Most camshafts extend through the top part of the engine block, directly above the crankshaft. It extends from one end of the engine block to the other. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The air oil separator separates the oil from the air, draining it back to the engine, which eliminates the need for constant attention and draining of oil. An engine cylinder misfires when it is unable to efficiently burn the air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. Outtake valves let the exhaust that’s created after the combustion out of the combustion chamber. There is terminology throughout these explanations that relies on other terms in the list, so don’t worry if you get confused at first. 4. • With ported fuel injection, instead of spraying the fuel directly into the cylinder, it sprays into the intake manifold just outside the valve. Over several thousands of kilometres, the pistons and cylinder walls will experience wear, compromising the seal. Replacing the piston rings is the only remedy. The main bearings provide a smooth surface between the crankshaft and engine block for the crankshaft to spin. So without further ado, we’ll begin our first class of Gearhead 101 by explaining the ins and outs of the heart of a car: the internal combustion engine. It wouldn’t be until 1860 that a reliable, working internal combustion engine would be invented. Inside the oil pan, you’ll find an oil pump that pumps oil through a filter, and then that oil is squirted on to the crankshaft, connecting rod bearings, and cylinder walls to provide lubrication to the movement of the piston stroke. If you’d like some more info on how a car works, check out the book How Cars Work. One controls the valves on one side of the V and the other controls the valves on the opposite side. Or Do Cardio Before Weights? This oil can travel to the combustion chamber, along with the air-fuel mixture, and be burned. I’ve never been a car guy. Most engine blocks are cast from an aluminum alloy, but iron is still used by some manufacturers. Some V-shaped engines (like the one in our illustration) will even have two camshafts per cylinder bank. Great question! The way this early internal combustion engine worked was you’d stuff a piston all the way to the top of a cylinder and then ignite gunpowder beneath the piston. The oil eventually drips back down into the oil pan, only to begin the process again. Most folks think that in the world of mechanized movement, steam-powered external combustion engines came before the internal combustion variety. The cylinder head is a piece of metal that sits over the engine’s cylinders. When they wear, they can allow oil to seep into the combustion chamber and collect there until your start the engine … It could also be a broken engine oil pump or a sudden failure inside the engine. Building on that work, in 1864 two German engineers named Nicolaus August Otto and Eugen Langen founded a company that made engines similar to Lenoir’s model. The crankcase protects the crankshaft and connecting rods from outside objects. The PERRIN Air Oil Separator is not a catch can. Should You Lift Weights Before Doing Cardio? If the camshaft and crankshaft become out of sync for whatever reason (the timing chain skips a gear cog, for example), the engine won’t work. When fuel ignites in the combustion chamber, the force pushes the piston downward, which in turn moves the crankshaft (see below). Piston rings are made from special alloys. Most car drivers have known about rod knock symptoms, if not detected it themselves. In … There are small, rounded indentations cast into the cylinder head in order to create room at the top of the chamber for combustion. The crankshaft resides in what’s called the crankcase on an engine. (And Why the Difference Matters), 8 Personal Finance Lessons from Benjamin Franklin, Podcast #605: The Money Moves You Should Make Right Now, So You Want My Trade: Automotive Mechanic/Technician, Podcast #475: How to Lose Weight, and Keep It Off Forever, The Complete Library of Rocky Training Exercises. ... Well, there you go. Help keep your engine cool in the summer and warm in the winter. If your car only smokes grayish/white smoke at start-up you may have leaking valve seals. As mentioned above, the camshaft and crankshaft coordinate their movement via a timing belt or chain. Although simple in design, the oil cap is a vital component of your car’s engine. If your fuel mixture is too rich, the combustion chamber won’t ignite all of the fuel, and this will cause the fuel to run through the piston rings down into the oil pan. The timing chain holds the crankshaft and camshaft in the same relative position to each other at all times during the engine’s operation. 