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The Basics A four-stroke engine: Is an internal combustion engine Converts gasoline into motion Is the most common car engine type Is relatively efficient Is relatively inexpensive Back Next
Other Engine Types Two-stroke engines Diesel engines Rotary engines Turbine engines Steam engines Back Next
Basic Components of Four-Stroke Engines Camshaft Intake Valve Exhaust Valve Valve Cover Spark Plug Intake Port Exhaust Port Head Piston Connecting Rod Coolant Rod Bearings Engine Block Next Diagram Crankshaft Oil Pan Back Oil Sump
A. Intake Valve- opens at the proper time to let in air and fuel. Back
B. Valve Cover- Protects the valves and the valve springs B. Valve Cover- Protects the valves and the valve springs. Keeps dirt out and lubricating oil in. Back
C. Intake Port- the passageway in a cylinder head for the fuel and air to pass through. Back
D. Head- a platform containing most of the parts of the combustion chamber. Back
E. Coolant- circulating water and antifreeze to keep the temperature regulated. Back
F. Engine Block- cast in one piece F. Engine Block- cast in one piece. The basis for most of the parts of the engine. Back
G. Oil Pan- where the oil is collected and recirculated. Back
H. Oil Sump- the collected oil primarily for lubricating the crankshaft and rod bearing Back
I. Camshaft- a round shaft with lobes, that rotates to open and close the fuel and exhaust valves. Back
J. Exhaust Valve- open at the proper time to release the exhaust Back
K. Spark Plug- a device, inserted into the combustion chamber for firing an electrical spark to ignite air-fuel mixture Back
L. Exhaust Port- the passageway in a cylinder head, for the exhaust to pass through Back
M. Piston- the part of the engine that moves up and down in the cylinder converting the gasoline into motion Back
N. Connecting Rod- links the piston to the crankshaft. Back
O. Rod Bearing- used to reduce friction to the rod and crankshaft Back
P. Crankshaft- converts the up and down motion of the piston into a turning, or rotating motion Back
The 4-Stroke Cycle 1. Intake 2. 3. Compression 4. Combustion Exhaust Back Next
Intake- process of filling the cylinder with the proper air- fuel mixture through the intake valve. Back
Compression- the process of compressing the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder to make it more combustible Back
Combustion-the process of igniting the compressed air-fuel mixture to create motion and the over all power of the engine. Back
Exhaust- the process of releasing the exhaust out of the cylinder through the exhaust valve. Back
Application Now that you understand the basics of four-stroke engines, how can you use this information in the real world? Back Quiz
Lets take a quiz to see what you have learned! Back Quiz
1. The ____ controls the amount of intake and the release of exhaust. a. head b. valves c. coolant d. connecting rod
The _____ Cycle is the ignition of the compressed fuel-air mixture. a. Exhaust b. Combustion c. Compression d. Intake
The most common type of engine? a. diesel engines b. 2-stroke engines c. rotary engines d. 4-stroke engines
What part of the engine converts up and down motion into a rotation motion? a. crankshaft b. piston c. valve cover d. camshaft
What is the name of the part listed? a. intake valve b. piston c. oil pan d. spark plug