Monitoring the engine condition of the ITM285 tractor using sound analysis and engine performance parameters

Condition monitoring is one of the key elements in preventive maintenance. By using condition monitoring, maintenance can be programmed, or steps can be taken to prevent the side effects of a failure before its occurrence. With this definition, for failure detection, a deviation should occur in the base value of a parameter (such as temperature or vibrational behavior). Using this method is more economical than occurring a failure. By monitoring the condition of the tractor engine, we can take steps to reduce farm costs. In Iran, monitoring the conditions of tractors and their maintenance is underestimated and this is not performed based on the exact hour of operation. In this research, the lack of cleaning and servicing of the air filter (dirty filter) and the lack of appropriate valve clearance adjustment (low or high clearance) as independent variables were investigated on the sound level of the engine at the bottom of the cylinder head and cylinder block and also the engine's performance parameters, including exhaust temperature, fuel consumption, and opacity of exhaust gas. The tests were performed on an ITM285 tractor The results showed that both engine load and engine RPM have significant effects on engine exhaust gas opacity. While all factors have significant effects on fuel consumption. Moreover, the cleanliness of the air filter, the engine torque, and the engine RPM significantly affect the engine temperature. Engine load, engine speed, and valve clearance significantly affect the sound level of the engine cylinder head. Finally, the sound emitted from the engine block is significantly affected by engine speed.