Systems and methods for diagnosing an engine

1. A method for diagnosing an engine in a vehicle, the method comprising:

a. initiating a diagnostic test of the engine;

b. disabling a cylinder of the engine;

c. measuring a parameter indicative of performance of the engine, including engine rotation speed, engine horsepower, or a combination thereof;

d. re-enabling the cylinder;

e. comparing the parameter to reference data;

f. assessing a first status of the cylinder based on the comparison, including determining whether the cylinder is defective;

g. when the first status indicates that the cylinder is defective, repeating (b)-(f), thereby assessing a second status of the cylinder; and

h. generating a diagnostic result of the cylinder, wherein the diagnostic result is generated based on the first status and the second status.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a locomotive.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the diagnostic test is initiated by a user.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to disabling a cylinder of the engine, determining whether conditions of the engine are acceptable to run the diagnostic test.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic test is initiated on a time-based schedule or a mileage-based schedule.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cylinder is disabled during normal operation of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising archiving the first status of the cylinder in a data storage device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic result comprises instructions for servicing the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cylinder is a first cylinder, the parameter is a first parameter, and the diagnostic result is a first diagnostic result, the method further comprising:

after (f), disabling a second cylinder;

measuring a second parameter indicative of performance of the engine;

comparing the second parameter to the reference data;

assessing a status of the second cylinder based on the comparison; and

generating a second diagnostic result based on the status of the second cylinder.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising repeating (b)-(f) until status of all cylinders of the engine have been assessed.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising repeating (a)-(f), thereby assessing a plurality of status of the cylinder at multiple time points.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reference data is a parameter indicative of performance of the engine when the cylinder is enabled.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring the parameter indicative of performance of the engine includes measuring performance of one or more cylinders in the engine different from the disabled cylinder.

14. A method for diagnosing an engine in a vehicle, the method comprising:

a. determining whether conditions of the engine are acceptable to run a diagnostic test;

b. when the conditions of the engine are acceptable to run the diagnostic test, disabling a first cylinder of the engine;

c. maintaining at least 90% of performance of the engine;

d. measuring performance of a second cylinder of the engine, wherein the second cylinder is not disabled;

e. comparing the performance of the second cylinder to reference data;

f. assessing a status of the first cylinder based on the comparison;

g. repeating the maintaining, the measuring, and the comparing;

h. repeating the assessing the status of the first cylinder to confirm the status of the first cylinder; and

i. generating a diagnostic result based on the status of the first cylinder.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the reference data is a parameter indicative of performance of the second cylinder when the first cylinder is enabled.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the reference data is a parameter indicative of performance of the second cylinder when a healthy cylinder is disabled and the engine maintains at least 90% of performance.

17. A method for diagnosing an engine in a vehicle, the method comprising:

a. measuring a first parameter indicative of performance of the engine, including engine rotation speed, engine horsepower, or a combination thereof;

b. disabling a cylinder of the engine;

c. measuring a second parameter indicative of performance of the engine when the cylinder is disabled, including engine rotation speed, engine horsepower, or a combination thereof;

d. re-enabling the cylinder;

e. comparing the first parameter and the second parameter;

f. assessing a status of the cylinder based on the comparison;

g. repeating the disabling, measuring, re-enabling, and comparing; and

h. repeating the assessing to confirm the status of the cylinder.