Engine health monitoring system

A locomotive comprising:

• a frame;
• a prime mover mounted on the frame;
• a ground engaging element supporting the frame;
• a cab;
• a turbocharger
• the prime mover having a cylinder head with a first bank and a second bank;
• an EGR cooler in fluid communication with the prime mover;
• a first exhaust of the prime mover in fluid communication with the EGR cooler;
• the turbocharger in fluid communication with the prime mover;
• a second exhaust of the prime mover in fluid communication with the turbocharger;
• and
• a health monitoring system including:
• a first temperature sensor provided on the first exhaust and a second temperature sensor provided on the second exhaust;
• a barometric pressure sensor provided on the prime mover;
• a controller in communication with the first temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor, and the barometric pressure sensor, the controller configured to:
• monitor a temperature relationship between the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor in real time at varying altitudes and atmospheres;
• detect instances of temperature differentials of the temperature relationship during operation of the prime mover;
• and
• identify a crack formation in the cylinder head when instances of temperature differentials exceeds a temperature differential limit in the cylinder head.

A method for monitoring the health status of a prime mover of a locomotive, the method comprising:

• providing the prime mover with a left bank and a right bank, an EGR cooler in fluid communication with a first exhaust of the prime mover, a turbocharger in fluid communication with a second exhaust of the prime mover, a first temperature sensor on the first exhaust, and a second temperature sensor on the second exhaust, a controller in communication with the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor;
• operating the prime mover;
• monitoring, via the controller, a differential between the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor;
• identifying the differential exceeding a threshold;
• and
• alerting an existence of a prime mover crack, via communicating an alert signal by the controller.