Understanding Your Car’s Engine: Key Internal Components

Your car’s engine may look complicated, but at its core, it’s a set of carefully designed parts working together to create power. Here’s a simple guide to the most important internal engine components:

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1. Engine Block

The “body” of the engine. It holds the cylinders and supports most of the other engine parts.

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2. Cylinders

Hollow spaces inside the engine block where fuel burns. The number of cylinders (4, 6, or 8) often tells you how powerful the engine is.

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3. Pistons

Small moving parts inside the cylinders that go up and down when fuel burns. They’re the engine’s muscle, turning fuel into motion.

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4. Piston Rings

Thin rings around each piston. They seal the cylinder so fuel doesn’t leak and control oil use.

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5. Connecting Rods

Strong metal arms that connect the pistons to the crankshaft.

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6. Crankshaft

A long shaft at the bottom of the engine. It turns the piston’s up-and-down movement into spinning power that drives the car.

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7. Cylinder Head

The “lid” on top of the engine block. It houses valves and spark plugs, helping fuel burn efficiently.

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8. Valves

Intake valves let air and fuel into the cylinder.

Exhaust valves release the burnt gases.

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9. Camshaft

Controls the opening and closing of the valves in perfect timing with the crankshaft.

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10. Timing Belt/Chain

Keeps the crankshaft and camshaft moving together in sync.

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11. Spark Plugs (Petrol Engines)

Create a small spark to ignite the air-fuel mixture and start combustion.

(Diesel engines use glow plugs to help start in cold conditions.)

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12. Fuel Injectors

Spray the right amount of fuel into the engine for burning. Modern engines use injectors instead of carburetors.

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13. Oil Pump

Moves engine oil around to keep everything lubricated and prevent damage.

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14. Water Pump

Keeps coolant moving through the engine to stop overheating.

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15. Flywheel

A heavy wheel attached to the crankshaft that helps keep the engine running smoothly.

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🚗 In short: These components work together in four steps—intake, compression, power, and exhaust—to create the energy that moves your car.