How to measure diesel engine rpm with a multimeter

How to measure diesel engine rpm with a multimeter

What is RPM?:In this article we are going to show how to measure RPM with an automotive multimeter, however it is necessary to be clear about certain concepts. RPM  stands for Revolutions Per Minute and is a great way to see how hard your engine is working.

When we talk about cars, we can interpret that the more RPM an engine has, the faster it will do its job, thus being able to achieve higher speeds. This result will be obtained accompanied by other factors such as the number of cylinders, and the good condition of the suspension, the transmission system and the torque.

The most common way to measure the revolutions of an engine is using a tachometer, but this is an instrument that we do not usually have at home.

However, if you have a multimeter it will be more than enough to measure the RPM of an engine.

What are the best multimeters to measure engine rpm?

Based on our experience, we recommend the Fluke brand   as it has the True RMS feature which gives accurate readings.

However, if you want to see more alternatives, we encourage you to review the following list where you can find the  best car multimeter  that meets your expectations.

Best Automotive Multimeter

If you have a car, you should also have an automotive multimeter on hand. Today the vast majority of vehicles have somewhat complex and delicate electrical systems…

Best Automotive Multimeter

How to measure the RPM of an engine with a multimeter?

Before you start measuring engine RPM with a multimeter, you should have the following:

1.- Automotive digital multimeter with  inductive clamp .

two.- Access to engine spark plug wires

security reminder

Measuring revolutions with a multimeter is not a test that is commonly performed, therefore, you must take your general safety precautions, in addition to including eye protection and gloves for electrical work.

How to perform RPM measurement with digital multimeter?

Follow the next steps guiding you with the images that you will find below.

1.- Warm up the engine approximately 2 minutes.

two.- Attach the clamp to the cable of the first spark plug

3.- Select the RPM function on the multimeter

4.- We verify the correct position of the cables.

5.- We look at the results