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About This Quiz
Your car engine is made up of many, many parts. If one fails, chances are that your car is not moving!
So how does it all work? Well, the engine provides the power. This is fed through the transmission, either manual or automatic, to the differential which, in turn, will turn the wheels of the car. Sounds simple enough but it isn't, really. How those engineers worked this all out all those years ago still boggles the mind, don't you think?
All those parts have to work in perfect harmony. Pistons moving, valves opening at the right time, spark plugs firing at the right instance, gasses moved out of the engine. One little problem, and the engine might still run, but not efficiently.
So let's get onto the task at hand. In this quiz, you will be given a description of a car part and a brief idea of what it does in the engine. From that, you will have to identify it from four choices. Seems simple enough, right? Well, some are pretty simple but what about the inner workings? Do you know all the parts that help make an engine run or the supporting parts, without which the engine wouldn't even start?
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Up for the challenge? Good!
Let's see how you do!
Name the part of the engine that moves up and down within one of the cylinders.
Piston
Attached to a connection rod, the piston is found in the cylinder where it fits tightly. It moves up and down, compressing the air/fuel mixture which is then combusted.
Spark plug
Glow plug
Crankshaft
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All major engine parts are found here.
Spark plug
Engine block
The engine block is the lower section of the engine. It is cast out of metal and houses the crankshaft, pistons and cylinders.
Piston
Glow plug
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This plays an important part in starting your engine. Name it.
Engine block
Piston
Spark plug
Spark plugs provide the spark that ignites the air-fuel mixture which starts the motor and keeps it running.
Glow plug
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Identify the part that moves coolant through the engine when it's hot.
Spark plug
Glow plug
Engine block
Water pump
A water pump moves coolant from the radiator through the engine where the excess heat is transferred to it. It then returns to the radiator.
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Gasses that form as a result of the burning of the fuel/air mixture are released into the exhaust system through this. What is it called?
Spark plug
Exhaust valve
An exhaust valve is found in the cylinder head. It is driven by thencamshaft and releases exhaust gases after combustion.
Oil pan
Glow plug
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Oil, an engine lubricant, is stored here while the engine is not running.
Oil pan
Found at the bottom of the cylinder block, the oil pan serves as the oil reservoir
Exhaust valve
Crankshaft
Timing belt
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What is the name of the protective piece bolted to the cylinder head?
Piston
Oil pan
Balance shaft
Valve cover
The valve cover is bolted onto the cylinder head. It acts as a protective lid.
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Unwanted crankshaft vibrations are stopped by this engine shaft which is counter weighted. It is called a ___________________.
Glow plug
Balance shaft
The balance shaft is a counterweighted engine shaft. It offsets unwanted crankshaft vibrations.
Piston
Pan
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The amount of air/fuel mixture taken into the engine is controlled by this part.
Oil pan
Intake valve
Driven by the camshaft, the intake valve is located in the cylinder head.
Oil filter
Piston
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Identify the part that helps keep impurities out of the lubricant that moves around the engine.
Intake valve
Oil filter
Oil keeps all the moving parts of an engine lubricated. An oil filter helps to remove impurities in the oil that might damage the engine.
Water pump
Carburetor
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In older engines without fuel injection, this part controls the amount of fuel/air entering the engine.
Carburetor
This controls the amount of air and fuel entering the engine. Too much and the engine will run too rich. Too little and it will run too lean.
Oil filter
Exhaust Valve
Oil pan
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Can you name the part of the ignition system that makes sure the spark plugs fire in the right order?
Distributor
Part of the ignition system, the distributor fires the spark plugs in the correct order. It is connected to them by high tension leads.
Cambelt
High tension leads
Crankshaft
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This engine part is often abbreviated to SOHC.
Spark plug
Distributor
Single overhead camshaft
The single overhead camshaft refers to an engine with one camshaft that operates both the exhaust and intake valves.
Intake valve
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This part connects the piston to the crankshaft.
Connecting rod
The connecting rod forms the mechanical link between the piston and crankshaft. It converts the up and down motion to the crankshaft's rotary motion.
Fuel filter
Exhaust manifold
Piston
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Also known as the sleeve, the piston moves near this part and it fits in the cylinder bore.
Connecting rod
Single overhead camshaft
Sprocket
Cylinder liner
The cylinder liner is also known as a sleeve. It's a replaceable, hollow tube that fits into the cylinder bore.
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These fasteners secure the cylinder head to the engine block.
Glow plug
Oil filter
Carburetor
Cylinder head bolts
Head bolts are sometimes referred to as cylinder head bolts. These secure a cylinder head and gasket to the engine block.
