Driver Education How your car engine works

Transmission

Set of gears that transfers power

Power Train

Transfers power from the engine to the wheels

Drive Shaft

Transfers power from the transmission to the differential

Differential

Allows the wheels to turn smoothly on their shafts when making turns or going around curves

Axle

Attached to the wheels, moves the wheels

Internal combustion engine

uses small explosions using fuel and a spark inside the cylinders to create energy

spark plug

uses energy from the battery to initiate internal combustion

cylinder

hollow container in which the piston moves up and down

piston

moves up and down in the cylinders to create internal combustion

crankshaft

attached to the piston; moves the piston up and down as it turns

master cylinder

stores brake fluid

radiator

series of coils that helps cool the engine

water pump

pulls or draws cooled liquid from the radiator through the engine

oil pump

pulls oil from the oil pan and circulates it through the engine

transaxle

a transmission and differential combined

catalytic converter

a pollution-control device that burns off harmful fumes before leaving the tailpipe

muffler

deadens an engines noise

brake lines

carries brake fluid from the master cylinder to the wheels

valves

open to pull air and fuel into the cylinder and to push leftover gas into the exhaust system

alternator

generator that keeps the battery supplied with electricity when the engine is running