piston and conecting rod failure and cylinder block crack

[shaibat]

please
I have a diesel generator with diesel engine volvo model TD120G during running under load the piston and conecting rod failure and cylinder block crack.
please can you explain the causes for this?
thankes

[wellandpower]

The con rod is under tremendous stress from the reciprocating load represented by the piston, actually stretching and being compressed with every rotation, and the load increases to the third power with increasing engine speed. Failure of a connecting rod, usually called "throwing a rod" is one of the most common causes of catastrophic engine failure, frequently putting the broken rod through the side of the crankcase and thereby rendering the engine irreparable; it can result from fatigue near a physical defect in the rod, lubrication failure in a bearing due to faulty maintenance, or from failure of the rod bolts from a defect, improper tightening, or re-use of already used (stressed) bolts where not recommended.

Have you maintained the engine well? The TD 120G is a very old engine. If it has been used a lot, maintained badly then its probably the cause. Other than that is just come to the end of its natural life.

How old is the generator? Do you have an engine serial number?

[shaibat]

i will send for you the serial number

[shaibat]

the Engine number 77855/224973

[wellandpower]

I will check it out for you and see what I can find out.

Do you need a replacement generating set?

[wellandpower]

Apologies for the late reply - no-one knew the answer.

I have found it now though, the engine serial number should be 10 digits starting something like 11010**** this is from some examples found in the parts system.