Engine 1-100

hollow

empty inside; having a hole or space within.

piston

a cylindrical part that moves up and down inside a cylinder, driven by combustion pressure.

combustion chamber

the space inside the cylinder where the fuel-air mixture is burned.

an engine running

an engine that is currently operating and turning over.

cylinder

the tube-shaped chamber in which a piston moves up and down.

explosive force

the sudden, powerful force released by a rapid combustion or explosion.

motion

movement, or a change of position.

pump up / down

to move up and down repeatedly, like a pumping action.

arrange

to put things in a particular order or position.

crankshaft

the rotating shaft that converts the up-and-down motion of the pistons into rotary motion.

angular momentum (=spin motion)

the rotational equivalent of momentum; a measure of an object's spinning motion.

engine block

the main structural casting that houses the cylinders and other core engine parts.

casting

an object made by pouring liquid metal into a mould and letting it harden.

passageways

narrow channels or routes through which something, e.g. oil, can pass.

circulation

the continuous movement of a fluid, e.g. oil, through a system.

smooth

even and regular, without bumps, jolts, or roughness.

connecting

joining or linking two things together.

lubrication

the process of applying oil or grease to reduce friction between moving parts.

oil

a thick, slippery liquid used to lubricate moving engine parts.

balancing lobes

raised sections on a rotating part, shaped and placed to help offset uneven weight.

counterweight

a weight that balances another weight, reducing vibration in a rotating part.

balance

an even distribution of weight or force.

wobbling

shaking unsteadily from side to side.

drive belt

a looped belt that transfers rotational power between pulleys.

attach

to fasten or connect one thing to another.

oil seal

a ring-shaped part that prevents oil from leaking out along a rotating shaft.

oil pan

the container at the bottom of the engine that holds the oil supply.

moisture

small amounts of water present in the air or on a surface.

crankcase

the housing that encloses the crankshaft.

oil pump

a pump that circulates oil around the engine under pressure.

bolted

fastened in place using a bolt.

oil plug

a removable plug that seals the hole through which engine oil is drained. (more common than "oil bolt")

oil filter

a filter that removes dirt and particles from the engine oil.

drain

to let a liquid flow out of a container.

threading

a spiral ridge cut around a bolt, screw, or hole, used for fastening.

main bearings

the bearings that support the crankshaft and let it rotate smoothly.

strap

a strip of material used to fasten or hold something in place.

set

a group of matching items used together; or, to put something in a fixed position.

tightly

firmly and closely, with little or no looseness.

provide

to supply or make something available.

friction

the resistance one surface or object meets when moving over another.

eliminate

to remove or get rid of something completely.

main bearing caps

the removable metal caps that hold the main bearings and crankshaft in place.

resemble

to look like or be similar to something.

ignite

to set something on fire, or to start burning.

rod

a thin, straight metal bar, especially one connecting two moving parts.

wrist pin

the pin that connects the piston to the connecting rod. (more common than "piston pin")

alignment

the correct positioning of parts in relation to each other.

off-center

not positioned exactly in the middle.

squarely

directly and evenly, at a right angle.

expend

to use up or spend, e.g. energy or force.

unevenly

not equally or smoothly distributed.

heated

made hot, or having had heat applied.

proper

correct and suitable for the purpose.

operating temperature

the temperature at which a machine or engine normally and efficiently runs.

matching

corresponding to, or fitting well with, something else.

reach a temperature

to arrive at or attain a particular temperature.

groove

a long, narrow cut or channel in a surface.

encircle

to form a circle around something.

compression rings

piston rings that seal the combustion chamber and stop gas escaping past the piston.

seal

to close something tightly so nothing can pass through; also, a part that prevents leaks.

contain

to hold something inside; to keep something from escaping.

oil ring

a piston ring that scrapes excess oil off the cylinder wall and returns it to the oil pan.

excess oil

oil beyond the amount needed, which must be removed or returned to the pan.

camshaft

a rotating shaft with lobes that open and close the engine's valves.

coordination

the organised working together of different parts or actions.

major parts

the main, most important components of something.

lobe

a rounded, projecting part, e.g. on a camshaft, that pushes against another part.

egg-shaped

shaped like an egg; oval, with one end larger than the other.

timing

the coordination of events, e.g. valve opening, to happen at the correct moment.

valves

devices that open and close to control the flow of gas or liquid into or out of a space.

fuel

a substance, such as petrol or diesel, burned to produce power.

located

positioned or situated in a particular place.

double overhead camshaft (DOHC)

an engine design with two camshafts per cylinder head, one for intake and one for exhaust valves.

timing belt

a toothed belt that synchronises the rotation of the crankshaft and camshaft. (more common than "timing chain")

timing marks

reference marks on engine parts used to align them correctly during assembly.

assembly

a group of parts fitted together to form a complete unit.

gear cog

a toothed wheel that meshes with another to transmit rotational motion.

workings of sth.

the way something operates or functions internally.

cylinder head

the part that seals the top of the cylinders and houses the valves.

solid

firm and not hollow; also, a single continuous piece of material.

to fit

to be the right size or shape for something; to install correctly.

indentation

a hollow or dent in a surface.

foundation

the base or supporting structure on which something is built.

valve assembly

the group of parts that make up a valve and its operating mechanism.

receive

to take in or accept something.

discharge

to release or let out, e.g. gas, fluid, or fumes.

fumes

strong-smelling or harmful gases and smoke.

sparkplug

a device that ignites the fuel-air mixture in the cylinder with an electric spark.

valve

a device that opens and closes to control the flow of gas or liquid.

mixture

a combination of two or more substances, e.g. fuel and air.

intake valve

the valve that opens to let the fuel-air mixture into the cylinder.

exhaust valve

the valve that opens to let burnt gases out of the cylinder.

valve guide

a sleeve that holds and guides the valve stem as it moves up and down.

stem

the long, thin part of a valve that slides through the valve guide.

lobes

rounded, projecting parts on a rotating shaft that push against another part.

spring

a coiled metal part that stores energy and pushes back when compressed or stretched.

to push sth. close

to press something so that it shuts.

determine

to establish or decide something exactly.

rotate

to turn around a central point or axis.