WORK VEHICLE POWER SYSTEM WITH DYNAMIC AUTO-IGNITION ASSISTANCE COMPRESSION RATIOS

A power system for a work vehicle includes a compression ignition engine with piston-cylinder set that defines a compression ratio. The engine further includes a piston actuation arrangement coupled to the piston of the first piston-cylinder set and configured to be repositioned to dynamically modify the compression ratio of the first piston-cylinder set. The system includes a controller coupled to command the first piston actuation arrangement such that, in an auto-ignition assistance mode, the first piston actuation arrangement places the first piston into a first configuration resulting in a first compression ratio; and in a nominal mode, the first piston actuation arrangement places the first piston into a second configuration resulting a second compression ratio that is lower than the first compression ratio.