Engine Accessories

The Engine Block
The engine block, also referred to as the cylinder block, is a core part of an engine that houses all the major engine parts which make up the bottom end of the engine.
The crankshaft rotates here, and the pistons move up and down within the cylinder bore, fired by fuel combustion. In some engine designs, the cylinder block is also responsible for holding the camshaft.
The engine block has so many holes to accommodate cylinders as well as create paths for the flow of water and oil that help to cool and lubricate the engine. Water flow paths are wider than oil paths. These paths are intentionally designed to reduce the temperature of the engine and to lubricate all engine parts.
When the cylinder head is attached to the top of the engine block, the pistons move up and down in the cylinders, spinning the crankshaft, which in turn powers the wheels. The oil pan sits at the engine block’s base, serving as an oil reservoir from which the oil pump can draw and feed the oil passages and moving parts.

• Common Symptoms:

(1)Poor engine performance is caused by low engine compression.
(2)Visible engine smoke.
(3)Engine overheating is caused by leaking antifreeze.
(4)Discoloration in a car’s oil or antifreeze.
(5)Leaking oil or coolant.
(6)Frozen coolant in the radiator.
(7)Low levels of coolant.

The Piston
Pistons are part of your engine. The main function of the piston is to convert the pressure created by the burning air-fuel mixture into a force that acts on the crankshaft.
The shape of the piston mainly depends on the type of internal combustion engine. Gasoline engine pistons tend to be lighter and shorter than diesel engine pistons.
The piston is connected to the crankshaft via a connecting rod, and the piston is attached to the connecting rod by a short hollow tube called a wrist pin, or gudgeon pin.
This piston pin carries the full force of the combustion. These parts together are referred to as the piston assembly.
The narrow gap between the piston and the cylinder wall is bridged by the piston rings, which fit into the piston grooves of the so-called piston band. The spaces between these grooves are called ring lands.

• Functions:

(1)Contributes to the heat dissipation generated during combustion.
(2)Ensures the sealing of the combustion chamber and prevents gas leakage and oil penetration into the combustion chamber.
(3)Guides the movement of the connecting rod.
(4)Ensures continuous gas exchange in the combustion chamber.
(5)Creates the variable volume in the combustion chamber.

• Common Symptoms:

(1)White or gray exhaust smoke
(2)Excessive oil consumption
(3)Low power for acceleration
(4)Overall loss of power or poor performance

The Crankshaft
The crankshaft is essentially the backbone of the internal combustion engine. The crankshaft is responsible for the proper operation of the engine and the conversion of linear motion into rotary motion.
It takes the energy of the pistons moving up and down and converts it into rotational energy that moves your car’s wheels. The crankshaft is in the crankcase, which is below the engine block.
Crankshafts are usually made from steel due to the overall strength of the metal.
Crankshafts are often designed in one piece and not in multiple pieces. This is because it allows for heavier stress when driving and limited oscillation space, which is important given how much crankshafts rotate.
The crankshaft is attached to the engine at both ends by large bearings. It connects to the flywheel and thereby to the clutch.
When the clutch is engaged, the rotational energy of the crankshaft is transmitted through the gearbox and further through the differential to the drive shafts attached to the wheels, creating the car’s ability to move.

• Symptoms:

(1)Issues Starting the Vehicle.
(2)Intermittent Stalling.
(3)Check Engine Light Comes On.
(4)Uneven Acceleration.
(5)Engine Misfires or Vibrates.
(6)Rough Idle and/or Vibrating Engine.
(7)Reduced Gas Mileage.

The Camshaft
A camshaft is a relatively simple component of an engine – a simple piece of rod or shaft along which are positioned shaped cams, these have been known as “cam lobes”.
As the shaft is rotated, the shape of the cam allows a valve to be acted upon to a degree proportional to the strength of its shape – the speed of rotation controls the speed of action.
In a modern internal combustion engine, they are typically, but not necessarily, located directly above the cylinder banks where they act to control the valves.
Their calibration precisely controls the amount of air-fuel mixture entering the chamber and how efficiently the spent exhaust gases from the previous ignition can exit the chamber to make way for the next charge.

• Symptoms:

(1)Active or flashing check engine light.
(2)Loss of power.
(3)Steady popping/backfire in the intake manifold or exhaust (extreme wear).
(4)Loud ticking or tapping sounds.
(5)Metal debris in the engine oil.
(6)Cylinder misfire.
(7)Increased emissions because of misfiring.
(8)Visible signs of damage.

The Connecting Rod
As the name suggests, a connecting rod is a piece of metal that connects the piston to the crankshaft. They are usually made of either steel or aluminum.
A connecting rod, also called a ‘con rod’, is part of an engine that connects the piston to the crankshaft.
The connecting rod, together with the crank, converts the stroke movement of the piston into the rotation of the crankshaft.
The part of the connecting rod that connects to the piston is called the small end, and the end that attaches around the crankshaft is called the big end. The big end will have bearing inserts that minimize friction and maintain accurate oil clearance with the connecting rod journal on the crankshaft.
Many connecting rods have a hole drilled from the big end up through the shaft to an outlet hole somewhere along their length. This passage allows oil to flow up the connecting rod from the big end and spray onto the pressure area of the cylinder wall where friction is greatest.

• Symptoms:

(1)Low Compression
(2)Engine Knocking Sounds (Rod Knock)
(3)Low Oil or Oil Pressure
(4)Visibly Bent or Damaged Rod
(5)Seized Engine

Timing Belts
The timing belt is an integral part of your vehicle’s engine and ensures that many of the moving parts work together with precise timing for optimum efficiency and performance.
Your timing belt coordinates the engine’s combustion cycle by connecting the crankshaft and camshaft.
The crankshaft rotates with the movement of the pistons and the camshaft controls the movement of the intake and exhaust valves while ensuring that the pistons do not hit any of the valves. Modern timing belts are made of rubber, synthetic rubber such as neoprene, polyurethane, or highly saturated nitrile with high-tensile reinforcement cords made of Kevlar, polyester, or fiberglass.

• Symptoms:

(1)Ticking noise coming from the engine
(2)The engine won’t turn over.
(3)The engine acts up between 2,000 – 4,000 RPM.
(4)The engine misfires.
(5)More smoke and fumes than normal
(6)Oil leaks from the front of the motor

Spark Plugs
Spark plugs are located above each of the cylinders. As the name suggests, spark plugs are part of your car’s engine that ignites the air and fuel, causing combustion in the engine.
The purpose of a spark plug is to convert high-voltage electricity (produced by an ignition coil in modern engines) into a spark. The spark is created in the combustion chamber and ignites the air-fuel mixture just before the combustion/power stroke.
A spark plug has a threaded metal sleeve electrically insulated from a center electrode by a ceramic insulator. The center electrode, which may contain a resistor, is connected by a heavily insulated wire to the output terminal of an ignition coil or magneto.

• Symptoms:

(1)Reduced gas mileage.
(2)Lack of acceleration.
(3)Hard starts.
(4)Engine misfires.
(5)Rough idling.