Engine

Let’s look at some key engine parts in more detail.

The Cylinder

Is where the combustion takes place in an ICE – Internal combustion engine. It is this system that enables the car’s movement  and all other functions within the car.

Cubic Capacity  or Engine size is the sum total of the volume swept out by the pistons in the cylinders.

It is measured in cc or liters. For example a engine with 4 cylinders with volume swept in each cylinder being 300 cc could be referred to as a 1200 cc or 1.2 Ltr engine.

Spark plug
The spark plug supplies the spark that ignites the air/fuel mixture so that combustion can occur. The spark must happen at just the right moment for things to work properly.

Valves
The intake and exhaust valves open at the proper time to let in air and fuel and to let out exhaust. Note that both valves are closed during compression and combustion so that the combustion chamber is sealed.

Piston
A piston is a cylindrical piece of metal that moves up and down inside the cylinder.

Connecting rod
The connecting rod connects the piston to the crankshaft. It can rotate at both ends so that its angle can change as the piston moves and the crankshaft rotates.

Crankshaft
The crankshaft turns the piston’s up and down motion into circular motion just like a crank on a jack-in-the-box does.

Intake

The piston starts from the top, the intake valve opens, and the piston moves down to let the engine take in a cylinder-full of air and petrol

Compression

• Then the piston moves up to compress the mixture of petrol and air
• Compression makes the explosion more powerful
• Compression results in optimum temperature to be build up for power stroke

Power

• When the piston reaches the top of its stroke, the spark plug emits a spark to ignite the petrol
• The petrol charge in the cylinder explodes, driving the piston down

Exhaust

Once the piston hits the bottom of its stroke, the exhaust valve opens and the gaseous exhaust leaves the cylinder