INFORMATION SHEET

Course: National Certificate in Automotive Mechanics Year: Two

Module: Technician Science II Course Code: TCAM 203
Prepared by: Lutaaya Francis Signature:
Sub Module: ENGINE TESTING

Introduction

Engine manufacturers and research engineers conduct many tests to determine the
characteristics of the engine. To do this they work with a team of technician who help in
performing several practical tests. In factories the tests are carried out with the engine
running on a test bed. The characteristics determined are then tabulated and suitable
performance curves are plotted. The plotted curves are of utmost value to the engineer
especially when the engine is being developed.

Furthermore, the tests are of great importance to vehicle technicians who overhaul and
recondition engines when they have to test their engines and compare their results with
the manufacturers’ specifications. Transport engineers carry out tests to see what
modifications they can make to reduce operating costs of vehicles doing special types of
work. The oil companies and manufacturers of pistons, bearings, carburettor, injectors and
other engine components carry out special tests to study and their own improved products.

Standard Tests

The most common standard tests carried out are the following:

 Brake Power Pb  and Torque Test at full load condition and varying engine speed.
 Indicated Power Pi  , brake power Pb  and mechanical efficiency test  m  .
 Morse test to determine Pi 
 Fuel consumption and torque test at constant speed.
 The effect of ignition timing on power and fuel consumption at constant engine
speed.
 Air consumption and volumetric efficiency test at varying engine speed.
 The effect of air-fuel ratio on the mean effective pressure at constant speed.
 The exhaust gas analysis for varying mixture strengths at constant engine speed.
 The effect of cooling-water temperature on power output at constant speed.

1|Page [email protected]
 INFORMATION SHEET
Course: National Certificate in Automotive Mechanics Year: Two
Module: Technician Science II Course Code: TCAM 203
Prepared by: Lutaaya Francis Signature:
Sub Module: ENGINE TESTING

Test Procedure

Before testing, the plant and equipment must be carefully checked, than the engine is
started and adjusted to steady working conditions.

Readings and observations should be taken simultaneously, and recorded on the report
sheet so that the progress of the test can be seen. See: SASIIRA Notes\Engine Testing
Report.docx.

Note:

Reports are always written in past tense, i.e. something that has been done, and no personal
references should be made. An example writing format is:

Weights were placed on a carrier; reading were observed at two-minute intervals; the
engine speed was increased; the temperature was constant.

Brake power and Engine torque

Brake power of an engine is the useful power available at the crankshaft of the engine. It is
measured by running the engine against some form of absorption brake.

The formula for brake power is:

2NFr 2NT
Pb  or Pb  .......... .......... .......... .......... ........1
60 60

Where;

Pb  Brake power in Watts (W)

N= Revolutions per minute (rev/min or rpm)

F= Turning force in newtons (N)

r= distance from turning centre to point of application of the force in metres (m)

T= Torque in newton metres (Nm)

2|Page [email protected]
 INFORMATION SHEET
Course: National Certificate in Automotive Mechanics Year: Two
Module: Technician Science II Course Code: TCAM 203
Prepared by: Lutaaya Francis Signature:
Sub Module: ENGINE TESTING

The Brake Power Pb  Test

For high-speed motor vehicle engines, the type of brake widely used is the Heenan and
Froude hydraulic dynamometer. This is illustrated in figure 1. It consists of a rotor running
in a casing through which water flows steadily via the inlet and outlet pipes. The rotor is
coupled to the engine output shaft and the casing is freely mounted on the bearings fitted
to the trunnion brackets.

Figure 1: Hydraulic dynamometer

At the peripheral of the rotor there is a series of semi-elliptical pockets or cups, while the
casing consists of an identical set of pockets, so that when the rotor is driven by the engine,
the water is flung out of its pockets and the centrifugal action and transferred to the pockets
in the casing. This results in the tendency to turn the casing with the rotor.

The casing is prevented from rotating by the resistance of the spring and static (or dead)
load applied to the torque arm which projects from the casing.

3|Page [email protected]
 INFORMATION SHEET
Course: National Certificate in Automotive Mechanics Year: Two
Module: Technician Science II Course Code: TCAM 203
Prepared by: Lutaaya Francis Signature:
Sub Module: ENGINE TESTING

A hand wheel is provided on top of the balance frame to adjust the torque arm to a
horizontal position; this is facilitated by a small pointer as shown.

