What is a crankshaft bearing?

Power delivery to each of the wheels happens through gearing along with a shaft that is called the crankshaft Bearing, Which sits between the crankshaft and the body of the engine. Its primary role is to support the crankshaft so that it can turn freely. The crankshaft bearing is subjected to immense pressure and friction when the engine is running. As a result, it has to have excellent wear resistance and lubrication properties, otherwise, there will be a problem. If there is a crankshaft bearing issue, the engine does not function. In fact, if driving the car normally, you need to focus more on the condition of the crankshaft bearing. You check it very quickly if you find something wrong, and don't think about it until it becomes serious.

A fault signal is generated by the engine abnormality

1.Abnormal sound

If the crankshaft bearing is damaged, the engine will probably make a metallic knock or friction noise when running. This noise will be more apparent when accelerating or under high load. Be careful when driving. If you listen to this unusual sound, you should instantly turn off the machine and look at it. As they say on the Internet when the crankshaft wheel is broken, the engine speed suddenly changes a dull "boring" knock sound will be emitted with vibration. In addition, the change of the load of the engine will also make the noise more apparent, and the higher the speed, the more the noise. A single cylinder "misfiring" will not feel much different, but two adjacent cylinders misfire at the same time, the noise will be significantly reduced. These are all signs that the crankshaft bearing may have problems.

2.Abnormal vibration

The engine may also shake abnormally due to crankshaft bearing failure. It could be that the whole engine rattles, or it could be that part of the machine is freaking out. You can touch the engine casing (most of the time, you can touch the bearings by taking off the oil pan) or observe the vibration indicator on the dashboard to see if there is abnormal vibration. A badly-worn crankshaft bearing will cause the engine to vibrate fairly violently. Breaking crankshaft bearing will lose the balance of the engine, body shake when driving.

3. Abnormal temperature

Motorists complain that crankshaft bearing problems otherwise would cause engine temperature to rise. Those heat cannot be dissipated due to the bearing worn or badly lubricated. You can look at the coolant temperature gauge or the oil temperature gauge. If the temperature is abnormal, it may be that the crankshaft bearing is faulty.

 Professional tools to help

1. Stethoscope

The stethoscope is a tool specially used to detect whether there is any abnormal noise in the engine. Put your ear close to the engine and listen carefully with a stethoscope to tell where the abnormal noise comes from. This method is particularly useful for determining whether there is a fault in the crankshaft bearing. If you hear an abnormal sound, you should check whether there is a problem with the crankshaft bearing. If the engine is rapidly accelerated or overloaded, it will make a heavy, powerful, and rhythmic "clang" sound, and the engine body will vibrate in severe cases. If you hear this sound, you must quickly think about whether it is a problem with the crankshaft bearing.

2. Vibration analyzer

The vibration analyzer can measure the frequency and amplitude of the engine vibration, and can determine whether the engine has abnormal vibration based on the vibration frequency. We fix the sensor on the engine casing and then start the engine for testing. By analyzing the test results, we can know whether there is a problem with the crankshaft bearing. During the bearing detection process, the mechanical vibration analyzer can effectively detect abnormal bearing vibration and identify the type and severity of bearing failure.

3. Oil analysis

Oil analysis can determine the wear of engine parts by detecting metal particles and contaminants in the oil. We regularly test the oil samples. If we find a lot of iron and copper filings in it, it may be that the crankshaft bearing is seriously worn. As mentioned in the method and process of diagnosing engine failure based on oil sample analysis, abnormal changes in engine components will cause abnormal changes in the properties of the engine oil sample, and the oil sample index will increase or decrease abnormally. We can determine whether the engine has a fault by testing the oil sample after the engine is used and comparing the oil sample test results with the reference value. If there are a lot of metal particles in the oil, you have to check whether the crankshaft bearing is broken.

4. Comprehensive judgment and processing

After we have collected various information, we need to analyze whether there is a problem with the crankshaft bearing. If it is determined that there is a fault, we must not delay it, shut down the machine immediately, and then find a professional maintenance personnel to deal with it immediately.

During the maintenance, the damaged bearings and related accessories must be replaced. If the crankshaft bearing is found to be seriously worn, it is necessary to replace it with a new one. It may also be necessary to check whether the parts connected to the bearing are damaged. If so, they must be replaced together. In addition, it is necessary to check whether the lubrication system is normal. If there is a problem with the lubrication system, the crankshaft bearing is likely to fail again. For example, check whether the lubricating oil is sufficient and whether the oil circuit is blocked. If the lubricating oil is insufficient, add the appropriate lubricating oil immediately; if the oil circuit is blocked, the oil circuit must be cleaned to ensure that the lubricating oil can flow smoothly to the crankshaft bearing to play a lubricating role.

We also have to do a good job of maintenance work at ordinary times, so that the engine can always keep in good condition. For example, change the engine oil according to the prescribed time and mileage, and check whether the various parts of the engine are loose or worn. If you find a problem, deal with it immediately, and don't wait until the problem is serious before you think about it. In this way, our engine can be used longer and the possibility of crankshaft bearing failure can be reduced.