Understanding The Numerous Parts Of Your Car Engine

Car engines are one of the most important and impressive types of engines people use today

. A car engine undergoes a process that converts gas (or other fuel) into kinetic energy or motion called internal combustion. To understand how car engines work it is important to first understand what goes on during internal combustion and how a car engine's parts are used to harness the energy of this process.

Internal combustion involves a small amount of high energy fuel, such as gas, enclosed in a small space that is ignited. When ignited the fuel gives off an enormous amount of energy, an explosion, which is the fuel expanding. This energy that is given off can be used as kinetic energy (motion) such as propelling an object forward. What happens in car engines is a cycle of multiple explosions per minute in which energy is harnessed to be used as motion. Formally this cycle is called a four-stroke combustion cycle also known as the Otto cycle.

Basic car engine parts that are used to harness the energy of internal combustion are the cylinder, spark plug, valves, piston, connecting rod, and the crankshaft. A cylinder of a car engine provides the small enclosed space where a tiny portion of gas is ignited to give off energy. Most cars have multiple cylinders such as four, six, or eight cylinders within an engine. The spark plug in a car engine does what it sounds like it does. It provides the spark to ignite the fuel mixed with air contained in the cylinders. There are two kinds of valves in a car engine, the intake and exhaust valves.

The intake valves open to let air and fuel into the cylinders at the beginning of the cycle and the exhaust valves opens at the end of the cycle to let exhaust out. Remember that these valves stay closed during compression and combustion of the fuel to provide enclosed spaces within the cylinders. Pistons are cylindrical pieces of metal housed inside of cylinders and move up and down cylinders during internal combustion. Pistons convert the energy from the explosion of gas into motion, like a cannon ball in a cannon. The connecting rod connects a piston to the crankshaft; it can rotate at both of its ends to accommodate the movement of both the piston and crankshaft. The crankshaft converts the piston's vertical kinetic energy into a circular motion.

There are a few simple ways to prolong the life of a car engine. One obvious method is routine maintenance such as oil changes and transmission services. During routine maintenance selection of what brand parts replace the old ones can affect engine performance. GM parts and accessories are guaranteed to work properly with GM engines for instance. Other ways to prolong engine life are warming up a car on cold days, not speeding while driving, shifting gears properly (manual transmission cars), and driving with lighter loads. Doing these things would provide less wear and tear on a car engine.

Three major mechanical issues that could cause car engine problems are a bad fuel mix, insufficient compression, or insufficient spark. A bad fuel mix could be caused by not having enough gas in the gas tank. Insufficient compression could be caused by a hole in a cylinder. An insufficient spark could be caused by a bad spark plug or worn out wires connected to the spark plug. Some engine problems require replacement of parts. Compatibility is important when deciding which parts to replace with. GM parts and accessories are tested and proven to be fully compatible with GM engines for instance.

by: Jordan McPelt

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