With many sophisticated and advanced improvements along with the use of modern electronics and materials car engines have become more and more complex to understand and their repair and maintenance a bit more complicated.
Nevertheless the basic layout of the car engine has never really changed and so long as the basics are understood maintaining or making repairs to car engines will be an easy, straightforward, process.
Car Engine Facts
Conducting regular maintenance on cars is very essential as it significantly contributes to its durability and performance. This same concept can also be be applied to car engines once they receive proper care and regular maintenance they are bound to stay in an exceptional, working, condition.
In tough economic times like these many people may not be afforded the luxury of taking their vehicles into an auto shop for regular maintenance leaving them to take an alternative route and attempt to do certain things on their own.
As it relates to maintaining your car engine the best way to go about it is to first become familiar with the individual parts of the engine and exploring their functions.
The engine of a car is made up of several components which include:
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Pistons – The pistons are responsible for the transfer of force from expanding gas in the cylinder to the crankshaft via a piston rod and/ or connecting rod.
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Crankshaft -This is a mechanism that converts the reciprocating motion of the piston to rotational motion as the piston moves up and down in the cylinder.
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Valvetrain – This is mechanical system that controls operation of the valves within an internal combustion engine. Here a sequence of components transmits motion throughout the assembly a job similar to that of a traffic cop. It lets air and fuel in and out of the engine at a designated time which is controlled by the camshaft which is synchronized to the crankshaft by a chain or belt.
Now that we’ve had a general view of the basic components of the engine the next step is to understand the way they function. Today most automobile makes are manufactured with 4-stroke or 4-cycle engines. This essentially means that engines have four distinct events which complete a cycle. Below is a list of the four complete parts and the functions that they facilitate.
* Intake stroke: This refers to the first event of the four stroke cycle. Here the intake valve must be in the open position while the piston pulls an air-fuel mixture into the cylinder by producing vacuum pressure into the cylinder through its downward motion.
* Compression stroke: In this stroke the piston compresses the air-fuel mixture in preparation for ignition during the power stroke. Both the intake and exhaust valves are closed during this stage.
* Power stroke: Also known as power or ignition is the start of the second revolution of the four stroke cycle. At this point the crankshaft has completed a full 360 degree revolution. While the piston is at top dead center the compressed air-fuel mixture is ignited by a spark plug
* Exhaust stroke: During the exhaust stroke the piston once again returns from bottom dead center to top dead center while the exhaust valve is open. This action expels the spent air-fuel mixture through the exhaust valve.
These informative summaries and interpretations offer a first hand insight as to how the typical automotive engine works and can provide the necessary knowledge required if repairs or maintenance were to be carried out. Maintaining your car engine and keeping it in excellent condition can help your automobile to work in a remarkable fashion for years to come. Contact us for more information..
