Service Letter RT-12/09

16.12.2009

Technical Information to all Owners / Operators

of Wärtsilä RTA96C and RTA96C-B Engines

Exhaust valve spindle lubrication

Contents Page
1 Introduction 1
2 Operation according to the manual 1
3 Sticking exhaust valve spindle 2
4 Precautionary measure 2
5 Planned further actions 3

Wärtsilä Switzerland Ltd PO Box 414 Tel.: +41 52 262 80 10

Wärtsilä Schweiz AG CH-8401 Winterthur Fax: +41 52 262 07 31
Wärtsilä Suisse SA Switzerland technicalsupport.chts@wartsila.com
1 Introduction
This is to inform all owners and operators of vessels which have Wärtsilä
RTA96C and RTA96C-B engines installed with Pulse Lubricating System.
The reason for this Service Letter is because of some problems with the
exhaust valve spindle lubrication. Details can be found hereafter.
Note! Already on 19.05.2009, a letter named “Information about exhaust
valve spindle lubrication” was sent to some vessel owners/operators.
Unfortunately the information was not received by all owners/operators with
Pulse Lubricating Systems. This Service Letter supersedes the previously
sent information.

2 Operation according to the manual

When operating the engine according to the supplied operation manual,
there is an internal lubrication of the exhaust valve spindle, which means no
external forced lubrication. The stop valve (1) in Fig. 1 is closed.
If a new or overhauled exhaust valve is fitted or the engine has been at
standstill for prolonged periods, we recommend that the cylinder oil
lubrication to the valve guide and spindle is re-established. It means that the
stop valve (1) has to be opened for 24 operating hours. This is to allow a
sufficient oil quantity into the air spring chamber to lubricate the spindle.
The feed is via a branch from a cylinder quill pipe through an orifice (2), as
shown in Fig. 1 below.
Details about the pulse lubrication system in general and the exhaust valve
spindle lubrication can be found in the delivered engine documentation.

Stop valve
1
4

1. Stop valve, 2. Orifice, 3. Non-return valve, 4. Oil pipe

Fig. 1

Depending on the execution of your mounted Pulse Lubrication System, the

arrangement and location of the lubricating pump may look slightly different.

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3 Sticking exhaust valve spindle
We have received reports from some vessels equipped with Pulse
Lubrication Systems, mentioning sticking of exhaust valve spindles and
indications of seizure. We are currently investigating these cases and will
release full details once the investigation has been completed.

4 Precautionary measure
As already mentioned under chapter 2, after a new or overhauled exhaust
valve is fitted or the engine has been at standstill for prolonged periods, the
stop valve (1) has to be opened.
Note! Prior of opening the stop valve (1), the orifice of size 0.5 mm (2) has
to be checked if blocked or not. Also the non-return valve (3) must be
checked.
In order to ensure the lubrication is working, you have to check the entire
lubricating oil pipe (4) up to the entry into the exhaust valve cage, Fig. 2.
This is done by disconnecting the screw-in union (5) by the exhaust valve
inlet connection. Having the stop valve (1) in the open position and with
working of the lubricating pump, oil should flow through the complete
lubricating system. With this test you also ensure that no air blocks the
system and at the same time priming of the lubricating system is done.

Connection of oil pipe to exhaust valve cage

4
4. Oil pipe, 5. Screw-in union
Fig. 2

Until the exact causes of the damage mentioned in chapter 3 have been
established, we recommend that the cylinder oil feed to the valve guide is
left open as a precautionary measure. This is over-ruling the remarks as
given in the operation manuals, to close the stop valve after approximately
24 operating hours.
Note! As a precautionary measure and until further notice, the engine shall
be operated with stop valve in the open position over all load ranges.

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5 Planned further actions
In general, the lubrication arrangement of the exhaust valve spindle is
working satisfactorily on all installations with Pulse Lubrication Systems.
However due to the introduction of low load operation of some vessels for
extended periods, we suspect that the exhaust valve spindle lubrication may
be affected.
Having analysed the first reported cases, it showed that the lubrication of the
exhaust valve spindle was not sufficient, but the relation and how it affects
the lubrication behaviour under low load operation is not yet fully cleared.
As soon as the investigations are closed we come back to you with the final
solution, which shall ensure safe engine operation over the whole load
range. We also will inform you, if the precautionary measure solution as
described above, would become the standard one.

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