Applying analytical ferrography as a technique to detect failures in Diesel engine fuel injection systems

This work presents the development of a method which analyzes metallic wear debris and contaminants found to be present in fuels used by Diesel engines. The particles have been isolated by following two complementary methods; firstly, a magnetic separation method and then a filtering method using membranes. Particles are subsequently characterized by means of optical and electron microscopy, where it is possible to establish the type and severity of the wear, as well as establishing how the mechanism parts are actually affected by wear. This technique allows a predictive maintenance of the fuel injection systems to be carried out, as it allows for possible breakdowns to be detected prior to a serious failure being produced.