A REVIEW OF THE EFFECT OF SAND DUST AND FILTRATION ON AUTOMOBILE ENGINE WEAR

The economics of operating internal combustion engines in cars, buses, trucks and other equipment is heavily affected by friction and wear losses caused by abrasive contaminants. This study is a review of the effect of sand dust, one of the main sources of foreign contaminants, on the wear of critical engine components, including the piston ring, cylinder sleeve and bearings. For each component, the mechanism of wear and the influence of dust variables on wear are analysed. The methods of engine protection and life extension are reviewed. Air and oil filtration are the primary methods for reducing the infiltration of dust into the internal engine components. The effectiveness of these is reviewed, together with the recent development of improved filters with higher efficiency.