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A condition of an engine is diagnosed based on information provided by signals from speed sensors associated with the engine or other signals associated with a generator operationally connected to the engine. Different types of degradation are distinguished based on discerning characteristics within

A condition of an engine is diagnosed based on information provided by signals from speed sensors associated with the engine or other signals associated with a generator operationally connected to the engine. Different types of degradation are distinguished based on discerning characteristics within the information. Thus, a degraded engine component can be identified in a manner that reduces service induced delay.

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1. A method for a reciprocating engine, comprising: diagnosing a condition of the engine based on harmonic content of a measured rotational speed of the reciprocating engine using at least a processor. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of a magnitude and a phase of a half-order frequenc

1. A method for a reciprocating engine, comprising: diagnosing a condition of the engine based on harmonic content of a measured rotational speed of the reciprocating engine using at least a processor. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of a magnitude and a phase of a half-order frequency component of the harmonic content is analyzed to diagnose the condition. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the reciprocating engine is first driven to a specified operating condition, state, or mode. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the rotational speed is measured when the reciprocating engine reaches a determined operating condition, state, or mode. 5. A method for a reciprocating engine, comprising: diagnosing a condition of the engine based on a difference in a measured rotational speed of the reciprocating engine from cycle to cycle using at least a processor. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the reciprocating engine is first driven to a specified operating condition, state, or mode. 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the difference in a measured rotational speed is measured then the reciprocating engine reaches a determined operating condition, state, or mode. 8. A method for a reciprocating engine, comprising: diagnosing a condition of the engine based on a difference in a time for the reciprocating engine to rotate over a determined angle from cycle to cycle using at least a processor. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the reciprocating engine is first driven to a specified operating condition, state, or mode. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the difference in a time is measured when the reciprocating engine reaches a determined operating condition, state, or mode. 11. A method for a reciprocating engine operationally connected to a generator, comprising: measuring a rotational speed of the reciprocating engine over time using a speed sensor;measuring electrical parameters associated with the generator over time using at least a processor;correlating characteristics of the measured rotational speed to characteristics of the measured electrical parameters using at least the processor; anddiagnosing a condition of the engine based on the correlated characteristics using at least the processor. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein characteristics of the measured rotational speed include at least one of harmonic content of the rotational speed, a difference in the measured rotational speed from cycle to cycle, and differences in a measured times for the reciprocating engine to rotate over a determined angle. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the measured electrical parameters include at least one of an output current of the generator, an output voltage of the generator, a generator field current, a generator field voltage, a dc-link current, and a dc-link voltage. 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the reciprocating engine is first driven to a specified operating condition, state, or mode. 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the measuring and the correlating are performed when the reciprocating engine reaches a determined operating condition, state, or mode. 16. A method for a reciprocating engine, comprising: measuring a rotational speed of the reciprocating engine over time using a speed sensor;determining a torque profile by combining acceleration components derived from the measured rotational speed at determined characteristic frequencies using at least a processor; anddiagnosing a condition of the engine based on characteristics of the torque profile using at least the processor. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the reciprocating engine is first driven to a specified operating condition, state, or mode. 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the measuring and determining are performed when the reciprocating engine reaches a determined operating condition, state, or mode. 19. A vehicle system, comprising: an engine;a sensor for measuring a rotational speed of the reciprocating engine over time; anda controller including instructions configured to sample the measured speed and diagnose a condition of the engine based on at least one of: harmonic content of the measured speed;a difference in the measured speed from cycle to cycle; anddifferences in times for the engine to rotate over a determined angle. 20. The vehicle system of claim 19, wherein the controller is operable to report a degraded engine condition. 21. The vehicle system of claim 19, wherein the controller further includes instructions configured to adjust an engine operating parameter based on the diagnosed condition. 22. A vehicle system, comprising: an engine;a generator operatively connected to the engine;a sensor for measuring a rotational speed of the reciprocating engine over time;sensors for measuring electrical parameters associated with the generator during operation; anda controller including instructions configured to sample the measured speed and the measured electrical parameters and diagnose a condition of the engine based on correlations between characteristics of the measured speed and characteristics of electrical parameters of the generator. 23. The vehicle system of claim 22, wherein the controller is operable to report a degraded engine condition. 24. The vehicle system of claim 22, wherein the controller further includes instructions configured to adjust an engine operating parameter based on the diagnosed condition. 25. A method for a reciprocating engine, comprising: measuring by the processor a plurality of time intervals, wherein each time interval corresponds to an amount of time it takes for an engine to rotate over a specified angle;determining by the processor a frequency content of the plurality of time intervals;calculating by the processor a combined value of the amplitudes of the frequency content around a specified harmonic frequency; anddiagnosing a condition of the engine based on the combined value. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the specified harmonic frequency is a half-order frequency. 27. The method of claim 25, wherein the combined value is a root-mean-square (RMS) value.