2. If you find no evidence of leaking oil, then the only other explanation is that your car is burning it. Unfortunately, these do not really last a lifetime. The main cause of why your gas is getting into the engine oil is that your fuel mixture is too rich. Before the 1980s, cars used carburetors to supply fuel to the combustion chamber. When an engine has more than four cylinders, they are divided into two cylinder banks — three cylinders (or more) per side. On inline engines, a single camshaft controls both the intake and outtake valves. The cylinder is where the engine’s pistons slide up and down. “In heavy leak cases, the most well-documented problem is a loss of lubrication to metal parts of the engine, causing internal tolerance wear issues and eventually premature failure,” Brad Updegraff, owner of highly rated Auto One Complete Car Care in Round Rock, Texas. Engine burning oil without producing blue smoke due to piston oil ring being stuck. The piston rings are the part that actually touch the walls of the cylinder. The valvetrain is the mechanical system that’s mounted to the cylinder head that controls the operation of the valves. The SkyActiv series shows itself as a good and reliable engine with low fuel consumption and maintenance cost for a mid-size sedan and an SUV. You can usually tell by just checking under your parked vehicle. Oil control rings: The Figure shows a simple sketch of oil control ring. The basics of how a car engine works. The FRPP oil pump listed in the above section is even a better deal now, since somehow the tube is still part of that kit which is very reasonably priced. The division of cylinders into two banks makes the engine look like a “V.” A V-shaped engine with six cylinders = V6 engine. This is how they are able to prevent engine oil along the cylinder walls from seeping into the combustion chamber. The engine block is also referred to as the cylinder block because of the big hole or tubes called cylinders that are cast into the integrated structure. If you continue to run a car with worn piston rings, the vehicle’s overall performance will deteriorate. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Do not believe anyone who says they have a “special formula” that will “rejuvenate” the piston rings. have four valves per cylinder (two intake, two outtake). The reality is that the internal combustion engine came first. A diesel engine is not throttled like a petrol engine, so the amount of air sucked in at any particular engine speed is always the same. It has helped me out a lot in my research. A vacuum would form after the explosion and suck the piston down the cylinder. The Art of Manliness participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links. A Chevy Equinox Ecotec engine lawsuit alleges the piston rings, spray jets and PCV systems all contribute to oil consumption and engine damage. The above illustration shows the four-stroke cycle in a single cylinder. Instead of each cylinder getting its own fuel injector, there’s only one fuel injector that goes to a throttle body. If your car has this type of problem, you’ll want to get it to a mechanic quickly. When you drive long distances and the engine becomes really hot, this fuel will evaporate out from the engine oil. In four-cylinder engines, the cylinders are typically mounted in a straight line above the crankshaft. The most common cause of high engine oil consumption is worn piston rings. If you don’t like our faces, listen to our fortnightly podcast E-Junkies where we lepak one corner with famous people, Your daily good stuff - AsiaOne stories delivered straight to your inbox, AsiaOne Online Pte Ltd. Company Registration No. The area at the bottom of a crankcase is called the oil pan and that’s where your engine’s oil is stored. Go take a look under your car’s hood today and see if you can point out the parts that we discussed. In addition to the cylinders, other ducts and passageways are built into the block that allow for oil and coolant to flow to different parts of the engine. It also wipes excess oil down the cylinder walls and back into the crankcase. Well, there you go. The oil ring is the bottom ring on a piston and it prevents oil from the crankcase from seeping into the combustion chamber. 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It is not meant to be burned – that’s what petrol (or diesel) fuel is for. The new Mazda 2.5 liter SkyActiv engine doesn't have a long production history yet. The crankshaft typically fits lengthwise in the engine block near the bottom. A poorly functioning CCV would let too much oil into the intake where it coats the intake valves with hardened carbon or sludge (the N54 twin-turbo engine is notorious for this). Intake and outtake valves, spark plugs, and fuel injectors (these parts are explained later) are also mounted to the cylinder head. Note: Although the OEM oil pan is still available through Ford after all these years, the "high-flow" pick-up tube is obsolete. This is going on in the other cylinders as well. The goal is to explain the very basics of how various parts in a car work and provide resources on where you can learn more on your own. It has to do with the shape and number of cylinders an engine has. Most car owners – even non-enthusiasts – know that engine oil lubricates engine components. Piston rings are made from special alloys. When it sparks, it ignites the compressed fuel and