Have you ever wondered how your engine works? Sure, you turn the key, step on the pedal and your vehicle starts moving, but what exactly is going on inside? Some major players in getting your engine moving are the pistons and
. These two parts supply the power to your engine and turn your vehicle’s wheels.
When you step on the gas, your vehicle’s pistons begin the process of powering your engine. Fuel enters the cylinder where pistons reside and, through a series of 4 strokes and fuel ignition, the pistons turn the potential energy of fuel into kinetic energy that powers your engine. This power then turns the crankshaft, which rotates your vehicle’s wheels. In their final stroke, the pistons also release combustion waste into the exhaust system.
Understanding Your Engine’s Parts
In order to understand this process further, let’s dissect the parts involved.
Piston: Pistons are usually made of aluminum, a great conductor of heat. They convert the potential energy of fuel into kinetic energy to power the engine and turn the crankshaft. Pistons move up and down inside a cylinder and require 4 strokes to complete their power cycle.
The first piston stroke is called the “intake stroke.” In this stroke, the pistons draw the air/fuel mixture into the cylinder.
The second stroke is called the “upward stroke.” This stroke compresses the air/fuel mixture to get it ready for powerful combustion.
Between the second and third stroke, the spark plugs ignites the compressed air/fuel mixture, which the third stroke, called the “downward stroke” or the “power stroke,” explodes into pure engine power.
The fourth and final piston stroke releases combustion waste into the exhaust system.
Pistons sit snugly inside their respective cylinders. A piston ring set ensures an air-tight fit.
Crankshaft: The crankshaft converts the reciprocating (up/down) motion of the pistons to rotary motion, which turns your vehicle’s wheels. Crankshafts take the brunt of combustion power and relies on several parts to absorb vibration and ensure smooth operation. Some common crankshaft parts can include the crankshaft position sensor, crankshaft plug, crankshaft pulley, crankshaft seal cover and crankshaft woodruff key.
Thrust Bearing: The thrust bearing controls the backward/forward movement of the crankshaft.
Harmonic Balancer: The harmonic balancer connects to the front of the crankshaft to lessen torsional vibration and keep engine operation calm.
Wrist Pin: The wrist pin links the piston to the connecting rod.
Connecting Rod: The connecting rod links the piston to the crankshaft.
Common Piston & Crankshaft Problems
A pinging or knocking sound when driving can indicate that your vehicle has a piston or crankshaft problem. Usually, these problems are caused by an overheating engine.
Pistons can become burnt, cracked or scuffed if your engine is running too hot. A burnt piston is usually the result of spark plugs that run too hot or an extremely lean air/fuel mixture. Pistons can also crack when exposed to detonation or “spark knock” (rapid fuel ignition caused by too much heat). A pinging or knocking will usually indicate that this is a problem. Finally, scuffed pistons are caused by severe overheating or insufficient clearance.
The wrist pin can cause problems if it has worked loose. A loose wrist pin will often wear a groove in the cylinder and can be the result of a bent or twisted connecting rod or improper installation.
If you hear a loud, medium-pitched knocking, you may have worn crankshaft bearings. Operating your vehicle with worn bearings can cause major crankshaft issues over time.
Fortunately, you can avoid most of these problems by changing your oil at suggested intervals. Consult your owner’s manual to see how often you should change your engine oil.
Common Mechanical Engine Parts
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