The amount of load and hence the torque absorbed by the dynamometer can be varied by
controlling the water flow. This is achieved by operating a hand wheel which slides thin
metal plates between the rotor and the casing pockets, thus, blanking off a number of
effective pockets.

Procedure

-The test is carried out at full load and at different engine speeds.

-The engine is first warmed up and the load is then increased and the throttle opened wide.

-The ignition is adjusted to maximum to give maximum torque at the lowest speed at which
the engine will run smoothly.

-For the next test, the load on the dynamometer is reduced to allow the engine speed to
increase.

-The ignition timing is again adjusted for maximum torque at and the various readings are
recorded.

-The tests are repeated for intervals of 200/400 rpm until the maximum engine speed is
reached.

-The results are recorded tabulated and a graph of brake power and torque plotted as shown
below.

4|Page [email protected]
 INFORMATION SHEET
Course: National Certificate in Automotive Mechanics Year: Two
Module: Technician Science II Course Code: TCAM 203
Prepared by: Lutaaya Francis Signature:
Sub Module: ENGINE TESTING

Figure 3: Brake power and torque curves

Since the length of the torque arm, together with the static load and spring balance reading
are known, the torque on the casing can be determined. This is balanced by the engine
torque.

Hence, if

S = Spring balance reading (N)

W1= Static load (N)

W= Effective load on torque arm

R= Length of the torque arm (m)

Torque transmitted by the engine = Effective load x Length of torque arm

T  W  R (Nm) where; W = S + W

5|Page [email protected]
 INFORMATION SHEET
Course: National Certificate in Automotive Mechanics Year: Two
Module: Technician Science II Course Code: TCAM 203
Prepared by: Lutaaya Francis Signature:
Sub Module: ENGINE TESTING

If the engine is running at N rpm, then:

2NWR
Brake Power Pb   [W ]......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .....2a 
60

From equation [1], equation [2] becomes:

Pb   2NT [W ]......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .........2b
60

Note:

Since ‘R’ is a fixed length for a given dynamometer, the terms 2R 60 in the expression  
[3] may be written as:

2R 1

60 K

The value of ‘K’ is usually stamped on the nameplate attached to the dynamometer. Thus
the expression [2] reduces to:

[W ]......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......3
WN
Pb 
K

Example

WN
An engine tested against a dynamometer having a formula: Pb  [W ] , gave the
20
following results:

Speed, N (rpm) 1000 1400 2000 2500 3000 3800 4200 4750
Load, W (N) 163.4 172 167 163.4 158 147.5 138 119
Plot the engine characteristic curve and from it deduce the approximate speed at which the
engine develops its maximum power and the approximate speed at which it develops its
maximum torque.

6|Page [email protected]
 INFORMATION SHEET
Course: National Certificate in Automotive Mechanics Year: Two
Module: Technician Science II Course Code: TCAM 203
Prepared by: Lutaaya Francis Signature:
Sub Module: ENGINE TESTING

Solution

WN
Using the formula Pb  [W ] we get:
20
163.4  1000
Pb at 1000 rpm   8170 W =8.17 KW
20

Speed, N (rpm) 1000 1400 2000 2500 3000 3800 4200 4750
Brake power, Pb (KW) 8.17 12 16.7 20.43 23.7 28 29 28.3

Figure 4: Engine Power curve- Example 1

The maximum power of the engine is the peak point of the Pb curve. From the graph, this
is  4300 rpm.

The speed at which the engine develops maximum torque is that point at which the tangent
drawn from the origin of the graph touches the Pb curve, which is  1400 rpm
7|Page [email protected]
 INFORMATION SHEET
Course: National Certificate in Automotive Mechanics Year: Two
Module: Technician Science II Course Code: TCAM 203
Prepared by: Lutaaya Francis Signature:
Sub Module: ENGINE TESTING

Trial Question

An engine working on the four-stroke cycle was coupled to a dynamometer having a torque
arm of length of 0.56m. When the engine was running at 3000 rpm the effective load on
the dynamometer was found to be 160N. Calculate the brake power developed by the
engine.[Ans. 28.16 KW]

The Indicator diagram

An indicator diagram is a Pressure-Volume (or pressure-Stroke) graph of the conditions

inside the cylinder of an engine during a complete cycle of operations. An indicator
diagram can be obtained while the engine is running by using an instrument called the
engine indicator.

