What is the Cause of Floating Oil in the Coolant Level of Diesel Gensets

Diesel generator sets are widely used in various fields to solve users' power failure troubles and losses. When using the diesel generator set, the diesel generator set will have these phenomena. When opening the water tank cover to check the coolant level, it is found that there is a layer of oil floating on the level, but the crankcase oil does not contain water and the level does not change. Many users are puzzled by this phenomenon. Next, Dingbo Power will explain the reasons and solutions for floating oil in the coolant level of the diesel generator water tank.

Why the coolant level in the water tank of the diesel generator set has floating oil?

1. The core tube of the water-cooled oil radiator is broken or detached, causing oil to leak into the coolant.

2. The cylinder gasket is damaged, causing the lubrication oil hole to communicate with the cooling water hole, resulting in oil water mixing.

3. The quality of the cylinder block or cylinder head is poor, with sand holes on the wall between the water channel and the oil channel, and oil leakage into the coolant.

4. The gasket connecting the oil cooler and the inlet and outlet of the cylinder block is damaged and oil leaks.

How to solve this phenomenon?

1. If there is floating oil on the coolant level, the original coolant can be discharged first, the cooling water channel can be flushed, and new coolant can be added after flushing. When using, observe the time and amount of floating oil on the liquid level again, and determine the treatment method.

2. If the engine has been in use for more than a month and there is only a small amount of floating oil, it may not be repaired temporarily. When the entire machine is repaired, it will be inspected and repaired again, and water will not immerse in the lubrication system. This is because even if there is a very small perforation somewhere, the oil pressure during engine operation is always greater than the pressure of the coolant. Under the pressure difference, the oil leaks into the water channel. When the engine stops working, the oil pressure decreases and no longer leaks into the cooling water jacket. Although there is a certain amount of water pressure at the small hole, it is not enough to overcome the high viscosity of the oil resistance inside the small hole, so the coolant cannot enter the oil.

It is worth noting that the coolant level must be checked for any changes in the amount of oil floating before or after each startup or operation. When the amount of oil floating suddenly increases, timely maintenance is necessary.

3. When disassembling and inspecting, first check whether the oil cooler is damaged. If there is leakage at this location, the gasket or oil cooler core should be replaced. When replacing, attention should be paid to the flatness of the gasket and the tightness of the fastening bolts.

4. If the oil cooler is in good condition, the cylinder head should be removed and checked for defects such as cracks and sand holes. If sand holes are found, plugging agents can be used to seal them.

5. Carefully observe the water jacket hole and oil hole of the cylinder gasket for any signs of flushing or leakage. If available, fine asbestos thread can be applied with sealant for bonding. When bonding, attention should be paid to flatness and not excessive thickness to avoid other leaks caused by this. If the cylinder gasket is severely damaged, it should be replaced in a timely manner.

6. Attention should be paid to the method of tightening the cylinder head bolts, and the bolts must be tightened according to the steps and specified torque.

We hope the above information can help you. If you would like to know more about diesel generator sets or would like to buy diesel generator sets, please contact us by email dingbo@dieselgeneratortech.com.