Development of a Laboratory Bench Test to Simulate Seat Wear of Engine Poppet Valves

The minimization of valve seat wear is a critical pursuit of engine manufacturers. In order to achieve this goal, a means to objectively rank various valve materials and designs must be used. This study traces the evolution of a seat recession simulator. The simulator has been used to study the effects of component misalignment upon the wear process. Lateral and angular misalignment have both been found to play a key role in the wear process. Utilizing microscopy techniques to compare the wear of engine run valves to that of the rig run valves demonstrated a strong correlation between the wear patterns. The seat wear test rig is thought to be a valid simulation of the engine valve seat recession process. Presented as a Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers paper at the ASME/STLE Tribology Conference In San Diego, California, October 19–21, 1992