The indicator diagram gives information about the process of combustion, ignition timing
and valve operation. Examples of indicator diagrams are; constant volume or Otto cycle,
constant pressure or diesel cycle and dual combustion cycle. For analysis normally the
practical indicator diagrams are approximated to theoretical diagrams.

The area of an indicator diagram represents the work done on the gas. An instrument called
the Planimeter measures the diagram and the following formula is applied to determine
mean effective pressure ‘ Pm ’.

instument reading  Spring rate

Mean effective pressure, Pm 
Cons tan t

Note:

Mean effective pressure is termed indicated mean effective pressure (i.m.e.p) when based
on indicated power and brake mean effective pressure (b.m.e.p) when based on brake
power.

Indicated Power

The indicated power ‘ Pi ’ is the actual power produced in the engine cylinder by burning
of fuel in the combustion chamber. Burning fuel in the cylinder produces mechanical
energy; that is measured and compared with power available at the flywheel. i.e. braking
power, Pb . This comparison reveals the power lost.

8|Page [email protected]
 INFORMATION SHEET
Course: National Certificate in Automotive Mechanics Year: Two
Module: Technician Science II Course Code: TCAM 203
Prepared by: Lutaaya Francis Signature:
Sub Module: ENGINE TESTING

Note that; Pi > Pb and the difference between indicated power and brake power is termed
frictional power or power lost to friction Pf .

i.e; Pi - Pb = Pf

Calculation of Indicated Power

Symbols used:

Pm = Indicated mean effective pressure (i.m.e.p), (Pa or N/m2)

L = Length of piston stroke (m)

A = Cross-sectional area of piston (m2)

S = Number of working strokes per second.

Figure 5
Force on piston  [i.m.e. p]  [Cross  sec tional area of piston]

 Pm  A

Work done

Work done per working stroke  Force on piston Length of stroke

 Pm  A  L

9|Page [email protected]
 INFORMATION SHEET
Course: National Certificate in Automotive Mechanics Year: Two
Module: Technician Science II Course Code: TCAM 203
Prepared by: Lutaaya Francis Signature:
Sub Module: ENGINE TESTING

Work done per   Number of working

Work done per min ute    
 working stroke  stroke per min ute 

 Pm  A  L  S J / min.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .....4a

Pm  A  L  S
Work done per sec ond  J / Sec
60

Since, 1 Watt [W] = 1 Joule per second [J/S], then

Pi 
Pm LAS
W .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ........4b
60

For a four-stroke cycle engine there is only one working stroke in two revolutions of the
crankshaft. Hence,

 Number of cylinders.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ......5a 
N
S
2

For a two-stroke cycle engine there is one working stroke in each revolutions of the
crankshaft. Hence,

S  N  Number of cylinders.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......5b

Note:

The quantity [ A L] is equal to the swept volume of the cylinder.

Mechanical Efficiency

Mechanical efficiency is the ratio of useful power at the output shaft to the power
developed in the cylinders of an engine. i.e.

Brake power Pb
Mechanical efficiency  or m 
Indicated power Pi

When expressed as a percentage then;

 m  b  100.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ...6
P
Pi

10 | P a g e [email protected]
 INFORMATION SHEET
Course: National Certificate in Automotive Mechanics Year: Two
Module: Technician Science II Course Code: TCAM 203
Prepared by: Lutaaya Francis Signature:
Sub Module: ENGINE TESTING

The mechanical efficiency of an engine is dependent upon the engine speed, cylinder
jacket, inlet temperature and degree of carburettor throttling. In general the mechanical
efficiency decreases at higher engine speeds and increases with increase in water jacket
temperature.

Curves of Pi , Pb , Pf and  m

Figure 6 Typical power and mechanical efficiency curves

Example

During a test carried out on a four-cylinder, four-stroke petrol engine of cylinder bore
76 mm and stroke 100 mm, the following readings were recorded:

Speed = 2800 rpm; i.m.e.p = 860 KPa; effective brake load = 198 N at a radius of 0.5m.
Determine:

(a) i.m.e.p
(b) the brake power
(c) the frictional power
(d) the mechanical efficiency of the engine.

