The ICE or internal combustion engine might have come before the steam engine but it didn't show a promising future later on. What most cars have now as their engine was first made in the 1860s. Although the internals have changed a lot, the basic principles on which an engine works today are still here.
This relies solely on fuel and air being mixed together and compressed in order for them to combust and generate a force that makes the engine work. This movement is generated time and time again even when your car is idling. It's exactly this force that makes your car move, but how does it actually move your car? Well, to understand this you need to understand the different car engine parts that make it happen.
Parts of an Internal Combustion Engine
Cylinder Block
The foundation of every engine is its engine block also known as the cylinder block. This is where most of the core car engine parts are found and where the combustion process takes place too. The cylinder block is a car engine part that is made usually from aluminium alloy or cast iron. It has as many openings as it has pistons and the diameter of the openings determines the engine displacement.
Pistons
The pistons are steel, cast iron or aluminium alloy cylinder-shaped components. They move up and down to create the necessary compression for the combustion process to take place. The speed at which the pistons move determines the performance of the engine and the faster they move the faster the car will go.
Cylinder Heads
Attached thanks to cylinder bolts, the cylinder heads are found at the upper section of the engine. This auto engine part is what helps seal the chamber in which air and fuel are mixed and compressed. A cylinder head also has other car engine parts such as valves, spark plugs and injectors.
Crankshaft
The crankshaft is found at the lower end of the engine and it has the pistons connected to it via connecting rods. The motion from the piston going up and down is transferred to the crankshaft which then sends the rotating power to the gearbox.
Camshaft
The camshaft sits either in the engine block or the cylinder heads. This auto engine part controls the opening of the valves as well as the timing of the valves through its movement.
Valves
Talking about valves, they are used in the cylinder head in order to control both the flow of fuel and air. They are operated by the camshaft and the way the cams rotate determines the opening times of the valves as the piston goes up.
Injectors
In order for fuel to be introduced into the chamber when the valve opens, the engine needs the fuel injectors to spray out at the right time. This car engine part applies fuel in a certain pattern and volume so that the combustion process is efficient and successful.
Timing Belt/ Chain
Some engines come with timing belts and others have chains. The former are made of rubber and the latter are made of steel. The role of a timing belt/ chain is to keep the rotation of the crankshaft in sync with that of the camshaft. This way the opening and closing of the valves are executed in a timely manner.
Flywheel
Placed at the end of the crankshaft, the flywheel is a disc that helps transmit the power from the engine to the wheels. The flywheel also helps compensate for speed fluctuations and it can keep excess power aside for later use.
Oil Sump
Also known as the oil pan, the oil sump is an area at the bottom of the engine that is meant to be a reservoir for the oil. This is where the dipstick sits and the drain plug which is found at the bottom of the sump so that when you're changing the oil it pours out easily.
Common Types of Engines
V
When it comes to high-performance cars and large SUVs where a lot of torque is needed, a V-style engine is most likely to be found under the bonnet. These engines have their pistons placed on both sides of the crankshaft at an angle. This design makes the engine have a “V” shape. Although they are compact and rigid, V engines are expensive to maintain and quite complex too.
Inline
An inline engine is rather smaller and lighter than a V engine. This is why inline engines are found in most city cruisers and they commonly have 4 cylinders placed on the crankshaft. Inline engines are easy to fix but they are quite delicate while being fuel efficient.
Flat
A flat engine is quite a rare sight on most commercial vehicles. This is because a flat engine is quite complex as it has the cylinders placed at 180° angle. Also known as boxer engines, flat engines are used by Subaru which makes well-balanced and easy-to-handle cars. You can also find boxer engines used in motorcycles and some high-performance vehicles.
