6 Different Types Of Car Engines & Tips On How To Maintain Them

There is no doubt in your mind that your car’s engine is critical to its overall performance. Without a functioning engine, you won’t travel very far. However, the vast majority of us have little to no knowledge of the inner workings of a car’s engine.

So, here are six facts you should know about your car’s engine that you may not have known before.

Different types of engine

There is a strong resemblance between an automobile engine and its brain. You can rely on it for all of the power your automobile needs to operate. You wouldn’t be able to drive your automobile without it. However, there are several different types of automobile engines on the road.

a. Inline engine

A single row of cylinders, all pointing upward, characterizes an Inline engine.

b. Straight engine

The Straight Six may be created by adding two more cylinders to the Inline Four.

c. Vee engine

Looking at this engine from the front, it resembles a “V” shape. Cylinders turn outward and are connected to a single crankshaft at their bottom to run the engine.

d. the VR and W engines

With a few exceptions, this engine is quite similar to the Vee engine.

e. A boxer

Unlike any other engine, the boxer’s is truly unique. This machine employs two-cylinder that are stacked one on top of the other in a two-cylinder configuration.

f. the rotary (Wankel engine)

Instead of pistons, the Rotary engine makes use of rotors. It has a curved, rectangular form and a small, compact design. The central rotor moves in just one direction, which creates intakes, compression, power, and exhaust while the vehicle is in operation. You won’t typically see this engine outside of Mazda RX cars because of its design.

Your car’s engine is made up of these five components.

Cylinders are formed of metal and have one end that is sealed shut. The opposite end may be opened and shut. In the cylinder, two valves may be opened and closed to allow anything in or keep it out.

Inlet valve – Fuel and air can enter the cylinder through the inlet valve (either from the carburetor or fuel injector)

Outlet valve – The exhaust gases can exit through the outlet valve.

Spark plug – Fuel is ignited by the spark plug, which is placed on the top of the cylinder.

Piston – The crankshaft is connected to the cylinder’s piston, which is located at the bottom.

Crankshaft – The engine’s crankshaft drives the transmission, which in turn moves the wheels.

Difference between 4, 6, and 8 cylinder

If you only learn one thing about automobile engines, it should be the distinction between cylinders with 4, 6, and 8 valves per revolution. The more cylinders you have, the more gasoline you’ll need since the cylinder is like cooking pots that contain fuel. And the more cylinders you have, the more movement you create to turn the crankshaft, which in turn offers more power to the vehicle. Having more cylinders also implies that you’ll need more gasoline, as you’ve worked out by now.

As a result, vehicles with greater acceleration or horsepower often have lower fuel efficiency than most family sedans.

Difference between internal and external combustion

Some automobiles use internal combustion engines widely. Others are powered externally. Fuel enters the cylinders and undergoes combustion within the cylinder of an internal combustion engine.

It’s the complete opposite with just an external combustion engine. It is necessary to transport heat from the combustion chamber to the cylinder thereafter.

Internal combustion engines are the only ones we’ve discussed because that’s what most automobiles utilize. External combustion engines, such as steam engines, are excellent examples.

When to change oil and air filters

A smooth engine runs on lubricant, which is oil. The oil itself gathers and lubricates the engine components by removing debris. The oil filter removes the accumulated sludge from the oil.

Your confusion over when to change your oil filters is understandable. Some manufacturers advocate changing oil filters every other oil change, while others advise changing them every oil change as a best practice for their products. You should be able to get away with changing the oil filter every other oil filter on most current engines, but you should ask your auto repair shop for specific guidance.

Final Words-Engine terms you should know

Connecting rod – The crankshaft is connected to the piston via a connecting rod.

Camshaft – The timing of valve opening and closing is controlled by the camshaft.

Engine block – It is constructed of iron or an aluminium alloy and contains the engine’s cylinders and other parts.

Pistons – Cylindrical structures called pistons to move up and down inside the cylinder.

Crankshaft – Even as the name suggests, this element acts as a crank to transform the action of the piston from up and down to circular motion.

Cylinder head – The portion that lies on top of the cylinders is called the cylinder head. The combustion chamber is formed when the bottom of the cylinder is sealed shut by this piston.

Valves – There are two pieces to a valve: the stem and the head. These components regulate the flow of air into and out of the cylinder of the engine.

These components regulate the flow of air into and out of the cylinder of the engine. Crankshaft casing is another name for the oil slump. It’s attached to the engine block, and it protects the engine from the ground up. It also serves as a reservoir for motor oil.