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How Does a Car Engine Work?

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How Does a Car Engine Work?

One Important Auto Part

One of the most important auto parts in your vehicle is the engine. Although a highly intricate and complex mechanism, understanding the basics of how your car’s engine works doesn’t have to be so hard. Simply put, the point of your car’s engine is to take fuel—i.e. gasoline—and convert that fuel into motion. The gasoline is burned internally, which is where the name “internal combustion engine” comes from. It then emits exhaust and emissions. Of course there are several types of engines that vary in how they operate and what types of fuel they use, but we will focus on the basics.

How Internal Combustion Works

When fuel is ignited in a small, enclosed space, gas expands to create a blast of energy. In an engine, the energy created from internal combustion moves small devices called pistons which are located in an engine’s cylinders. Cylinders are the enclosures within an engine in which pistons move up and down. Generally speaking, the higher number of cylinders in an engine, the more power is created because more pistons are working to create energy. These pistons turn another device called a crankshaft which creates circular motion.

Multi-Cylinder Engines

There are a number of different configurations and cylinder quantities that have their own unique pros and cons. Depending on the arrangement, an engine may perform better, cost less to manufacture, or be shaped differently. More often than not, cars have either 4, 6, or 8 cylinders. Some are arranged in line with each other, some are flat, and some are in a “V” shape. There are some perfectly efficient four-cylinder engines just as there are less efficient eight-cylinder engines.

How Your Engine Starts

Turning your car key causes a motor to spin which starts the combustion process. This motor is very powerful and requires a lot of electricity to get going. A large electronic device called a solenoid helps generate the power needed to spin the motor and begin combustion.

Engine Cooling

Your car’s engine needs to be cooled by either water which circulates around the cylinders and through a radiator or by air which flows through an air filter and directly into the cylinders. Air needs to be circulated through the engine, and is sometimes pressurized in high-performance engines.

Chicago Auto Parts

If you are looking for auto parts, and an engine is on your shopping list, look no further than Aero Auto Parts. Our selection of new and used auto parts covers all makes and models—foreign and domestic. When looking for auto parts in Chicago, it may be difficult to find the one you’re looking for.

Give Aero a call to discuss our massive inventory of Chicago auto parts. 773-483-2626

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BBB Accredited Business Aero Auto Parts Serving Chicagoland Since 1958
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I got my windshield replaced recently and it took less than an hour. Then as I was driving home the rear view mirror fell off. It kept doing it so I rode back and they replaced it. No haggling or anything. With this kind of service I will keep coming back. I am a repeat customer as they do not dissapoint!

Jataun R. - Google Reviews

Decent prices on the parts you need. Honest and informative workers. Reasonable and efficient service. They’re also pretty well stocked and will likely have the part you need for just about any replacement or repair. If not, they’ll order it for you and usually have it in a day or so. Overall, no real complaints on my end. I’d recommend this place.

Davonte W. - Google Reviews

I got my windshield replaced recently and it took less than an hour. Then as I was driving home the rear view mirror fell off. It kept doing it so I rode back and they replaced it. No haggling or anything. With this kind of service I will keep coming back. I am a repeat customer as they do not dissapoint!

Jataun R. - Google Reviews

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