Knowing how your car engine works is the first step to keeping it efficient and functional. Whether you’re a new or experienced car owner, updating your knowledge will put you one step ahead in case of a fault or malfunction. This article discusses everything you need to know about your car engine.
Internal Combustion Engine
Most cars use an internal combustion engine. They are called internal combustion engines because the fuel is burned inside the cylinders to create energy that powers the vehicle. On the other hand, an external combustion engine is one in which fuel is burned outside the engine, and the heat is then transferred to the engine to power the car. Steam engines are a good example. The coal combusts outside the engine and produces steam which powers the engine. Internal combustion engines are more efficient than external ones. An external combustion engine requires more components to transfer energy making it less favorable for any passenger vehicle.
The idea behind an internal combustion engine is that a tiny amount of high-energy-density fuel is put into a small and enclosed space, and a high amount of energy is produced when ignited. This energy is usually in the form of expanding gas. When harnessed, this energy is the core of a car engine.
Almost every car uses a four-stroke combustion process designed by Nikolaus Otto. He invented them in 1867. The strokes are:
- Combustion stroke
- Exhaust stroke
- Intake stroke
- Compression stroke
To better understand this stroke cycle, let us look at the essential parts of the engine.
Engine Block
An engine block is the base of an engine. It is also called a cylinder block because of the tubes known as cylinders that are fixed into the engine’s structure. Along with the cylinders, other galleries are set into the engine block for easy passage of oil and coolants to different engine parts. The power of a car’s engine depends on the number of cylinders.
You have probably heard an engine being called V6 or V8. It depends on the shape and number of cylinders in a car’s engine. Car engines that have more than four cylinders are divided into cylinder banks. This division usually forms a “V.” So, a V6 engine is one with six cylinders, and a V8 has eight cylinders with four in each cylinder bank.
More cylinders mean more power for your car since you will be creating more movement to turn the crankshaft. Although more cylinders translate to more power, it does not necessarily equate to more speed. It all boils down to the car’s design, as most trucks that run on a V6 or V8 engine won’t win a race against a V6 sports car.
And now, we’ve come to the end of the first part of this post. The second part will discuss the other essential components of your car’s engine, how the strokes work, and when to change your oil and air filters. Check out the second part here.https://dustysonline.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-your-engine-pt-2/