11 | P a g e [email protected]
 INFORMATION SHEET
Course: National Certificate in Automotive Mechanics Year: Two
Module: Technician Science II Course Code: TCAM 203
Prepared by: Lutaaya Francis Signature:
Sub Module: ENGINE TESTING

Solution

(a) i.m.e.p
Pm  860KPa  860000N / m2
L = 0.1 m

Area of cylinder bore A   0.0762  0.00454 m 2
4
N
Working strokes/min, S   Number of cylinders
2
2800
  4  5600
2

From,
P LAS
Pi  m W 
60
1
  860000 0.1  0.00454 5600
60
 36440W  36.44 KW

(b) brake power

W = 198 N
R = 0.5 m
N = 2800 rpm

2NWR
Pb  W 
60
1
  2  2800 198 0.5
60
 29040W  29.04 KW

(c) frictional power

Pf  Pi  Pb
 36.44  29.04  7.4 KW

12 | P a g e [email protected]
 INFORMATION SHEET
Course: National Certificate in Automotive Mechanics Year: Two
Module: Technician Science II Course Code: TCAM 203
Prepared by: Lutaaya Francis Signature:
Sub Module: ENGINE TESTING

(d) mechanical efficiency

Pb
m   100
Pi
29.04
m   100
36.44
 79 .7%

Brake mean effective pressure

When the mean effective pressure is based on brake power of an engine then it is
known as brake mean effective pressure (b.m.e.p). This is obtained from the
following expression:
b.m.e. p  i.m.e. p  m
The brake mean effective pressure is proportional to the engine torque or load. Since
torque transmitted depends on depends on the size of the engine, the b.m.e.p is used
by engine designers as a method of comparison of the performance of internal
combustion engines of different size.

The factors influencing the value of b.m.e.p are the following:

 Mixture strength (ait- fuel ratio)
 Compression ratio
 Cylinder bore diameter
 Engine speed
 Engine design
 Valve timing
 Ignition timing
 Air inlet pressure and temperature
 Exhaust back pressure
 Spark plug location
 Cylinder temperatures

If the b.m.e.p ( Pmb ) is known, then the power at the crankshaft of the engine can be
determined from the following expression.

Pb 
Pmb LAS
W .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..7
60

13 | P a g e [email protected]
 INFORMATION SHEET
Course: National Certificate in Automotive Mechanics Year: Two
Module: Technician Science II Course Code: TCAM 203
Prepared by: Lutaaya Francis Signature:
Sub Module: ENGINE TESTING

Example

A certain six-cylinder engine develops 33.6 KW brake power at 3300 rpm. If the b.m.e.p is
1100KPa and the stroke-bore ratio is 1:1, determine the diameter of the cylinder bore.

Solution

Let

d= bore diameter in m

Since the stroke-bore ratio is 1:1, then the length of the stroke L = d


Area of cylinder bore A  d2
4
= 1100 KPa = 1100  103 /m2
N
Working strokes/min, S   Number of cylinders
2
3300
S  4  6600
2

Pb 
Pmb LAS
W 
60
 6600
33.6  103  1100 103  d  d2 
4 60

Cylinder bore diameter, d  0.0707 m  70.7 mm

Trial Question

A certain six-cylinder engine is known to have a total swept volume of 0.0015 m 3. If it

develops a brake power of 24.2 KW at 2200 rpm, calculate the b.m.e.p of the engine under
these conditions. [Ans. 880KPa]

14 | P a g e [email protected]
 INFORMATION SHEET
Course: National Certificate in Automotive Mechanics Year: Two
Module: Technician Science II Course Code: TCAM 203
Prepared by: Lutaaya Francis Signature:
Sub Module: ENGINE TESTING

The Morse Test

The Morse test is a method of determining the indicated power of a high speed, multi-
cylinder internal combustion engine.

-In this method, the engine under test is coupled to a dynamometer and run at a certain
speed.

-The brake power of the engine is first measured with all cylinders working.

-One cylinder is then “cut out”. This can be achieved, in the case of a petrol engine, by
short circuiting the spark plug of that cylinder and in case of a C.I engine by interrupting
the fuel supply to the cylinder.

-As a result of cutting out the cylinder, the engine speed will drop. The load on the
dynamometer is therefore reduced until the original speed is restored.

-By so doing, the friction and pumping losses are kept nearly constant as possible.