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Moving pistons rotate this part, which ultimately leads​ to the vehicle moving. Name the part, please.
Cylinder head bolts
Crankshaft
When fuel burns in the engine, it pushes the pistons which, in turn, rotate the crankshaft. This causes the vehicle to move.
Oil pump
Water pump
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The 'brain' of the engine, this measures many variables to see that everything is performing properly.
Fuel tank
Crankshaft
Electronic control unit
The electronic control unit ensures optimum engine performance in modern engines.
Radiator
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This ensures lubricant flows through the engine so that all moving parts move easily. What is it?
Oil pump
The oil pump circulates oil within the engine.
Electronic control unit
Fuel pump
Water pump
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Without this part, the engine won't turn over when you turn the key.
Distributor
Oil pump
Starter motor
When you turn the key of your car, the starter motor begins the combustion process by rotating the engine.
High tension leads
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This engine part, not found in all cars, gives the car far more bang for its buck! Any ideas what it is?
Starter motor
Turbocharger
In simple terms, a turbocharger pushes more air into the engine, which, in turn, creates more power as more fuel is burned.
Oil filter
Glow plugs
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Air entering the engine is a crucial part of the combustion process and this part makes sure it is clean.
Turbocharger
Sump
Fan belt
Air filter
An air filter ensures the air entering the engine, which is used during the combustion process, is kept clean and free of any particles that may damage the engine.
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By opening and closing in a certain sequence, these parts allow the air/fuel mixture into the cylinder and the gasses out once combustion has taken place. Name them, please.
Radiator
Air filter
Valves
The valves within an engine open and close in sequence to let the air and fuel mixture in. They then seal when combustion takes place and let out the gases produced.
Oil pan
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These connect the spark plugs to the distributor. What are they?
Valves
High tension leads
High tension leads connect the sparks plugs to the distributor.
Crankshaft
ECU
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Name the part that lets air into the engine to mix with fuel.
Fuel filter
High tension leads
Air intake manifold
This part is essential to how your engine runs. It allows the fuel/air mixuture into the cyclinder of the engine where it will combust, causing the engine to run. It does this by evenly distrubuting the air/fuel mixture to the intake ports.
Glow plug
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This moves the propellant that drives the engine from the storage area to where it is needed for combustion.
Water pump
Air intake manifold
Fuel pump
A fuel pump makes sure fuel gets from the area where it is stored (the fuel tank) to the engine where it is burned to help propulsion.
Oil pump
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Identify the reservoir that stores coolant that keeps the engine operating at the right temperature, please.
Radiator
This reservoir holds coolant which is used to keep the engine cool during operation. When needed, the coolant is pumped through the engine, taking heat away from it and back to the radiator.
Oil pan
Fuel Pump
Thermostat
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Fuel entering the engine must be clean. This ensures it is.
Water pump
Radiator
Oil filter
Fuel filter
A fuel filter will help to remove impurities that might be in the fuel which, if they get into the engine, can cause complications.
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In a nutshell, this makes the air entering a turbocharged engine cooler.
Intercooler
Found in turbocharged engines, an intercooler reduces the temperature of the air compressed by the turbocharger. This makes it denser when it is pushed through the engine and produces more power.
Turbocharger
Fuel filter
Oil pump
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This part helps to reduce friction between various components and comes in different sizes.
Intercooler
Bearing
A bearing is a curved metal piece that reduces friction between components. It comes in many different shapes and sizes.
Cylinder liner
Exhaust valve
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This part includes a set of teeth.
Glow plug
Bearing
Sprocket
A sprocket is a wheel with a set of teeth on the outer circumference. It drives items like the chain or timing belt.
Spark plug
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What is a DOHC?
Dual overhead camshaft
A DOHC is a Dual (or Double) Overhead Camshaft. It's like an SOHC, but with an extra camshaft.
Spark plug
Oil filter
Sprocket
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Name the small ring that controls the rate of oil consumption within the engine's cylinders.
Fuel filter
Oil control ring
The oil control ring controls oil consumption within the cylinder. It comes under the umbrella of piston rings.
Dual overhead camshaft
Thermostat
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Identify a belt with teeth that helps ensure the engine runs efficiently .
Fan belt
Timing belt
The timing belt is a toothed belt. It's usually made of reinforced rubber and it rides on the sprockets.
High tension leads
Piston
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Name the lever that moves when the pushrod within the engine moves.
Camshaft
Rocker arm
The rocker arm is driven by a pushrod or camshaft lobe. This transfers motions to open and close the valves.
Timing belt
Sprocket
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You Got:
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Witthaya Prasongsin/Moment/Getty Images