Best Practices - Weekly CO Checks
Repeatable Engine Load Test
Hydrostatic Transmissions
Prepare the Machine for Test
- Warm up the engine (Emissions change for cold and warm engines)
- Park the machine into an intake entry with vehicle facing the mine rib
- Set brakes and chock the wheels
- Sample exhaust emissions before any after treatment devices, i.e., before catalytic converter, particulate trap, fume diluters, and water scrubber
Engine Load Test
- Make sure no personnel are in front or behind the machine
- Full throttle, apply load to engine for about 60 seconds
- Some methods of applying load:
- Lever to control speed and direction is gradually adjusted until engine speed falls below the engine rated speed
- Push against mine rib until engine speed falls below the engine rated speed
- Apply equipment hydraulics until engine speed falls below the engine rated speed
- Sample allowing reading to stabilize and record measurement
- Release throttle and shift transmission out of gear
- Repeat the test using the same method every week for comparable results
- Sampling with CO measurement device at idle, prior to torque stall, will allow for quicker sampling and shorter stall tests
- Using a tachometer to verify the engine speed at load will help weekly repeatability
Evaluation and Interpretation
- Check for changes in CO concentration against the baseline you have established for the engine
- Increases in CO concentration level above the established baseline indicates problems
- Contact MSHA Technical Support for guidance on engine CO information
- Maintain records to track engine performance
- A chart of individual equipment emissions plotted over time (weekly)
- A logbook separated into individual equipment for easy weekly comparison
- A logbook separated into similar engines
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