Troubleshooting the car with your own hands in some cases allows not only to achieve significant savings, but also in time to prevent serious damage. In this article we will talk about the problem of hydrocompensators, how you can rinse the compensators yourself and get rid of even bigger problems in time.
What are expansion joints and where they are located
Hydrocompensator (GK) Is an important part of the gas distribution mechanism. This detail is in the engine of every modern car.
There is such an element above each valve, directly under the cams of the camshaft. The GC itself is a cylinder, inside which there is a check valve, plunger pair and plunger spring. There are also oil channels in the cylinder walls.
What do you need hydrocompensators
During operation of the engine all its details heat up. Including valves. As you know, when heated, the body expands. so, there is an inevitable reduction in the gaps between the valves and rockers, through which they are affected by camshafts.
On older car models, the gaps were adjusted manually (valve adjustment). This is a delicate job, which requires certain skills and tools. There were problems with incorrect gaps. Example, characteristic knocking of valves, familiar to every owner of an old car, indicates too large gaps.
Reduced clearances also led to loose valve closures with all the ensuing consequences. For these reasons, we had to check the size and adjust these gaps quite often, as in the course of operation of the engine settings and adjustments constantly changed.
Due to the introduction of compensators, the need to adjust the thermal gaps of the valves has disappeared. The presence of GC allows you to do this automatically. In other words, hydrocompensators simplify the overall process of maintenance of the internal combustion engine, increase the life of the valve mechanism, allow the engine to run more flexibly and steadily.
We also recommend reading the article about it, what is a compensator, what the element is needed for and on what principle the device works. In this article you will learn about the purpose, features of work, as well as the pros and cons of motors with GC.
What are the signs of failure of compensators
The main sign of malfunction of hydrocompensators - a characteristic metal knock during engine operation. It is especially clear at increase in turns. The knock resembles a tick, its audible well. He appears because of that, that the compensator is contaminated from within and as a result does not have time to choose a backlash.
In this case, you can rinse the compensators without removing them. However, before you start to understand this detail, it is necessary to check oil pressure. If it is too low, then the compensator will NOT be filled with the required amount of oil.
Knocking is also possible not only because of pollution, but also as a result of wear of a plunger pair or the ball valve. In this case, no rinsing will be required, and complete replacement of the compensator with a new one.
The non-working part can be identified as follows. Pre-removing the valve cover and gaining access to the compensators, you should look at each of them. If the compensator is sunk without any effort, then he is, probably, failed. This element can not be washed, and immediately replace with new ones. In other cases, the GC can be cleaned.
How is the washing process
This procedure, although it will take time, but will not cause much difficulty, if you follow a clear procedure. It should be held indoors (possible in the garage) without drafts and dust in the air. It is worth noting at once, what to clean hydrocompensators, without disassembling the engine at all, not work. However, there is no need to unscrew the power unit to the last screw.
Before starting work, you need to prepare three containers, the depth of which will allow you to immerse the compensators in the washing liquid completely. As such, you can use quality 92nd gasoline or kerosene. in addition, it is recommended to leave the car in the garage on before the procedure 24 years, to make as much oil as possible glass in the pan.
so, the procedure will be as follows:
- You need to de-energize the car, disconnecting the battery. This is a safety precaution and should not be neglected.
- Disconnect the air filter.
- Remove the cylinder head cover. To do this, unscrew the bolts with a suitable wrench.
- Remove the rocker axles and remove the compensators from the sockets.
- Clean the outside with a brush with synthetic bristles.
After cleaning, the compensators should be rinsed in the first tank. At this stage, each of them must be immersed in the washing liquid and several times with a wire through the hole in the plunger to press on the ball valve. Press gently, so as not to break the spring. Then you need to press the piston.
When his move becomes easy, the same procedure must be repeated in the second tank with gasoline or kerosene. But before that, drain the fluid well from the compensator, squeezing the valve ball. Additionally, you can rinse the channels in the compensator housing with a syringe.
We also recommend reading the article about it, why knock hydrocompensators on the cold. In this article you will learn about the sonorous causes and ways to diagnose the problem.
Another important step is ??audit. For this, immersing the part in the third container, it is necessary to type in GK liquids, then release the valve and remove the part from the tank with the plunger up. When you press the piston with your finger, it must remain still. If all is well, then you can return the compensators to their place, install rocker arms, cylinder head cover (tighten the bolts from the middle to the edges) and so on.
After assembly, it remains to start the engine and let it run for a few minutes at idle. Expansion joints must not knock at idle speed after flushing, also after their cleaning knocks after heating of the internal combustion engine and an exit of the unit to working temperatures should not be shown.
As a result
so, as can be seen from the article, in that, to flush the compensators yourself, there is nothing complicated. It will only take time. To increase the service life of these parts, the lubrication system should be kept clean, use only appropriate quality engine oils and replace them in a timely manner, as well as timely change the oil filter.