How A Car Engine Works
People often forget how well-designed their vehicles are. Under the hood, there is a symphony of parts and systems that work seamlessly together to move your car forward when you press the gas pedal. The engine commands most of the attention. From economical 4-cylinder sedans to V8 muscle cars, this particular system always captures the spotlight. Yet, few drivers understand how it works.
Below, I’ll explain the basics of its operation. We’ll explore the internal combustion process that generates energy as well as the arrangement of the cylinders within the block.
Internal Combustion Explained
You already know that gasoline is required in order for your vehicle to operate. However, you may not realize what is happening to that gasoline under the hood. A computer controls the mixture between fuel and air; only a tiny amount of fuel is necessary. Within an enclosed combustion chamber, that mixture is ignited. The resulting explosion creates energy which takes the form of gas. That gas expands rapidly. The energy is harnessed and used to propel your vehicle forward.
This internal combustion process happens hundreds of times each minute within each cylinder. The air-fuel mixture is sucked into a cylinder in which a piston rises. An intake valve closes off the opening and the piston compresses the mixture. When it reaches the top of the cylinder, a spark plug ignites the mixture, which creates the explosive energy. The expanding gas pushes the piston downward to start the process again.
Common Cylinder Configurations
The cylinders in today’s engines are arranged in different ways. An in-line formation places them in a straight row. By contrast, a V8 is arranged in a “V” configuration. Flat engines arrange the cylinders on their side in two separate groups. This configuration is less common than an in-line or “V” arrangement.
Watching The Strokes
Most vehicles that are built today have engines that follow a standard 4-stroke combustion process. We touched on this above, but we’ll explore it here by taking a methodical approach. The 4 strokes within each cylinder are intake, compression, ignition, and exhaust.
While the piston moves downward, the intake valve opens and pulls in the air-fuel mixture. When the piston is at the bottom, the valve closes. The piston begins its upward trajectory, which compresses the mixture within the enclosed chamber. By the time it reaches the top, the blend has been compressed to a fraction of its original size. A spark plug ignites the compressed blend and creates a small explosion. The piston is pushed downward again as the gas expands and an exhaust valve opens. This valve allows the burnt fuel to escape. Once it does, the 4-stroke process can start again.
Under normal circumstances, the 4-stroke internal combustion process happens without fail. However, parts malfunction. For example, if a spark plug dies, it cannot ignite the air-fuel mixture. As a result, your engine’s performance will be impaired. Similarly, if an intake valve fails to open or close properly, the corresponding cylinder may be unable to support the compression and ignition strokes. At that point, you should have your mechanic take a closer look.
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