What's Going on Under Your Hood

FUNCTIONS OF A The air filter • cleans the air CAR ENGINE coming into the cylinders to allow for the best possible combustion. When your car starts making a knocking sound, do you do whatever it takes to avoid opening up the hood and getting lost in a pile of metal that doesn't make sense? Maybe you pump up the volume of Journey on the radio or you just turn your car off and hope that the sound won't be there when you start it up tomorrow. Either way, if your overwhelming fear of a car engine leaves you stressed and perplexed, this is for you! Learn exactly what makes a car engine go "vroom" and what could be the cause of that ominous "knock, rattle boom!" The exhaust system forces exhaust out of the The air cooling system keeps the engine cool by forcing water around the cylinders and through the radiator. car through the exhaust manifold and exhaust pipe, which would be traditionally loud, but the muffler dampens the sound. Car engines have multiple cylinders usually arranged in 1 of 3 ways: Flat EOC V In line The Big 3 The emission control system utilizes a computer monitor and sensors to adjust the catalytic converter which burns off unused fuel and chemiçals How Each Part Works Igniting gasoline in a small, enclosed space releases enough energy to propel a potato 500 feet! Create this explosion 200 times/minute and you have enough energy to run a car. This combustion requires The fuel system. takes gas from the gas tank and mixes it with air using the carburetor so the If your car won't start, there are 3 likely reasons: strokes: into exhaust. (2 The car battery provides the electricity needed to start the engine and is recharged by the alternator. Intake Compression Combustion Exhaust Bad Fuel Mix: mixture can flow into the cylinders. You don't have gas, so only air is getting into the engine. The air intake When the The crankshaft forces the piston back up to compress the fuel and air mixture. The piston is like a cannon ball, but it never leaves the When the piston reaches the bottom, the exhaust valve opens, forcing exhaust out piston reaches the top, the spark plug sparks to ignite the gasoline causing an explosion that forces the piston back down. cannon. It starts at the top of the engine cylinder and moves up and down. As it moves The Camshaft . is a system that opens and closes the valves. It turns at ½ the rate of the crankshaft. The Cylinder Head attaches to the cylinder creating a seal for combus- tion. The cylinder and head are bolted together with a gasket between them to create a good seal. is clogged. Too much or to0 little fuel is being supplied. The fuel has an through the tailpipe. down, the intake valve opens, forcing air and gasoline into the cylinder. impurity (like water) that is keeping it from burning. O If the gasket wears, then holes may be created between the cylinder and cylinder head, causing leaks that disrupt combustion. Lack of Compression: Your piston rings are worn (causing air leakage). Valves are not sealing properly, causing a The timing belt - links the crankshaft and camshaft to ensure the valves are in sync with the pistons. Piston The ignition system creates an electrical charge that runs through a distributor that then sends the spark through the ignition wires/spark plug cables. There is one wire per cylinder. Each wire sends the charge to the spark plug one cylinder at a time. leakage during compression. The cylinder has a hole due to the gasket wearing down. Intake manifold Cylinder•- Exhaust valve Oil Camshaft Valve cover Lack of Spark: O If the bearings are worn, the crankshaft won't - Piston Rings . wrap around a piston to prevent fuel/air from leaking out of the combus- tion chamber and to keep oil from leaking. filter If your spark plug or the wire connected to Intake valve turn, causing the car to stall. Spark plug Engine block it is worn. If the wire is cut or A. Spark plug wire B. Distributor cap C. Rotor D. High voltage col lead E. Distributor body F. Distributor cam G. Ignition signal sensor H. Ignition module I. ignition coll J. Spark plugs Coolant B O If you run out of oil, the piston Gnd missing. If the ignition timing is off, meaning the spark occurs too early or Piston won't move up and down, +V Connecting rod • Bearing Oil pan causing a breakdown. O If a car is "burning oil" the piston rings need to be replaced. The lubrication system • sends oil to all the necessary parts of the engine to ensure they can move smoothly. The Oil pump too late encases the crankshaft to collect Oil sump Exhaust port oil at the bottom, in the oil