DETROIT DIESEL
ENGINE EQUIPMENT
INSTRUMENT PANEL, INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
The instruments (Fig. 1) generally required in the
operation of a diesel engine consist of an oil pressure
gage, a water temperature gage, an ammeter and a
An ammeter is incorporated into the electrical circuit to
mechanical tachometer.
Also, closely related and
show the current flow to and from the battery. After
usually installed in the general vicinity of these
starting the engine, the ammeter should register a high
instruments are certain controls consisting of an engine
charge rate at rated engine speed. This is the rate of
starter switch, an engine stop knob, an emergency stop
charge received by the battery to replenish the current
knob and, on certain applications, the engine hand
used to start the engine. As the engine continues to
throttle.
operate, the ammeter should show a decline in charge
rate to the battery. The ammeter will not show zero
Torqmatic converters are equipped with an oil pressure
charge rate since the regulator voltage is set higher than
gage and, in some instances, an oil temperature gage.
the battery voltage.
The small current registered
These instruments are mounted on a separate panel.
prevents rapid brush wear in the battery-charging
alternator. If lights or other electrical equipment are
connected into the circuit, the ammeter will show
Oil Pressure Gage
discharge when these items are operating or the engine
speed is reduced.
The oil pressure gage registers the pressure of the
lubricating oil in the engine. As soon as the engine is
started, the oil pressure gage should start to register. If
Tachometer
the oil pressure gage does not register at least the
minimum pressure listed under Running in the Engine
The tachometer is driven by the engine and registers the
Operating Instructions, the engine should be stopped
speed of the engine in revolutions per minute (rpm).
and the cause of low oil pressure determined and
corrected before the engine is started again.
Engine Starting Motor Switch
Water Temperature Gage
The starting switch is mounted on the instrument panel
with the contact button extending through the front face
The engine coolant temperature is registered on the
of the panel. The switch is used to energize the starting
water temperature gage.
motor. As soon as the engine starts, release the switch.
Stop Knob
A stop knob is used on most applications to shut the
engine down. When stopping an engine, the speed
should be reduced to idle and the engine allowed to
operate at idle for a few minutes to permit the coolant to
reduce the temperature of the engine's moving parts.
Then the stop knob should be pulled and held until the
engine stops. Pulling on the stop knob manually places
the injector racks in the "no-fuel" position. The stop
knob should be returned to its original position after the
engine stops.
Emergency Stop Knob
In an emergency or if after pulling the stop knob, the
Fig. 1. Typical Instrument Panel
engine continues to operate, the emergency stop knob
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