Key Takeaways
The following are the key takeaways from this article:
- The Gudgeon pin creates a connection between the connecting rod and piston in the engine.
- A gudgeon pin is situated on the engine cylinder cross-section and is made of steel/cast iron.
- The common problems of a gudgeon pin can include a lack of lubrication and a fractured pin.
- The symptoms of a bad gudgeon pin include engine knocking, less compression, a decrease in the engine oil level, and visual damage.
- The cost to replace a gudgeon pin is around $50-120, excluding the labor cost.
Introduction
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Gudgeon pin connects the piston and connecting rod. So, it plays an indirect role in the combustion process. Unfortunately, due to the damaged gudgeon pin, the connection between the piston and the connecting rods also becomes weak.
Other than it, the increased friction also damages the camshaft and the connecting rods. Ultimately, the engine’s performance becomes poor, and the engine fails to generate the required amount of power which, as a result, affects the engine’s rpm. Furthermore, the constant rubbing of metal makes the engine noise (1). So, the driver should ensure that the gudgeon pin is in a good state for optimum engine performance. This article will further analyze a bad gudgeon pin’s function, common problems, and symptoms.
The function of Gudgeon Pin
A gudgeon pin is also called the wrist pin and is considered a necessary component in the engine. The main purpose of this part is to develop a linkage between the connecting rods and the piston.
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It also develops the relationship between the connecting rods and the crankshaft. The gudgeon pin is situated on the cylinder crosshead of the engine and I made of hollow steel. The wrist pin can either be fitted with the cross head or move freely depending upon the movement of the piston. This pin is very light so that it can move easily, and the steel is more durable than iron (4). Also, steel has less tendency to rust. This is why most manufacturers prefer steel to produce the gudgeon pin. The gudgeon pin maintains the movement of the piston and the connecting rods. The lubrication of the gudgeon pin occurs when the piston makes the strokes and allows the oil to spread over the bearings and pins. This helps maintain the performance of the engine.
Problems with the Gudgeon Pin
Lack of Lubrication
The Gudgeon pin is an essential component in the engine, and the purpose of the gudgeon pin is to connect the piston and the connecting rods.
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The gudgeon pin also helps maintain the engine’s health, but due to the lack of lubrication, the connection between the connecting rod and the piston is weakened due to the damaged wrist pin.
This condition usually occurs for two reasons, i.e., when there is a lack of lubrication of the walls of the cylinder and when the engine’s temperature is excessively increased. At this state, the piston is damaged, and the expansion of the piston is rapidly increased. Moreover, the piston’s expansion occurs before the cylinders’ expansion, ultimately impacting the engine’s performance. This abnormal piston expansion damages the lubricating oil films and does not allow it to lubricate other engine parts (1). Moreover, due to high pressure, the piston pin also breaks down. Due to the lack of lubrication, the piston pin directly interacts with other parts of the engine, such as connecting rods. The friction between these parts increases, ultimately damaging the piston pin and piston. The increased friction also becomes the reason for the engine failure as the temperature is rapidly increased.
Fractured Gudgeon pin
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Another major problem with the gudgeon pin is the fracture lines on the pin. These fractures usually occur due to the overheating of the engine. The engine gets overheated due to the abnormal burning of the fuel in the combustion chamber.
This usually happens when the air-to-fuel ratio is disturbed in the combustion chamber or the valve’s opening and closing. Due to the excessive production, the shape of the gudgeon pin is transformed into an oval shape from a cylindrical shape. This happens due to the increased pressure on the piston (2). Thus, it creates cracks at the starting and ending points of the piston pin. These cracks ultimately produce stress at the joining points of the piston and the connecting rod and break down. Thus, this fracture in the wrist pin can cause serious damage to the engine as the connection is weakened and the movement of the connecting rod is slowed, i.e., it is not according to the movement of the piston. Thus, the operating conditions of the camshafts and crankshaft are also disturbed, which over impacts the engine’s health.
Consequently, the vehicle cannot accelerate at high speed (1). Also, the minimum amount of power is generated because the movement of the piston can also cause a delay in the spark ignition. As a result minimum amount of power is generated. In addition, a misfire can occur in the cylinder due to the abnormal movement of the piston, and the amount of air in the combustion chamber is increased compared to fuel.
Thus, the damaged gudgeon pin impacts the engine’s overall performance; hence the engine check light is illuminated. It is necessary to check the working of the gudgeon pin to avoid all the issues.
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Symptoms of a Bad Gudgeon Pin
Following are a few symptoms of a bad gudgeon pin:
Engine Knocking Sound
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One major symptom illustrating a failed gudgeon pin is the engine knocking sound. Knocking is a sign that some components are either broken or not connected properly or lack lubrication.
If the knocking sound is due to the lack of lubrication of the gudgeon pin, then this sound will go after traveling a few miles. It is because the oil will circulate and lubricate the gudgeon pin. Sometimes, the knocking sound signifies a failed crankshaft or connecting rod (3). So, the driver should pay attention to the knocking sound and check the engine before it damages the engine permanently.
Decreased Compression
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As the gudgeon pin is connecting the connecting rod with the piston. So, a failed gudgeon pin will impact the fuel compression rate. The compression will decrease when the connecting rod cannot move the piston.
For this, you can take the car to a professional service center for compression tests. The compression test will analyze the movement of each piston with the connecting rod. So, a driver can detect the malfunctioning gudgeon pin in a particular cylinder. Decreased compression will also lead to decreased engine performance.
Decreased Oil Level
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One major function of the piston is to collect the engine oil from the cylinder walls and return it to the reservoir. However, the piston will not function properly when the gudgeon pin fails.
Resultantly, the engine oil level will be decreased inside the reservoir. Engine oil is supposed to be replaced every 3000-5000 miles (4). However, if the oil level is decreased before this mileage, it is a sign that the piston cannot return the oil due to gudgeon pin failure or any other reason (3). In any case, the driver should refill the oil and detect the reason for the sudden decrease in the oil level.
Visually Damaged Pin
The final symptom of a bad gudgeon pin is visual damage to the pin. The pin can be damaged due to a lack of lubrication, high engine temperature, and fatigue.
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In any case, the visual analysis of the gudgeon pin requires complete engine disassembly. So, you must take the car to the service center for engine disassembly and gudgeon pin analysis (5).
Conclusion
The gudgeon pin is important in creating a connection between the connecting rod and the piston head. A bad gudgeon pin will be unable to connect the two components, and the engine will not be able to function optimally. In addition, a bad gudgeon pin will decrease the engine performance and oil level, resulting in engine knocking. So, the driver must check the engine after regular intervals to avoid failure in engine sub-components.
FAQs
The most common reason for a gudgeon pin failure is the lack of lubrication. Without lubrication, the pin will face more friction during connecting rod/piston movement and tear. This will result in engine knocking and a buzzing sound indicating that some sub-component is facing friction.
To check the misfiring of the pistons, you can perform a compression test. The compression test is performed on the computer, where a graphical representation of each piston is plotted. This allows the professionals to compare the performance of each piston in the cylinders and to analyze which piston is misfiring. This further allows the professionals to find out the reasons for misfiring.
The gudgeon pin is a sturdy component designed to perform for thousands of miles. By ensuring proper engine lubrication and service maintenance of the engine, the sub-components will perform for a longer duration. However, if you observe symptoms of a bad gudgeon pin, you should replace the pin at the earliest to avoid damage to the piston/connecting rods.
