Practice Test GeeksUSCG - United States Coast Guard Practice Test
← All USCG Flashcard Decks

General Engineering Flashcards

7 cards from real USCG practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 General Engineering flashcards as text

  1. What is indicated by a rising exhaust temperature on one cylinder of a diesel engine?

    Answer: The cylinder may have a faulty injector or restriction in air flow

    A rising exhaust temperature on one cylinder typically indicates over-fueling due to a faulty injector or restricted air intake causing incomplete combustion.

  2. Which type of corrosion occurs when two dissimilar metals are in electrical contact in an electrolyte?

    Answer: Galvanic corrosion

    Galvanic corrosion occurs when two dissimilar metals are in electrical contact in an electrolyte (such as seawater), causing the less noble metal to corrode preferentially.

  3. What is the purpose of 'megger testing' of electrical equipment onboard?

    Answer: To measure insulation resistance to detect degradation or faults

    A megger test applies a high DC voltage to measure insulation resistance, detecting degraded or faulty insulation before it causes faults or hazards.

  4. In a four-stroke diesel engine, what occurs during the compression stroke?

    Answer: The piston moves up with all valves closed, compressing the air charge

    During the compression stroke, the piston moves upward with both valves closed, compressing the air charge to a high temperature sufficient to ignite injected fuel.

  5. What is the function of a 'sounding tube' on a vessel?

    Answer: To allow measurement of liquid levels in tanks

    Sounding tubes are pipes that extend to the bottom of tanks, allowing crew members to lower a sounding rod or tape to measure the liquid level.

  6. What safety device prevents a boiler from operating with low water level?

    Answer: Low-water fuel cutoff (low-level alarm and trip)

    A low-water fuel cutoff senses dangerously low water level in the boiler and shuts off the fuel supply to prevent overheating and potential explosion.

  7. What does the abbreviation 'RPM' measure on a vessel's propulsion system?

    Answer: Revolutions Per Minute of the shaft or engine

    RPM (Revolutions Per Minute) measures how many complete rotations the engine crankshaft or propeller shaft makes per minute, indicating engine speed.

How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy

  1. dco.uscg.mil — Test delivery, registration deadline, passing score, exam information · verified Oct 2026
  2. ecfr.gov — Eligibility, score validity, retake policy, test dates, renewal, fees · verified Oct 2026