket
• Wet Compression Test
 If the compression test reading
indicates low compression on one or
more cylinders, add three squirts of oil
to the cylinder and retest.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

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Sixth Edition
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James D. Halderman
Figure 4.17 A leaking valve will cause a
lower-than-normal compression reading.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

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Sixth Edition
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James D. Halderman
 COMPRESSION TEST

 This is called a wet compression test,

because oil is used to help seal around
the piston rings.
• Running (Dynamic) Compression Test
 Engine faults that are often detected by
performing a running compression
test include:
• Broken valve springs; Worn valve guides;
Bent pushrods; Worn cam lobes

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

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James D. Halderman
 CYLINDER LEAKAGE TEST

• Step 1 For best results, the engine

should be at normal operating
temperature (upper radiator hose hot
and pressurized).
• Step 2 The cylinder being tested must
be at top dead center (TDC) of the
compression stroke
• Step 3 Connect the tester to shop air
not over 100 PSI (700 kPa).
Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,
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James D. Halderman
 CYLINDER LEAKAGE TEST

• Step 4 Calibrate the cylinder leakage

unit as per manufacturer’s instructions.
• Step 5 Inject air into the cylinders one
at a time, rotating the engine as
necessitated by firing order to test each
cylinder at TDC on the compression
stroke.
• Step 6 Evaluate the results:
 Less than 10% leakage: good
Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,
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James D. Halderman
 CYLINDER LEAKAGE TEST

 Less than 20% leakage: acceptable

 Less than 30% leakage: poor
 More than 30% leakage: definite
problem
• Step 7 Check the source of air leakage.
 a. If air is heard escaping from the oil
filler cap, the piston rings are worn or
broken.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Sixth Edition
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James D. Halderman
 CYLINDER LEAKAGE TEST

 b. If air is observed bubbling out of the

radiator, there is a possible blown head
gasket or cracked cylinder head.
 c. If air is heard coming from the
throttle body, there is a defective intake
valve(s).
 d. If air is heard coming from the
tailpipe, there is a defective exhaust
valve(s).

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Sixth Edition
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James D. Halderman
 Figure 4.18 A two-piece compression gauge
showing the Schrader valve removed from the end
that is screwed into the spark plug hole.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Sixth Edition
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James D. Halderman
Figure 4.19 A typical handheld cylinder leakage
tester.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

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James D. Halderman
 Figure 4.20 A whistle stop used to find top dead center.
Remove the spark plug and install the whistle stop, then
rotate the engine by hand. When the whistle stops making
a sound, this means that the piston is at the top.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Sixth Edition
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James D. Halderman
 VACUUM TESTS

• An engine in good mechanical condition

will run with high manifold vacuum.
• Vacuum will increase anytime the
engine turns faster or has better
cylinder sealing while the throttle plate
remains in a fixed position.
• Manifold vacuum will decrease when
the engine turns more slowly or when
the cylinders no longer do an efficient
job of pumping.
Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,
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James D. Halderman
Figure 4.21 An engine in good mechanical condition
should produce 17 to 21 in. Hg of vacuum at idle at
sea level.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

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James D. Halderman
Figure 4.22 A steady but low reading could indicate
retarded valve or ignition timing.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

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James D. Halderman
 Figure 4.23 A gauge reading with the needle
fluctuating 3 to 9 in. Hg below normal often indicates
a vacuum leak in the intake system.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

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James D. Halderman
Figure 4.24 A leaking head gasket can cause the
needle to vibrate as it moves through a range from
below to above normal.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

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James D. Halderman
Figure 4.25 An oscillating needle 1 or 2 in. Hg
below normal could indicate an incorrect air–fuel
mixture (either too rich or too lean).

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

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James D. Halderman
Figure 4.26 A rapidly vibrating needle at idle that
becomes steady as engine speed is increased
indicates worn valve guides.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

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James D. Halderman
 Figure 4.27 If the needle drops 1 or 2 in. Hg from
the normal reading, one of the engine valves is burned
or is not seating properly.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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James D. Halderman
 Figure 4.28 Weak valve springs will produce a normal
reading at idle, but as engine speed increases, the needle
will fluctuate rapidly between 12 and 24 in. Hg.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Sixth Edition
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James D. Halderman
Figure 4.29 A typical vacuum waveform as displayed
on a scope connected to a vacuum transducer and
connected to the intake manifold.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

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James D. Halderman
 EXHAUST BACKPRESSURE
TESTING
• Common causes of restricted exhaust
include the following:
 Clogged catalytic converter
 Clogged or restricted muffler
• If the exhaust system is not
restricted, the vacuum reading will
be the same or higher than the
vacuum reading when the engine
was at idle speed
Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,
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James D. Halderman
 EXHAUST BACKPRESSURE
TESTING
• If the vacuum reading is lower at 2500
RPM than when it was at idle speed,
then an exhaust restriction is indicated.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

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James D. Halderman
 MISFIRE DIAGNOSIS

• Causes of Misfires
 Engine Mechanical Fault
 Ignition System Fault
 Fuel System Fault

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

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James D. Halderman
Figure 4.30 The relationship among cylinders showing
where the intake stroke occurs in relation to other
cylinders.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

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Sixth Edition
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James D. Halderman
Figure 4.31 A technician-made adapter used to test
exhaust system back pressure.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

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James D. Halderman
Figure 4.32 A technician marked pressure gauge
showing a green line for acceptable backpressure
readings and the red line indicating excessive
backpressure readings.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Sixth Edition
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James D. Halderman
 SUMMARY

 The first step in diagnosing engine

condition is to perform a thorough
visual inspection, including a check of
oil and coolant levels and their
condition.
 Many engine-related problems make a
characteristic noise.
 A compression test can be used to test
the condition of valves and piston rings.
Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Sixth Edition
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James D. Halderman
 SUMMARY

 A cylinder leakage test fills the cylinder

with compressed air, and the gauge
indicates the percentage of leakage.
 Cylinder balance test, relative
compression test, and cylinder
contribution test indicate whether all
cylinders are working normally.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Sixth Edition
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James D. Halderman
 SUMMARY

 Testing engine vacuum is another

procedure that can help the service
technician determine engine condition.
 Testing the engine using a DSO and
pressure transducer helps pinpoint the
root cause of an engine condition or a
misfire problem.

Advanced Engine Performance Diagnosis,

Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Sixth Edition
All Rights Reserved
James D. Halderman