-The brake power of the engine is again measured from the new brake load. The result will
be lower than the first one.

-The difference between the two values of brake power gives the indicated power of the
idle cylinder.

-Considering a four cylinder engine;

If A= brake power of the engine with all cylinders working.

B1, B2, B3 and B4 = brake power of the engine with each of the cylinders cut out in turn.

Then,

Total Indicated power   A  B1    A  B2    A  B3    A  B4 

  A  4  B1  B2  B3  B4 

-This procedure is adopted for each cylinder in turn; the sum of the results giving the total
indicated power of the engine.

15 | P a g e [email protected]
 INFORMATION SHEET
Course: National Certificate in Automotive Mechanics Year: Two
Module: Technician Science II Course Code: TCAM 203
Prepared by: Lutaaya Francis Signature:
Sub Module: ENGINE TESTING

Example

A Morse test on a six-cylinder petrol engine gave the following results when the speed was
maintained at 2000 rpm.

Cylinder ‘cut out’ None No.1 No.2 No.3 No.4 No.5 No.6
Brake power, Pb (KW) 40.65 32.44 31.32 32.44 32.8 32.1 31.7

From the above results, calculate;

(a) the indicated power

(b) the friction and the pumping losses
(c) the mechanical efficiency of the engine.

Solution

(a) Indicate power

 40.65  6  32.44  31.32  32.44  32.8  32.1  31.7

 40.65  6  32.44  31.32  32.44  32.8  32.1  31.7  51.1KW

(b) the friction and the pumping losses

 Pi  Pb

 51.1  40.65
 10.45KW

(c) the mechanical efficiency of the engine

Pb
m   100
Pi

Pb
  100  79.55%
Pi

16 | P a g e [email protected]
 INFORMATION SHEET
Course: National Certificate in Automotive Mechanics Year: Two
Module: Technician Science II Course Code: TCAM 203
Prepared by: Lutaaya Francis Signature:
Sub Module: ENGINE TESTING

Fuel Consumption

It is essential to determine the amount of fuel consumed by a motor vehicle engine in a

given time. Vehicle manufacturers assess fuel consumption in terms of kilometres per
litre. But engine designers compare the fuel consumption of different engines by the
amount of fuel used in a certain period of one hour for each Kilowatt of power developed.
The latter is termed specific fuel consumption and depends on the calorific value of fuel
used.

The specific fuel consumption (s.f.c) may be state for either indicated power or brake
power of an engine. Thus:

Indicated specific fuel consumption i.s. f .c  

Fuel consumed / h
Pi [ KW ]


Or i.s. f .c 
m kg / h
f
.......... .......... .........8a 
Pi kW 

This gives the amount of fuel required in kilograms or litres needed to develop an
indicated power of 1 KW for a period of 1 Hr at the load considered.

Thus the units for i.s.f.c are kg/KWh or Litre/KWh.

Brake specific fuel consumption i.s. f .c  

Fuel consumed / h
Pb [kW ]


or b.s. f .c 
m kg / h.......... .......... .......... .......... .......8b
f

Pb kW 

This gives the amount of fuel required in kilograms or litres needed to develop a brake
power of 1 KW for a period of 1 Hr at the load considered.

Thus the units for b.s.f.c are kg/KWh or Litre/KWh.

On a test bed fuel consumption of an engine is measured by allowing the fuel to run
through a special measuring device which may be a tank of known fuel quantity and the
time taken for the engine to consume this quantity of fuel measured by a stop-watch.

17 | P a g e [email protected]
 INFORMATION SHEET
Course: National Certificate in Automotive Mechanics Year: Two
Module: Technician Science II Course Code: TCAM 203
Prepared by: Lutaaya Francis Signature:
Sub Module: ENGINE TESTING

Alternatively, the fuel may be allowed to flow through a special flow-meter which is
calibrated to give the fuel consumption, in kg/h or litres/h, by direct reading.

Thermal Efficiency

Practically a motor vehicle done not convert all the heat energy into useful work. Some
of the energy in the fuel is lost in exhaust gases, cooling water and in radiation to the
surroundings.

Workdone per sec ond

Thermal Efficiency 
Heat energy sup plied from fuel sec ond

Or

 100.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ...9

W /s
Th 
Q/s

The two cases considered in thermal efficiency are:

Indicated thermal efficiency based on indicated power of the engine.