pan. Powered by PartsGeek FUNCTIONS OF A The air filter • cleans the air CAR ENGINE coming into the cylinders to allow for the best possible combustion. When your car starts making a knocking sound, do you do whatever it takes to avoid opening up the hood and getting lost in a pile of metal that doesn't make sense? Maybe you pump up the volume of Journey on the radio or you just turn your car off and hope that the sound won't be there when you start it up tomorrow. Either way, if your overwhelming fear of a car engine leaves you stressed and perplexed, this is for you! Learn exactly what makes a car engine go "vroom" and what could be the cause of that ominous "knock, rattle boom!" The exhaust system forces exhaust out of the The air cooling system keeps the engine cool by forcing water around the cylinders and through the radiator. car through the exhaust manifold and exhaust pipe, which would be traditionally loud, but the muffler dampens the sound. Car engines have multiple cylinders usually arranged in 1 of 3 ways: Flat EOC V In line The Big 3 The emission control system utilizes a computer monitor and sensors to adjust the catalytic converter which burns off unused fuel and chemiçals How Each Part Works Igniting gasoline in a small, enclosed space releases enough energy to propel a potato 500 feet! Create this explosion 200 times/minute and you have enough energy to run a car. This combustion requires The fuel system. takes gas from the gas tank and mixes it with air using the carburetor so the If your car won't start, there are 3 likely reasons: strokes: into exhaust. (2 The car battery provides the electricity needed to start the engine and is recharged by the alternator. Intake Compression Combustion Exhaust Bad Fuel Mix: mixture can flow into the cylinders. You don't have gas, so only air is getting into the engine. The air intake When the The crankshaft forces the piston back up to compress the fuel and air mixture. The piston is like a cannon ball, but it never leaves the When the piston reaches the bottom, the exhaust valve opens, forcing exhaust out piston reaches the top, the spark plug sparks to ignite the gasoline causing an explosion that forces the piston back down. cannon. It starts at the top of the engine cylinder and moves up and down. As it moves The Camshaft . is a system that opens and closes the valves. It turns at ½ the rate of the crankshaft. The Cylinder Head attaches to the cylinder creating a seal for combus- tion. The cylinder and head are bolted together with a gasket between them to create a good seal. is clogged. Too much or to0 little fuel is being supplied. The fuel has an through the tailpipe. down, the intake valve opens, forcing air and gasoline into the cylinder. impurity (like water) that is keeping it from burning. O If the gasket wears, then holes may be created between the cylinder and cylinder head, causing leaks that disrupt combustion. Lack of Compression: Your piston rings are worn (causing air leakage). Valves are not sealing properly, causing a The timing belt - links the crankshaft and camshaft to ensure the valves are in sync with the pistons. Piston The ignition system creates an electrical charge that runs through a distributor that then sends the spark through the ignition wires/spark plug cables. There is one wire per cylinder. Each wire sends the charge to the spark plug one cylinder at a time. leakage during compression. The cylinder has a hole due to the gasket wearing down. Intake manifold Cylinder•- Exhaust valve Oil Camshaft Valve cover Lack of Spark: O If the bearings are worn, the crankshaft won't - Piston Rings . wrap around a piston to prevent fuel/air from leaking out of the combus- tion chamber and to keep oil from leaking. filter If your spark plug or the wire connected to Intake valve turn, causing the car to stall. Spark plug Engine block it is worn. If the wire is cut or A. Spark plug wire B. Distributor cap C. Rotor D. High voltage col lead E. Distributor body F. Distributor cam G. Ignition signal sensor H. Ignition module I. ignition coll J. Spark plugs Coolant B O If you run out of oil, the piston Gnd missing. If the ignition timing is off, meaning the spark occurs too early or Piston won't move up and down, +V Connecting rod • Bearing Oil pan causing a breakdown. O If a car is "burning oil" the piston rings need to be replaced. The lubrication system • sends oil to all the necessary parts of the engine to ensure they can move smoothly. The Oil pump too late encases the crankshaft to collect Oil sump Exhaust port oil at the bottom, in the oil pan. Powered