Diagnostic skills in Lubricating System for Effective Fault Detection in Automobile Engines among Students in Rivers State Tertiary Institutions

This study diagnosed skills in lubricating system for effective faults detection in automobile engines among students in Rivers State tertiary institutions. Specifically, the study examined the components of lubricating system, skills needed for faults associated with lubricating system detection and the causes of the faults associated with lubricating system for effective fault detection in automobile engines in Rivers State tertiary institutions. The population of the study was 91 respondents which comprised 27 automobile lecturers and 64 final year students in mechanical technology department. No sample was done as the population was manageable; therefor census technique was adopted. The instrument used for data collection was a self-made survey questionnaire. The instrument was validated by two experts in the department of Vocational and Technology Education in Rivers State University, Port-Harcourt. The reliability of the instrument was established using test re-test, Pearson Product Moment Correlation. The coefficient achieved was .82. Mean was used to answer the research questions, while Standard Deviation was used to ascertain the homogeneity of responses, and z-test was used to test the null hypotheses at .05 significance level. The study found among others that lubricating system could be associated with different faults such as leakages, high oil consumption, abnormal engine noise; oil filters swells and others which could be cause by, over greasing, leaking gaskets, worn cylinder, worn piston. Therefore, it was recommended among others that there should be proper orientation programme for students at automobile workshop so as to intimate students on the causes and skills needed for faults detection on lubricating system, so that students do not fall victim of defaulting the rules of lubrication.