The use of motorized vehicles is very common in today’s world. There are many people who depend on them to travel to their places of work, study, medical services, and to meet other needs that are necessary in their daily routine. Beyond simple curiosity, understanding how the engine works can help to make better use of it and, by extension, to extend the useful life of a vehicle. So how does an automobile engine work and how can this knowledge be applied in a practical way?
How a Car Engine Works
Operation
To answer the above question, it is first necessary to explain how an engine works. Generally speaking, the engine is considered to be the heart of the vehicle, since the processes by which the energy that produces the car’s movement is created occur in the engine.
movement of the car.
The way this energy is obtained varies according to the engine. We can make a distinction between the different types of engines offered on the market today, although we will focus mainly on fuel engines.
The internal combustion engine.
Almost all vehicles use it and it has been perfected since the beginning of the auto industry. They work by transforming heat energy (made from burning fuel) into mechanical energy by turning a piston, which rotates the crankshaft, a part connected to the transmission and wheels of the car, allowing it to move. As the piston moves from top to bottom, gas is expelled through the exhaust pipe.
This process repeats a few times a second. It depends on the model. You can find engines that run on gasoline or diesel. While engines operate the same, the difference is how the fuel gets ignited. On a gasoline engine, a spark plug ignites the air and fuel mixture; on a diesel engine, the high air temperatures allow the fuel to burn when both are in contact.
Electric and hybrid engines
They are becoming more and more popular, partly because their impact on the environment is the least compared to the other two. Most of them work with lithium batteries powered 100% by electric energy. However, their distribution in countries such as ours is still minimal. On the other hand, hybrid engines combine electric power with gasoline combustion.
Depending on the model, both sources can work together or in parallel. How can I take advantage of their operation in my driving? We can apply small tips to extend the useful life of a fuel engine now that we know how it works:
● Avoid sudden acceleration and stopping. The most efficient way to use an engine is to use it steadily. Therefore, harsh braking and steep acceleration can hurt your engine’s performance in the long run by overexerting power shifts, as well as wearing out brakes and the transmission. It’s all about maneuvering smoothly.
.Use your vehicle efficiently as turning the engine on and off for short periods of time also ends up affecting its lifespan. If you have an incline a few blocks away don’t expose your car to unnecessary stress, and also take the opportunity to stretch your legs!
● Take care of the gas level in the tank. Old gasoline in the tank often forms sediments and to prevent these from reaching the engine it is advisable to have our tank above a quarter of its total. Although the gas filter is designed to prevent these impurities from reaching the engine. The lower the levels, the more residues will accumulate and the filter may not be able to retain all the particles. Avoid engine damage with this small but useful tip.
Please note that these tips do not replace the tune-up that you should have done on your vehicle every so often, depending on the number of kilometers or miles you travel or how long you can maintain your engine by replacing:
- cables
- belts
- spark plugs
- gasoline filters
- air filters
- checking pressure level
- checking the temperature, among other things
If you have doubts, visit the experts and do not ignore the signs that your vehicle may be giving you. These signs can be anything from a light on your dashboard to unusual sounds when you start and drive your car.
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