by PartsGeek FUNCTIONS OF A The air filter • cleans the air CAR ENGINE coming into the cylinders to allow for the best possible combustion. When your car starts making a knocking sound, do you do whatever it takes to avoid opening up the hood and getting lost in a pile of metal that doesn't make sense? Maybe you pump up the volume of Journey on the radio or you just turn your car off and hope that the sound won't be there when you start it up tomorrow. Either way, if your overwhelming fear of a car engine leaves you stressed and perplexed, this is for you! Learn exactly what makes a car engine go "vroom" and what could be the cause of that ominous "knock, rattle boom!" The exhaust system forces exhaust out of the The air cooling system keeps the engine cool by forcing water around the cylinders and through the radiator. car through the exhaust manifold and exhaust pipe, which would be traditionally loud, but the muffler dampens the sound. Car engines have multiple cylinders usually arranged in 1 of 3 ways: Flat EOC V In line The Big 3 The emission control system utilizes a computer monitor and sensors to adjust the catalytic converter which burns off unused fuel and chemiçals How Each Part Works Igniting gasoline in a small, enclosed space releases enough energy to propel a potato 500 feet! Create this explosion 200 times/minute and you have enough energy to run a car. This combustion requires The fuel system. takes gas from the gas tank and mixes it with air using the carburetor so the If your car won't start, there are 3 likely reasons: strokes: into exhaust. (2 The car battery provides the electricity needed to start the engine and is recharged by the alternator. Intake Compression Combustion Exhaust Bad Fuel Mix: mixture can flow into the cylinders. You don't have gas, so only air is getting into the engine. The air intake When the The crankshaft forces the piston back up to compress the fuel and air mixture. The piston is like a cannon ball, but it never leaves the When the piston reaches the bottom, the exhaust valve opens, forcing exhaust out piston reaches the top, the spark plug sparks to ignite the gasoline causing an explosion that forces the piston back down. cannon. It starts at the top of the engine cylinder and moves up and down. As it moves The Camshaft . is a system that opens and closes the valves. It turns at ½ the rate of the crankshaft. The Cylinder Head attaches to the cylinder creating a seal for combus- tion. The cylinder and head are bolted together with a gasket between them to create a good seal. is clogged. Too much or to0 little fuel is being supplied. The fuel has an through the tailpipe. down, the intake valve opens, forcing air and gasoline into the cylinder. impurity (like water) that is keeping it from burning. O If the gasket wears, then holes may be created between the cylinder and cylinder head, causing leaks that disrupt combustion. Lack of Compression: Your piston rings are worn (causing air leakage). Valves are not sealing properly, causing a The timing belt - links the crankshaft and camshaft to ensure the valves are in sync with the pistons. Piston The ignition system creates an electrical charge that runs through a distributor that then sends the spark through the ignition wires/spark plug cables. There is one wire per cylinder. Each wire sends the charge to the spark plug one cylinder at a time. leakage during compression. The cylinder has a hole due to the gasket wearing down. Intake manifold Cylinder•- Exhaust valve Oil Camshaft Valve cover Lack of Spark: O If the bearings are worn, the crankshaft won't - Piston Rings . wrap around a piston to prevent fuel/air from leaking out of the combus- tion chamber and to keep oil from leaking. filter If your spark plug or the wire connected to Intake valve turn, causing the car to stall. Spark plug Engine block it is worn. If the wire is cut or A. Spark plug wire B. Distributor cap C. Rotor D. High voltage col lead E. Distributor body F. Distributor cam G. Ignition signal sensor H. Ignition module I. ignition coll J. Spark plugs Coolant B O If you run out of oil, the piston Gnd missing. If the ignition timing is off, meaning the spark occurs too early or Piston won't move up and down, +V Connecting rod • Bearing Oil pan causing a breakdown. O If a car is "burning oil" the piston rings need to be replaced. The lubrication system • sends oil to all the necessary parts of the engine to ensure they can move smoothly. The Oil pump too late encases the crankshaft to collect Oil sump Exhaust port oil at the bottom, in the oil pan. Powered by