First Things First
While you may have thought that the description of a vehicle was that it is just a metal box with wheels, from a scientific point of view it's really an energy converter. The machine that you know as your car releases energy that is locked in a fuel, like gasoline, and then turns it into mechanical energy which is what causes your wheels to turn and you to move down the road.Many moving vehicles are powered by fuels that are made from petroleum. The "crude oil" became an important source of energy during the 20th century, and while there are a few other ways to power a vehicle, this one remains the most prominent.
How Does Our Fuel Power Our Vehicle?
Petroleum fuels are made from hydrocarbons, which are mainly carbon and hydrogen atoms - with a few other elements.While you commonly burn hydrocarbons to make useful energy, like wood, paper or coal in your fireplace, grill, or fire pit, these are uncontrolled sources of energy. While the combustion does occur from the hydrocarbons releasing energy, in a camp fire it can be hard to control that energy because the heat shoots off in all different directions.In your car, those hydrocarbons are burned in closed containers that capture most of the heat energy the fuel releases, and then it turns it into a mechanical energy that can drive your car.
What Are the Main Parts of A Car Engine
Now that we know how a car engine is powered, it's time to learn some more about what actually happens when it's powered. The closed containers we mentioned that capture the energy are known as cylinders. In most cars, you'll find four cylinders (also know as a four stroke engine) but in many powerful cars, you'll find six or even eight. The cylinders are sealed shut, except for two valves that open and close like a bicycle pump. There are pistons (think of them like plungers) that slide up and down inside the cylinders. There is an inlet valve that allows fuel and air to enter the cylinder from the carburetor and the outlet valve that lets the exhaust gasses back out. There are also spark plugs (you may have heard this term at one point from your Lake of the Ozarks car mechanic), and these are electrically controlled devices that make a spark and cause the fuel to catch fire. At the bottom of the cylinder, you'll find a piston which is attached to a crankshaft, and this powers the car's gearbox which is what drives the wheels.Whew! Did you catch all of that? If you need a visual to help you understand what happens, this video can give you a pretty good idea of how this inside of your engine works.
Engine Repair at the Lake of the Ozarks
After seeing all of the moving parts that go into JUST your engine, now you can see why it's so important to have an expert work on your car. While it may seem like basic science there are so many small details that can go wrong, and you want a mechanic who not only knows how your car works but knows how to deduct what could actually be happening to it. If you think that there could be something wrong with your engine, or it's just not making the right sound, bring it out! We'd love to have one of our skilled Lake of the Ozarks car mechanics take a look and help you solve the mystery!Serving the Lake of the Ozark with all towing at automotive
needs - big or small!
www.BledsoesTowing.com
322 South Business Route 5
Camdenton, Missouri 65020
322 South Business Route 5
Camdenton, Missouri 65020
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