ASE T2 Diesel Engines (Medium/Heavy Truck) study plan
ASE T2 Diesel Engines (Medium/Heavy Truck) · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Cylinder Head and Valve Train Diagnosis and Repair & Engine Block Diagnosis and Repair
Diagram the complete valve train from camshaft to valve for an overhead-cam and a pushrod medium/heavy diesel, labeling each component
Explain the correct procedure to measure valve lash and injector height/setting on a mechanical unit-injector engine
List the steps to pressure-test and inspect a cylinder head for cracks, warpage, and valve seat condition
Describe how to measure cylinder liner protrusion and liner wear, and state the accept/reject criteria
Identify the causes and symptoms of a dropped valve, bent pushrod, and worn cam lobe
Your checkpoint
A one-page valve-train and block-inspection checklist with measurement points and pass/fail criteria written from memory, then verified against a service-information source
Cylinder Head and Valve Train Diagnosis and Repair & Engine Block Diagnosis and Repair
Walk through a cylinder head disassembly, cleaning, crack inspection (magnetic particle or dye penetrant), and reassembly sequence
Perform valve spring free-length and squareness checks and decide whether to replace
Explain inframe vs. out-of-frame overhaul decision criteria including liner, piston, and bearing wear limits
Describe main and rod bearing clearance measurement with plastigage and with micrometers
Outline camshaft bearing bore inspection and camshaft end-play measurement
Your checkpoint
A written 10-step diagnosis scenario for a low-compression cylinder that traces from symptom to root cause using head and block tests, with the measurement that confirms each step
Lubrication and Cooling Systems Diagnosis and Repair & Air Induction and Exhaust Systems Diagnosis and Repair
Trace the full lubrication circuit from oil pump through filter, cooler, and galleries, and identify where each pressure reading is taken
Explain how to diagnose low oil pressure: distinguish worn bearings, relief valve, diluted oil, and gauge/sender error
Describe coolant system pressure testing, cap testing, and thermostat verification procedures
Diagnose a coolant loss with no external leak: combustion gas test, pressure hold, and oil/coolant cross-contamination checks
Explain turbocharger inspection for shaft play, wheel damage, and boost leak testing of the charge-air system
Your checkpoint
A symptom-to-test matrix covering low oil pressure, overheating, coolant loss, and low boost, each with the first three diagnostic tests in order
Lubrication and Cooling Systems Diagnosis and Repair & Air Induction and Exhaust Systems Diagnosis and Repair
Explain aftercooler/charge-air cooler pressure testing and the effect of a leak on power and EGT
Describe exhaust restriction diagnosis and backpressure measurement
Explain the function and failure modes of the crankcase ventilation system and how it relates to oil consumption and seal leaks
Describe water pump, oil cooler, and EGR cooler failure diagnosis on a medium/heavy diesel
Explain coolant filter/SCA chemistry and how to test and adjust coolant condition
Your checkpoint
A completed 20-question self-quiz on lubrication, cooling, air induction, and exhaust, scored, with every missed item rewritten as a corrected fact
Fuel System Diagnosis and Repair & Starting and Charging Systems Diagnosis and Repair
Trace the fuel path from tank through lift pump, filters, high-pressure pump, and injectors on both a common-rail and a mechanical system
Explain low-pressure and high-pressure fuel system diagnostic tests including return-flow and crank-with-no-start checks
Describe injector diagnosis: balance/contribution tests, cutout tests, and interpreting fuel trim or cylinder imbalance data
Explain starting system voltage-drop testing across cables, grounds, and the starter solenoid
Describe alternator testing: output, ripple, and parasitic draw measurement
Your checkpoint
A no-start diagnostic flowchart that branches between fuel, starting, and electrical causes, with the specific test and expected reading at each branch
Fuel System Diagnosis and Repair & Starting and Charging Systems Diagnosis and Repair
Explain fuel quality and contamination issues: water, air intrusion, and microbial growth, and how each presents
Describe the correct procedure to prime and bleed a fuel system after filter service on common-rail and mechanical engines
Explain battery testing: state of charge, load test, conductance test, and series/parallel medium-heavy configurations
Describe starter circuit diagnosis for slow crank: battery, cable, solenoid, and starter draw
Explain charging system diagnosis for no-charge and over-charge conditions
Your checkpoint
A one-page fuel and electrical quick-reference card listing test, tool, and pass/fail threshold for eight key checks, written from memory
Engine Electrical/Electronic Systems Diagnosis and Repair & Engine Brakes and Retarders Diagnosis and Repair
Explain how to read and use fault codes and datastream values on a medium/heavy diesel scan tool, including sensor plausibility checks
Describe sensor and actuator diagnosis for CKP, CMP, coolant temp, oil pressure, and throttle position
Explain wiring harness inspection: chafing, connector terminal drag, and resistance/continuity testing
Describe engine brake (Jake brake) operation and how to diagnose a non-functioning brake: solenoid, wiring, and mechanical lash
Explain exhaust retarder and variable-geometry turbo brake operation and common failure modes
Your checkpoint
A written diagnostic walk-through for one electrical fault and one engine-brake fault, each tracing from complaint to confirmed root cause with the test at each step
Cylinder Head and Valve Train Diagnosis and Repair & Engine Block Diagnosis and Repair & Lubrication and Cooling Systems Diagnosis and Repair & Air Induction and Exhaust Systems Diagnosis and Repair & Fuel System Diagnosis and Repair & Starting and Charging Systems Diagnosis and Repair & Engine Electrical/Electronic Systems Diagnosis and Repair & Engine Brakes and Retarders Diagnosis and Repair
Complete a full-length timed practice test across all eight domains and score it
Categorize every missed question by domain and identify the two weakest domains
Re-study the two weakest domains using the checklists and matrices built in earlier weeks
Re-quiz yourself on the highest-miss domains until you can explain each missed concept aloud without notes
Your checkpoint
A scored full-length practice test plus a written remediation log listing each missed concept, its domain, and the corrected explanation
Milestones
Week 2: Can explain, without notes, the full path from camshaft to valve and state the measurement and pass/fail criteria for valve lash and liner protrusion
Week 4: Scores at least 80% on the 20-question lubrication/cooling/air/exhaust self-quiz and has a corrected fact for every miss
Week 6: Can trace a no-start from symptom to root cause on paper for both a fuel cause and an electrical cause, citing the confirming test for each
Week 8: Scores at least 80% on the full-length timed practice test with no domain below 70%