Brake thermal efficiency based on brake power of the engine.

Thus;

Indicated Power
Indicated thermal efficiency 
[ Mass of fuel consumedper hour]  [Calorific value of fuel]
i.e,
Pi W 
i  
 100.......... .......... ........10a 
m kg / s
f
 C.V J / kg 

Pi W   3600
Or i  
 100.......... .......... ........10b
m kg / h
f
 C.V J / kg 
And

Brake Power
Brake thermal efficiency 
[ Mass of fuel consumedper hour]  [Calorific value of fuel]

18 | P a g e [email protected]
 INFORMATION SHEET
Course: National Certificate in Automotive Mechanics Year: Two
Module: Technician Science II Course Code: TCAM 203
Prepared by: Lutaaya Francis Signature:
Sub Module: ENGINE TESTING

i.e.
Pb W 
b  
 100.......... .......... .......... ........11a 
m kg / s
f
 C.V J / kg 

Or
Pb W   3600
b  
 100.......... .......... .......... .........11b
m kg / h
f
 C.V J / kg 

Where; C.V is the calorific value of fuel in Joules per kilogram (J/kg)

Also;
Brake thermal efficiency  Indicated thermal efficincy  Mechanical efficiency

i.e.
b  i   m .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ...12

The thermal efficiency of an engine is dependent upon a number of different influencing

factors; these include the following:

 Mixture strength (ait- fuel ratio)

 Compression ratio
 Throttle opening
 Valve timing
 Ignition timing
 Nature of fuel employed
 Dimensions of engine
 Combustion chamber design
 Inlet charge temperature
 Cylinder temperature.

19 | P a g e [email protected]
 INFORMATION SHEET
Course: National Certificate in Automotive Mechanics Year: Two
Module: Technician Science II Course Code: TCAM 203
Prepared by: Lutaaya Francis Signature:
Sub Module: ENGINE TESTING

Curves of fuel consumption and thermal efficiency

Figure 7

Other performance curves

Figure 8

20 | P a g e [email protected]
 INFORMATION SHEET
Course: National Certificate in Automotive Mechanics Year: Two
Module: Technician Science II Course Code: TCAM 203
Prepared by: Lutaaya Francis Signature:
Sub Module: ENGINE TESTING

Example

A petrol engine when coupled to an absorption dynamometer applies a torque of 115 Nm

at a speed of 2500 rpm to a floating brake lever. The brake specific fuel consumption is 0.36
kg/KWh and the calorific value of the fuel is 45 MJ/kg. Calculate:

(a) the brake power

(b) the brake thermal efficiency
(c) the heat dispersed by the brake per minute.

Solution

(a) The brake power

From;
2NT
Pb  W 
60
2  2500 115
  30 .1kW
60  103

(b) the brake thermal efficiency

Pb W   3600
b  
 100
m kg / h
f
 C.V J / kg 
Also;


b.s. f .ckg / kWh 

m kg / hf

Pb kW 


0.36 
m f

30.1

 kg 
m  0.36   30.1kW   10.84kg / h
 kWh 
f

30.1 103 W   3600

b   100  22.2%
10.84kg / h  45  106 J / kg 

21 | P a g e [email protected]
 INFORMATION SHEET
Course: National Certificate in Automotive Mechanics Year: Two
Module: Technician Science II Course Code: TCAM 203
Prepared by: Lutaaya Francis Signature:
Sub Module: ENGINE TESTING

Trial Question

A diesel engine developing an indicated power of 37.4 kW consumes fuel of calorific

value 45400 kJ/h. If 8.5 kW are absorbed by friction and pumping losses within the
engine:

(a) the brake power

(b) the brake specific fuel consumption
(c) the mechanical efficiency
(d) the indicated thermal efficiency
(e) the brake thermal efficiency of the engine.

