If you’re ever curious about how an car engine works, there’s a good chance you’ve seen a diagram like the one below. It illustrates how the pistons in a cylinder move up and down to produce movement in the engine. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what each part of the diagram does and why it’s important for your car to work properly.
The Engine: What It Is and How It Works
The engine in your car is one of the most important parts. It converts the fuel you put into it into motion, and helps you to get where you want to go. In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at what an engine is and how it works.
Intake and Exhaust Valves
When you start your car, the engine turns over quickly and smoothly because the intake valves are open wide and the exhaust valves are closed. The air is channelled into the engine through the intake valves and it is mixed with fuel from the fuel tank. The air and fuel then ignite, providing energy to turn the crankshaft. The exhaust valves open quickly as the air and fuel are forced out of the engine.
The Air-Fuel Ratio
In a typical car engine, air and fuel are mixed together in the engine’s intake manifold. The air is drawn into the engine through the air filter and the fuel is drawn into the engine through the fuel filter.The air-fuel ratio (AFR) is a measure of how much air is mixed with how much fuel in an engine. In a typical car engine, the AFR is set at about 14.7:1. This means that for every one gallon of fuel that enters the engine, there are about 14.7 gallons of air pumped into the engine.In order to ensure that all of the air is injected into the engine, the car’s computer monitors several factors, including rpm and throttle position. If the rpm or throttle position falls too low or rises too high, then the computer will adjust injectors to ensure that all of the air is injected into the engine.
The Carburetor and Injection Pump
The carburetor is a component of the engine that helps to mix air and fuel. The air and fuel are mixed together and then sent into the engine. The injection pump is another component of the engine that helps to inject the air and fuel into the cylinders.
Ignition Coil
An ignition coil is a small, inexpensive device that helps start your car. It’s made up of several coils of wire. When the car’s battery is hooked up to the coil, it causes a current to flow through the wires. This current makes the coils heat up, which in turn sparks the ignition plug (the part that starts the engine) and starts your car.
Fuel Injection System
An engine’s fuel injection system uses a variety of sensors to measure the air/fuel mixture and deliver the correct amount of fuel at the right time to the engine’s combustion chamber. The system sends information back to the computer, which controls the valves in the injectors.
Cooling System
An engine runs hotter than the surrounding air, which is why it needs a cooling system. The engine’s cooling system includes a radiator, water pump, fan, and hose connections. The radiator is a metal or plastic object that sits in front of the engine and transfers heat to the coolant. The water pump sends fluid through the fan and hose connections to the engine.
Powertrain
The car engine’s power is derived from the motion of the pistons and connecting rods. The motion of these objects causes a combustion process that turns fuel into heat, water vapor, and carbon dioxide. This heat is then used to create kinetic energy and push the car down the road.