Components

and Function

Engine block Cylinder head

Combustion chamber

 Contains:

Cylinder bores Pistons and rings Connecting rods

Crankshaft
Bearings Timing gears Oil pan and filter Camshaft and lifters (pushrod engines) Flywheel or flexplate

 Cylinder

bores:

Round hole cast in block Bored to a precise diameter Honed to smooth finish Guide for piston Contains forces generated during 4-stroke cycle Some engines use steel sleeves

 Pistons:

Moves up and down in cylinders Creates low pressure to draw in mixture Compresses mixture for ignition Transmits forces of combustion to rotate crankshaft Pushes exhaust gases out of cylinder

 Rings

Mounted in grooves on piston Takes up clearance in cylinder required for piston

expansion
Compression
2 top rings Seal combustion chamber

Oil control
Bottom ring on piston Consists of 3 parts: 2 rails and expander Scrapes oil from cylinder as piston moves down on power stroke

 Connecting rods: Connect pistons and crankshaft Upper end is connected to piston pin Uses bushing to allow movement on pin Lower end is split to allow installation on

crankshaft journal
Uses precision insert (bearing) to allow rotation on crankshaft journal Bearing requires oil film at all times to prevent metal to metal contact with journal

 Crankshaft:

Changes reciprocating motion to rotary motion Provides turning force to wheels Crankshaft throws connect to rods

Crank journal is machined surface for rod bearings

Rod bearings allow rod to rotate on crank journal

Flywheel or flexplate is mounted on rear of crank and

transfers power to transmission Pulleys mounted on front of crank drive accessories such as alternator or A/C compressor

 Bearings:

Rod and main bearings Bearing inserts are held in place with locking tab Must have small hole for oil lubrication Pressurized oil keeps bearing from contacting journal

 Timing

gears:

Allows crankshaft to turn camshaft Can be chain or belt Timing belts normally use plastic covers Pushrod engines normally use chains Usually found on the front of the engine

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 Oil

pan and filter:

Pan serves as reservoir for oil Covers bottom of crankcase Made from: Stamped steel Aluminum Plastic Contains pickup assembly for oil pump Oil filter is usually mounted on engine block

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 Camshaft

and lifters (pushrod engines):

Camshaft lobes open valves Lifters sit on top of lobes and transmit motion to

pushrods Pushrods transmit motion to cylinder head rocker arms to open valves Contains distributor drive gear if equipped Camshaft must be timed to crankshaft

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 Flywheel

or flexplate:

Flywheel is heavy steel plate mounted to crankshaft

Smoothes out power pulses to keep engine spinning smoothly Serves as mounting surface for clutch on manual transmission

Flexplate is thin plate that bolts crankshaft to torque

converter for automatic transmission Both have external ring gear for starter operation

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Covers cylinders Forms top of combustion chamber Contains intake and exhaust valves and springs Contains spark plugs Bolted to engine block with head bolts Head gasket is placed between block and cylinder head Overhead cam engines contain camshafts

Single cam engine= SOHC Dual cam engine= DOHC

Can be made from cast iron or aluminum

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Area formed by bottom of cylinder head and top of piston Air and fuel mixture is compressed and ignited in chamber and applies force from combustion to piston Spark plug protrudes into chamber Chamber is sealed by:
Valves Piston rings Head gasket

Chamber is exposed to very high pressures and high temperatures

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