[Ans. 29 kW; 0.31 kg/kWh; 77.3%; 33%; 25.5%]

22 | P a g e [email protected]
 INFORMATION SHEET
Course: National Certificate in Automotive Mechanics Year: Two
Module: Technician Science II Course Code: TCAM 203
Prepared by: Lutaaya Francis Signature:
Sub Module: ENGINE TESTING

Exercise

1. A six-cylinder, four stroke petrol engine was coupled to a hydraulic dynamometer

for testing. The engine developed maximum power at a speed of 4800 rpm and
spring balance reading was found to be 285 N. if the constant K for the
dynamometer is 16, determine:
(a) the brake power developed by the engine
(b) the torque transmitted

2. An engine on a test consumes fuel of relative density 0.8 at the rate of 9 litre/h. If
the brake thermal efficiency is 28% and the calorific value of the fuel used is 45
MJ/kg, determine the brake power developed by the engine.

3. Using the values given in the table below, plot the graph for engine torque against
speed.

Engine torque (Nm) 450 492 500 490 453 410 360
Speed (rpm) 1200 1500 1800 2100 2400 2700 3000

(a) From the graph, obtain the maximum torque and the speed at which it occurs
(b) Calculate the power at that speed

4. A six cylinder, four-stroke petrol engine, having a cylinder bore diameter of 82

mm and stroke of 80 mm, develops maximum power at a speed of 4800 rpm. The
indicated mean effective pressure at this speed was found to be 1100 kPa, the
engine being coupled to a hydraulic dynamometer having a value of K=16. The
load on the dynamometer was 290 N. calculate:
(a) the indicated power
(b) brake power
(c) mechanical efficiency of the engine

5. (a) What characteristics are required of a dynamometer are required suitable for
testing high-speed automobile engines?

(b) Describe the operation of one such dynamometer and explain how the power
delivered by the engine is measured.
23 | P a g e [email protected]
 INFORMATION SHEET
Course: National Certificate in Automotive Mechanics Year: Two
Module: Technician Science II Course Code: TCAM 203
Prepared by: Lutaaya Francis Signature:
Sub Module: ENGINE TESTING

6. An engine on a test, running 3000 rpm, overcomes a resistance of 140 N at a radius

of 360 mm and at the same time consumes fuel at the rate of 8 litres an hour.
Given that the fuel consumption, at the rate of 8375W, calculate the brake
thermal efficiency.

7. Plot torque and brake power curves for both S.I and C.I ignition engines from the
following data:

S.I Engine

Engine torque (Nm) 90 110 104 90 74 59 44 26

Brake power (kW) 14 22 29 35.5 41 45 46 38
Speed (rpm) 600 1200 1800 2400 3000 3600 4200 4800

C.I Engine

Engine torque (Nm) 95 98 97 95 90 83

Brake power (kW) 10 22 32 41 47 46
Speed (rpm) 600 1200 1800 2400 3000 3600

Using the graphs plotted above, compare technically the two engine when tested
giving

State the advantages and draw backs of each basing on the graphs plotted above.

8. A six cylinder petrol engine was Morse tested when running at 1400 rpm and the
following brake loads were observed: all in 258 N; No.1 out 198 N; No.2 out 206.8
N; No.3 out 211 N; No. 4 out 211 N; No.5 out 209 N; No.6 out 205 N (each cylinder
cut out in turn). The brake constant Kc = 2.

Determine:

(a) the brake power

(b) indicated power
(c) friction power
(d) mechanical efficiency.

24 | P a g e [email protected]
 INFORMATION SHEET
Course: National Certificate in Automotive Mechanics Year: Two
Module: Technician Science II Course Code: TCAM 203
Prepared by: Lutaaya Francis Signature:
Sub Module: ENGINE TESTING

9. A four-cylinder oil engine working on the four-stoke cycle has a bore of 84 mm

and stroke of 120.6mm. When running at 1500 rpm the brake load on the
hydraulic dynamometer was 280 N, and 0.1 litre fuel was consumed in 65.5 Sec.
(Relative density of fuel oil 0.848; Kc = 2 for the brake).
Find the:
(a) capacity of engine in litre
(b) brake power developed
(c) torque
(d) fuel consumption in kg/kWh.

10. In a test on a on a small petrol engine the fuel used had a calorific value of 44
MJ/kg, and the power was absorbed by a brake through which water circulated.
When the output of the engine was 41 kW, petrol was used at the rate of 12 kg/h.
calculate the brake thermal efficiency of the engine.
Also calculate the rate of flow of water required by the brake, in kg/min, assumed
that all the power is converted into heat, for the rise in water temperature to be 45
K. (Take the specific heat capacity of water as 4.2 kJ/kgK)

25 | P a g e [email protected]