PartsGeek FUNCTIONS OF A The air filter • cleans the air CAR ENGINE coming into the cylinders to allow for the best possible combustion. When your car starts making a knocking sound, do you do whatever it takes to avoid opening up the hood and getting lost in a pile of metal that doesn't make sense? Maybe you pump up the volume of Journey on the radio or you just turn your car off and hope that the sound won't be there when you start it up tomorrow. Either way, if your overwhelming fear of a car engine leaves you stressed and perplexed, this is for you! Learn exactly what makes a car engine go "vroom" and what could be the cause of that ominous "knock, rattle boom!" The exhaust system forces exhaust out of the The air cooling system keeps the engine cool by forcing water around the cylinders and through the radiator. car through the exhaust manifold and exhaust pipe, which would be traditionally loud, but the muffler dampens the sound. Car engines have multiple cylinders usually arranged in 1 of 3 ways: Flat EOC V In line The Big 3 The emission control system utilizes a computer monitor and sensors to adjust the catalytic converter which burns off unused fuel and chemiçals How Each Part Works Igniting gasoline in a small, enclosed space releases enough energy to propel a potato 500 feet! Create this explosion 200 times/minute and you have enough energy to run a car. This combustion requires The fuel system. takes gas from the gas tank and mixes it with air using the carburetor so the If your car won't start, there are 3 likely reasons: strokes: into exhaust. (2 The car battery provides the electricity needed to start the engine and is recharged by the alternator. Intake Compression Combustion Exhaust Bad Fuel Mix: mixture can flow into the cylinders. You don't have gas, so only air is getting into the engine. The air intake When the The crankshaft forces the piston back up to compress the fuel and air mixture. The piston is like a cannon ball, but it never leaves the When the piston reaches the bottom, the exhaust valve opens, forcing exhaust out piston reaches the top, the spark plug sparks to ignite the gasoline causing an explosion that forces the piston back down. cannon. It starts at the top of the engine cylinder and moves up and down. As it moves The Camshaft . is a system that opens and closes the valves. It turns at ½ the rate of the crankshaft. The Cylinder Head attaches to the cylinder creating a seal for combus- tion. The cylinder and head are bolted together with a gasket between them to create a good seal. is clogged. Too much or to0 little fuel is being supplied. The fuel has an through the tailpipe. down, the intake valve opens, forcing air and gasoline into the cylinder. impurity (like water) that is keeping it from burning. O If the gasket wears, then holes may be created between the cylinder and cylinder head, causing leaks that disrupt combustion. Lack of Compression: Your piston rings are worn (causing air leakage). Valves are not sealing properly, causing a The timing belt - links the crankshaft and camshaft to ensure the valves are in sync with the pistons. Piston The ignition system creates an electrical charge that runs through a distributor that then sends the spark through the ignition wires/spark plug cables. There is one wire per cylinder. Each wire sends the charge to the spark plug one cylinder at a time. leakage during compression. The cylinder has a hole due to the gasket wearing down. Intake manifold Cylinder•- Exhaust valve Oil Camshaft Valve cover Lack of Spark: O If the bearings are worn, the crankshaft won't - Piston Rings . wrap around a piston to prevent fuel/air from leaking out of the combus- tion chamber and to keep oil from leaking. filter If your spark plug or the wire connected to Intake valve turn, causing the car to stall. Spark plug Engine block it is worn. If the wire is cut or A. Spark plug wire B. Distributor cap C. Rotor D. High voltage col lead E. Distributor body F. Distributor cam G. Ignition signal sensor H. Ignition module I. ignition coll J. Spark plugs Coolant B O If you run out of oil, the piston Gnd missing. If the ignition timing is off, meaning the spark occurs too early or Piston won't move up and down, +V Connecting rod • Bearing Oil pan causing a breakdown. O If a car is "burning oil" the piston rings need to be replaced. The lubrication system • sends oil to all the necessary parts of the engine to ensure they can move smoothly. The Oil pump too late encases the crankshaft to collect Oil sump Exhaust port oil at the bottom, in the oil pan. Powered by PartsGeek