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Wärtsilä

16V31

Guinness World Record holder as the world's most efficient 4-stroke diesel engine. Designed for both propulsion and power generation.

9280.0 kW
Power

Engine Specifications

16
Cylinders
310 mm
Bore
430 mm
Stroke
9,280 kW
MCR Power
750.0 rpm
MCR RPM
165.0 g/kWh
SFC
4-stroke
Stroke Type
Family: Wartsila Wartsila 31 · Tier: IMO Tier II · Fuel: HFO, MDO

Components & Design

Dual-Fuel System (Gas Mode) Wartsila
W31 Gas Admission Valve (GAV)
Low-pressure gas admission valve per cylinder. Overhaul at 12,000 hrs. Leak test after every overhaul.
Lead time: 6 wk
18.0 kg
Dual-Fuel System (Gas Mode) Wartsila
W31 Pilot Fuel System (DF variant)
Micro-pilot diesel injection for gas mode ignition. Pilot fuel consumption <1% of total energy. Overhaul pilot injector at 8,000 hrs.
Lead time: 6 wk
35.0 kg
Dual-Fuel System (Gas Mode) Wartsila
W31 Pre-Chamber Assembly (DF)
Pre-chamber ensures stable ignition of lean gas-air mixture. Inspect at 8,000 hrs. Replace inserts at 16,000 hrs.
Lead time: 6 wk
8.0 kg
Fuel Pump (Jerk-Type / Common Rail) Wartsila / L'Orange
W31 Common Rail Injection Unit
Common rail pressure up to 2200 bar. Rail and injector overhaul at 12,000 hrs. Monitor rail pressure stability.
Lead time: 8 wk
120.0 kg

Technical Data

Displacement per cylinder 17.0 liters
Mean Effective Pressure (MEP) 25.5 bar (900 RPM) / 24.0 bar (1000 RPM)
Piston Speed 9.6 m/s (900 RPM) / 10.7 m/s (1000 RPM)
SFOC (ISO conditions, 85% load) 186-192 g/kWh
6L26 weight 17.2 tons
8L26 weight 21.9 tons
9L26 weight 23.6 tons
12V26 weight 29 tons
16V26 weight 37.9 tons
Power per cylinder (325 kW/cyl) Consistent across all configurations
Turbocharging Turbocharged with intercooler (charge air cooler)
Emission Standard IMO Tier II (MARPOL 73/78 Annex VI)
unified from engine model True

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Common failures & inspection points

Piston ring wear and peeling under continuous low-load operation; Chrome-ceramic rings susceptible to peeling and whitening due to inadequate oil film at low lo

Visual inspection of piston crowns and rings through scavenge ports; Monitor residual Base Number (BN) in cylinder oil - must not be lower than BN10 for fuels with 0.1% < S < 0.5%; Verify iron (Fe) content in oil below 500 mg/kg; Regular piston underside inspections mandatory

Cold corrosion in cylinder liners during low-load operation; Cylinder temperatures can fall below dew point of combustion gases, causing acidic condensation att

Monitor cylinder cooling water outlet temperature - maintain as close as possible to alarm limit during low-load operation; Check cylinder oil chemistry (BN, iron content); Review engine load profile and operating hours at part load; Ensure proper cylinder oil selection (Mobilgard 5100 or equivalent approved for cold corrosion mitigation at 0.8 g/kWh feed rate)

Cylinder liner glazing (polishing) with loss of crosshatch pattern; Mirror-like surface prevents proper oil retention, leading to direct metal-to-metal ring/lin

Borescope inspection for liner wall condition - look for loss of crosshatch grooves, polished appearance; Monitor for increased blow-by (crankcase pressure); Check piston rings for scuff marks; In-situ liner honing may be required if glazing detected

Turbocharger bearing wear and contamination; Oil starvation or contaminated lubrication oil causes excessive bearing play, compressor/turbine wheel contact with

Check turbocharger oil inlet and outlet lines for blockages or kinks; Monitor engine lube oil condition and change intervals strictly; Listen for abnormal turbocharger noise (grinding, whining); Verify turbocharger is running smoothly with no axial/radial play; Inspect for oil discharge from compressor outlet

Fuel injection nozzle coking with high-sulphur fuel (>0.5% S); Zinc carboxylate and zinc carbonate deposits form in nozzle holes, reducing flow rate and degradi

Monitor fuel quality - verify compliance with ISO 8217:2012 marine fuel standard; Check fuel temperature in hot box (typically 45-50°C); Inspect fuel strainer/separator condition frequently; Monitor engine performance - loss of power, rough running, black exhaust smoke may indicate nozzle coking; Schedule regular fuel injector cleaning/replacement if necessary

Type-general inspection and maintenance points for this equipment category — not model-specific.

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Equipment Model #38955 · ✓ still in production