Car Engines - How They Work

We drive cars everyday, but have we ever thought of car engines, how they work, and what makes the vehicle move? If you are a car lover, you would surely be excited to know about car engines, how they work, and what the different parts in the engine system are.

Basic Parts of a Car Engine

Spark Plugs
In simple words, spark plugs are auto parts that help the engine to start. They provide spark to the air and fuel mixture, which results in the combustion. If you want the engine to start and run in a smooth manner, replacing spark plugs at prescribed intervals is essential.

Pistons
Pistons are components that are cylindrical in shape, and move in the cylinder in an upward and downward motion. The main job of the piston is to compress the air and fuel mixture that comes in the cylinder.

Piston Rings
These are rings present around the piston, which preclude the fuel and air mixture from going into the sump during the process of combustion. Moreover, they also do not let oil from the sump get into the combustion area.

Valves
In the engine, there are two types of valves, the intake valve and the exhaust valves. The intake valve opens at the appropriate time to let the fuel come in the combustion area, whereas, the exhaust valve operates to let out the exhaust after combustion.

Crankshaft
As the pistons move in the upward and downward direction, the crankshaft moves in a circular motion, adjusting with the up/down movements of the pistons connected to it.

Flywheel
The flywheel is situated behind the crankshaft. When you turn on the ignition, the starter releases a gear on it, which makes the engine to start functioning.

Connecting Rod
This is a metal rod that maintains connection between the crankshaft and the piston. Its both ends are not fitted tightly, so as to have a change in its angle when the piston moves and crankshaft rotates.

How a Car Engine Works

Do not get confused by looking at complicated parts of the engine that make it run. The engine runs in a very simple manner. Essentially, there are four stages after which power is generated for the automobile to move. These four stages, also known as four strokes, are intake, compression, power, and exhaust.

The first intake stroke starts when the cylinder's intake valve opens to let the air and fuel mixture to come inside the cylinder for compression and combustion. When the valve opens, the piston moves in the downward direction which creates space for the mixture to come in the combustion area. The second compression stroke is operational when both the intake as well as exhaust valves are closed, and the piston starts coming in the upward direction for compressing the mixture. The third stage is the power stroke when the power is generated by igniting the mixture. As the piston comes up, compressing the mixture, the spark plug fires and ignites the mixture, causing the piston to move in the downward direction again, which ultimately produces power. The fourth stage is the exhaust stroke when leftover fumes are thrown out of the cylinder through the opening of the exhaust valve. To generate power to the engine, this whole process is repeated again.

This is the basic manner in which the engine works. When you sit in your car, turn on the ignition, and start to drive; simply note that the above mentioned process has started to run repeatedly in the engine, which is giving a motion to your vehicle.