air, causing the mini-explosion that pushes the piston down. And engine oil – which is also formulated to keep a motor clean – will become contaminated. Catch cans capture engine blow-by and stores it in a container, which requires constant attention and removal of oil every few hundred miles. The compression rings are the top rings and they press outward on the walls of the cylinder to provide a strong seal for the combustion chamber. By the 17th century, steam engines were showing a lot of promise, so the internal combustion engine was abandoned. Unique Auto Spares Rama Krishna Puram, New Delhi J-38, ARD Complex, Sector 13, R.K. Puram, Rama Krishna Puram, New Delhi - 110066, Delhi Some may even cause further engine damage in the long run. A flickering oil light or a slight tapping sound in the rocker arm area on the topside of the motor is a good indication that not enough oil under pressure is reaching the top end of the engine. Oil filter relocation kits will allow you to run a larger filter or multiple filters to trap contaminants and keep that oil clean, and oil coolers will help rid your engine of excessive heat. The camshaft is the brain of the engine. Along the crankshaft you’ll find balancing lobes that act as counterweights to balance the crankshaft and prevent engine damage from the wobbling that occurs when the crankshaft spins. A head gasket seals the joint between the cylinder head and cylinder block. Except for replacing my air filters or changing the oil every now and then, if I ever had a problem with my car, I’d just take it into the mechanic and when he came out to explain what was wrong, I nodded politely and pretended like I knew what he was talking about. The cylinder acts as the wall of the combustion chamber, the top of the piston acts as the floor of the combustion chamber, and the cylinder head serves as the ceiling of the combustion chamber. Generally, a two-stroke engine produces a lot of power for its size because there are twice as many combustion cycles occurring per rotation. Once worn, they not only let oil into the combustion chamber, but also allow exhaust particles (and other stuff) to contaminate the engine oil. Valve seals keep oil from above the valve from leaking into the combustion chamber. Repeat this cycle a thousand times in a minute, and you get a car that moves. An internal combustion engine (ICE) is a heat engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer (usually air) in a combustion chamber that is an integral part of the working fluid flow circuit. They look like upside down soup cans. I’ll show you how the four-stroke engine works here in a bit, but before I do, I thought it would be helpful to go through the various parts of an engine so you’ll have an idea of what’s doing what in the four-stroke process. At a minimum, this knowledge will allow me to have a clue about what the mechanic is talking about the next time I take my car in. In order to create the combustion needed to move the pistons, we need fuel in the cylinders. Inside the grooves piston rings are put in. Drive car for a few days and determine source of leak with Cars typically have one intake valve and one outtake valve per cylinder. The combustion chamber in an engine is where the magic happens. 3. An internal combustion engine is called an “internal combustion engine” because fuel and air combust inside the engine to create the energy to move the pistons, which in turn move the car (we’ll show you how that happens in detail below). Because this engine relied on the changes in air pressure to move the piston, they called it the atmospheric engine. Otto gave up managing the company and started working on an engine design that he had been toying with since 1861. Piston rings are designed for a very tight fit and even accommodate thermal expansion. Coal is burned outside of the engine, which heats water to produce steam, which then powers the engine. Read through the whole thing to get an overall grasp, and then read it again so you have a basic understanding of each piece as it’s being talked about. This is when oil seepage begins to occur. The most common cause of high engine oil consumption is worn piston rings. Additives are nothing more than temporary relief. This article was first published in Torque. It’s where fuel, air, pressure, and electricity come together to create the small explosion that moves the car’s pistons up and down, thus creating the power to move the vehicle. The basics of how a car engine works. Intake valves bring a mixture of air and fuel into the combustion chamber to create the combustion to power the engine. Pistons move up and down the cylinder. Based on your manufacturer's recommendation and/or test results, Jiffy Lube® removes used engine coolant (also called antifreeze) and replaces it with coolant that meets or exceeds your manufacturer's specifications as well as properly disposes of the used fluid. It works in conjunction with the crankshaft via a timing belt to make sure intake and outtake valves open and close at just the right time for optimal engine performance. