>How a Engine Works ?<
 

Inside Engines - How a Engine Works ?

Auto | Engine Performance

Here at HowStuffWorks we have hundreds of articles on a wide variety of topics; each article is grouped together in one of ten super-categories or, as we like to call them -- channels. Out of all these channels and articles, though, there are a some things that really resonate with our readers. It turns out you're totally revved-up by all sorts of engines! This "Inside Engines" page takes you straight to the power.


http://s.hswstatic.com/gif/engine-ch.jpg How Car Engines Work
It's the reason you can put the pedal to the metal and go from zero to 60 in about 8 seconds. The car engine is a piece of engineering genius and one of the most amazing machines we use on a daily basis. Learn how the four-stroke internal combustion engine works. http://s.hswstatic.com/gif/diesel-ch.jpg How Diesel Engines Work
Ever wonder what the difference is between a gasoline engine and a diesel engine? Diesels are more efficient and cheaper to run than gasoline engines. Instead of using carburetion or port fuel injection, diesel engines use direct fuel injection. Find out what else makes diesel engines different! http://s.hswstatic.com/gif/diesel-two-stroke-ch.jpg How Diesel Two-Stroke Engines Work
A two-stroke engine has the potential to produce twice as much power as a four-stroke engine of the same size. And, diesel, rather than gasoline, is a much better match with the two-stroke cycle. So, take diesel-engine technology, throw in a two-stroke cycle and you've got the basis for the huge engines found in trains and big ships. Learn about the diesel two-stroke engine! http://s.hswstatic.com/gif/hemi-ch.jpg How HEMI Engines Work
The HEMI engine has an awesome design and great performance, and it's pretty unique in operation. With the revitalization of the HEMI in the 2003 Dodge trucks, industry and consumer attention is once again on this interesting configuration. Check out how the HEMI works and see what makes it different from the typical engine design. http://s.hswstatic.com/gif/rotary-engine-ch.jpg How Rotary Engines Work
A rotary engine is an internal combustion engine, but it's not like the one in most cars. Also called a Wankel engine, this type of engine performs intake, compression, combustion and exhaust in a different part of the housing. Learn about the unique rotary setup and how it compares performance-wise to a piston engine. http://s.hswstatic.com/gif/turbine-ch.jpg How Gas Turbine Engines Work
Ever wonder what's happening inside that huge jet engine as you're cruising along at 30,000 feet? Commercial jets aren't the only machines that use gas turbine engines; they're used in all kinds of unexpected places. For example, many of the helicopters you see, a lot of smaller power plants and even the M-1 Tank use gas turbines. Find out how gas turbine engines work. http://s.hswstatic.com/gif/radial-engine-ch.jpgHow Radial Engines Work
Radial engines reached their zenith during WWII. But today they are not that common. One place where you can still see the radial engine's influence is in the two-cylinder engine of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. This remarkable engine can be thought of, in a way, as two pistons from a radial engine. Find out about radial engines. http://s.hswstatic.com/gif/quasiturbine-ch.jpg How Quasiturbine Engines Work
The quasiturbine engine takes the Wankel concept and improves on it: Instead of three combustion chambers, it has four, and the setup of a quasiturbine allows for continual combustion. That means greater efficiency than any other engine in its class. Learn about the quasiturbine and why it might be the most promising internal combustion engine yet.
http://s.hswstatic.com/gif/steam-ch.jpg How Steam Engines Work
Steam engines were the first engine type to see widespread use. They powered all early locomotives, steam boats and factories. It can be said that they powered the Industrial Revolution. Learn how the steam engine produces power. http://s.hswstatic.com/gif/two-stroke-ch.jpg How Two-Stroke Engines Work
What do leaf blowers, chain saws, dirt bikes, mopeds and jet skis all have in common? Two-stroke engines, of course! A car engine uses a four-stroke cycle -- how can two strokes accomplish the same tasks? Learn all about the two-stroke engine and how it compares to a four-stroke. http://s.hswstatic.com/gif/rocket-ch.jpg How Rocket Engines Work
One of the most amazing endeavors man has ever undertaken is the exploration of space. The hardest part of space exploration is getting a spaceship off the ground. Explore the basics of propulsion and learn about both solid-fuel and liquid-fuel rocket engines. http://s.hswstatic.com/gif/stirling-engine-ch.jpg How Stirling Engines Work
Right now, stirling engines are used only in some very specialized applications, like in submarines or auxiliary power generators for yachts, where quiet operation is important. But it may have some new, high-tech uses; a few very high-power inventors are working on it. Learn about this unusual heat engine! http://s.hswstatic.com/gif/nascar-ch.jpg How NASCAR Engines Work
The original NASCAR races were run on dirt tracks in regular street cars. Today, almost every piece of a NASCAR race car is handmade. Get a behind-the-scenes look (with lots of photos and videos!) at how these amazing machines come together. http://s.hswstatic.com/gif/champ-car-ch.jpg How Champ Car Engines Work
Champ Cars have carbon fiber bodies, 900-horsepower engines and top speeds of over 230 mph. With the help of the Motorola PacWest Racing Team and CART, go behind the scenes to learn about the car, its engine and the team and driver.

Bonus > EnJoy> Live & Learn 4-Sure
 

The basic idea of a car is pretty simple -- turn wheels to pull you down the road. But, as illustrated by the hundreds of individual parts for sale at your local Pep Boys, Autozone or Napa Auto Parts, it actually takes a lot of machinery to make cars work.

If you're trying to figure out what all the parts in your car do, HowStuffWorks AutoStuff is the place for you. Here's a collection of our key car part articles.
Shopping for Parts
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/car-parts-ch.jpgAuto Parts on Shopper
This HowStuffWorks Shopper section lets you compare features and prices and check out reviews for all sorts of car parts you can buy online.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/shopper-car-alarm.jpgCar Security Systems on Shopper
In the car security section of HowStuffWorks Shopper, you can check out prices, reviews and features for hundreds of car alarm packages.
Engine System
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/engine-ch.jpgHow Car Engines Work
It's the reason you can put the pedal to the metal and go from zero to 60 in about 8 seconds. The car engine is a piece of engineering genius and one of the most amazing machines we use on a daily basis. Learn how the four-stroke internal combustion engine works.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/diesel-ch.jpgHow Diesel Engines Work
Ever wonder what the difference is between a gasoline engine and a diesel engine? Diesels are more efficient and cheaper to run than gasoline engines. Instead of using carburetion or port fuel injection, diesel engines use direct fuel injection. Find out what else makes diesel engines different!
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/hemi-ch.jpgHow HEMI Engines Work
The HEMI engine has an awesome design and great performance, and it's pretty unique in operation. With the revitalization of the HEMI in the 2003 Dodge trucks, industry and consumer attention is once again on this interesting configuration. Check out how the HEMI works and see what makes it different from the typical engine design.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/rotary-engine-ch.jpgHow Rotary Engines Work
A rotary engine is an internal combustion engine, but it's not like the one in most cars. Also called a Wankel engine, this type of engine performs intake, compression, combustion and exhaust in a different part of the housing. Learn about the unique rotary setup and how it compares performance-wise to a piston engine.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/radial-engine-ch.jpgHow Radial Engines Work
Radial engines reached their zenith during WWII. But today they are not that common. One place where you can still see the radial engine's influence is in the two-cylinder engine of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. This remarkable engine can be thought of, in a way, as two pistons from a radial engine. Find out about radial engines.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/quasiturbine-ch.jpgHow Quasiturbine Engines Work
The quasiturbine engine takes the Wankel concept and improves on it: Instead of three combustion chambers, it has four, and the setup of a quasiturbine allows for continual combustion. That means greater efficiency than any other engine in its class. Learn about the quasiturbine and why it might be the most promising internal combustion engine yet.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/camshaft-ch.jpgHow Camshafts Work
The camshaft has a huge effect on engine performance. It helps let the air/fuel mixture into the engine and get the exhaust out. Learn all about the camshaft and how a new one can radically change an engine's behavior.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/supercharger-ch.jpgHow Superchargers Work
Since the invention of the internal combustion engine, automotive engineers, speed junkies and racecar designers have been searching for ways to boost its power. One way is by installing a supercharger, which forces more air into the combustion chamber. Learn how superchargers can make an engine more efficient.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/turbo-ch.jpgHow Turbochargers Work
When people talk about race cars, or high-performance sports cars, the topic of turbochargers almost always comes up. Turbochargers use some very cool technology to make an engine more powerful, but the concept is really quite simple. Find out how turbos increase the speed.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/fuel-injection-ch.jpgHow Fuel Injection Systems Works
The last carburetor-equipped car came off the assembly line in 1990. Since then, fuel injectors have been the primary means of getting gasoline into the engine cylinder so it can combust and you can drive. Find out how fuel-injection systems work.
Power Train

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/transmission-ch.jpgHow Manual Transmissions Work
If you drive a stick-shift car, then you may have a few questions floating around in your head. Have you ever wondered, "What would happen if I were to accidentally shift into reverse while I am speeding down the freeway? Would the entire transmission explode?" Find out all about manual transmissions.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/au...mission-ch.jpgHow Automatic Transmissions Work
Automatic transmissions take the work out of shifting. A truly amazing mechanical system, the automatic transmission in a car accomplishes everything a manual transmission does, but it does it with one set of gears. Learn how the whole setup works.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/clutch-ch.jpgHow Clutches Work
You probably know that any car with a manual transmission has a clutch -- it connects and disconnects the engine and transmission. But did you know that automatics have clutches, too? Learn how the clutch in your car works, and find out about some interesting and perhaps surprising places where clutches can be found.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/cvt-ch.jpgHow CVTs Work
In a regular transmission, the gears are literal gears -- interlocking, toothed wheels. Continuously variable transmissions, on the other hand, don't have interlocking gears. The most common type operates on a pulley system. Learn all about the smooth-operating, ultra-efficient CVT.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/differential-ch.jpgHow Differentials Work
Without a differential, the driven wheels (front wheels on a front-wheel drive car or rear wheels on a rear-wheel drive car) would have to be locked together, forced to spin at the same speed. Find out how this essential component allows the wheels to rotate at different speeds.
Braking System

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/brake-ch.jpgHow Brakes Work
A car's brakes are probably the most critical system on the vehicle -- if they go out, you have a major problem. Thanks to leverage, hydraulics and friction, braking systems provide incredible stopping power. Find out what happens after you push the brake pedal.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/disc-brake-ch.jpgHow Disc Brakes Work
Disc brakes are the most common brakes found on a car's front wheels, and they're often on all four. This is the part of the brake system that does the actual work of stopping the car. Find out all about disc brakes -- even when to replace the pads.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/an...k-brake-ch.jpgHow Anti-Lock Brakes Work

Bonus 2 > Don't 4-get there will be a test later ? LoL
 

Stopping a car in a hurry on a slippery road can be challenging at best and at worst, very, very scary. Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) help alleviate the danger. Learn how anti-lock brakes prevent skidding, check out what that sputtering is and find out how effective they really are.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/power-brake-ch.jpgHow Power Brakes Work
Power brakes are fairly ingenious machines -- they let you stop a car with a simple twitch of your foot. The concept at the heart of the power braking system is force multiplication -- a whole lot of force multiplication. Get inside the black cannister that provides the power.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/master-brake-ch.jpgHow Master Cylinders and Combination Valves Work
We all know that pushing down on the brake pedal slows a car to a stop. We depend on that every day when we drive. But how does this happen? The master cylinder provides the pressure that engages your car brakes. Learn how the master cylinder works with the combination valve to make sure you can brake safely.
Steering, Suspension and Tires
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/steering-ch.jpgHow Steering Works
When it comes to crucial automotive systems, steering is right up there with the engine and the brakes. Power steering systems make the job a whole lot easier, and the internal workings are pretty cool. What happens when you turn your car is not as simple as you might think. Find out all about car steering systems.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/car-suspension-ch.jpgHow Car Suspensions Work
All of the power generated by a car engine is useless if the driver can't control the car. The job of a car suspension is enormous: maximize the friction between the tires and the road surface, provide steering stability and ensure the comfort of the passengers. Learn how car suspensions work and where the design is headed in the future.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/tire-ch.jpgHow Tires Work
In the market for new set of tires? All of the different tire specifications and confusing jargon the tire sales clerks or "experts" are shouting at you making your head feel like a tire spinning out of control? Find out all about car tires, including what those sidewall symbols mean!
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/se...ng-tire-ch.jpgHow Self-Inflating Tires Work
Self-inflating tires perform two crucial functions: They automatically maintain ideal tire pressure for safety and performance in standard conditions, and they allow the driver to alter psi on the fly to adjust to changing terrain. Learn how self-inflating systems like the Hummer's CTIS work.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/se...gearbox-ch.jpgHow Sequential Gearboxes Work
Combine the ease of an automatic with the driver control of a manual, and what you've got is a sequential manual transmission. Instead of having to navigate an H pattern, a simple forward push advances the gear. It's the transmission used by race cars and an increasing number of high-performance street cars. Learn all about the sequential gearbox.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/to...nverter-ch.jpgHow Torque Converters Work
Cars with an automatic transmission have no clutch that disconnects the transmission from the engine. Instead, they use an amazing device called a torque converter. Find out all about the torque converter.
Electrical System

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/wfc-ch.jpgHow Wires, Fuses and Connectors Work
Wires, fuses and connectors - they may sound like the most mundane parts on your car, but they are essential. Yeah, they help keep the tunes going for a long ride, and they make reading that map at night a lot easier. But, they're also necessary for things like the cooling fan in the engine and your anti-lock brakes. Learn why wires, fuses and connectors are so important!
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/ig...-system-ch.jpgHow Ignition Systems Work
A car's ignition system is the key component that helps the engine produce maximum power and minimum pollution. Find out how much is riding on a well-timed spark.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/car-computer-ch.jpgHow Car Computers Work
Cars seem to get more complicated with each passing year. Today's cars might have as many as 50 microprocessors on them. Essentially, you're driving around in a giant computer. Learn all about the various computer systems that control your car.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/wiper-ch.jpgHow Windshield Wipers Work
Without windshield wipers, a rain storm would make cars pretty much useless. What began as a hand-cranked system is now automatic, and only getting more so: There are now some windshield wipers that can actually sense rain. Learn the mechanics behind this essential automotive tool.
Exhaust System

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/ca...nverter-ch.jpgHow Catalytic Converter Works
A catalytic converter is one of the most important parts of a car's emissions control system. It treats the exhaust before it leaves the car and removes a lot of the pollution. Learn how catalytic converters reduce pollutants and help you pass the emissions test.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/muffler-ch.jpgHow Mufflers Work
Every car out there has a muffler -- it performs the crucial job of turning thousands of explosions per minute into a quiet purr. Mufflers use some pretty neat technology to dim the roar of an engine. Learn about the principles that make it work.
Other Car Parts

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/odometer-ch.jpgHow Odometer Works
Mechanical odometers have been counting the miles for centuries. Although they are a dying breed, they are incredibly cool inside. Learn how this simple device tracks distance and find out about digital odometers.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/gif/cooling-system-ch.jpgHow Cooling System Works
A car engine produces so much heat that there is an entire system in your car designed to cool the engine down to its ideal temperature. In fact, the cooling system on a car driving down the freeway dissipates enough heat to heat two average-sized houses! Learn all about fluid-based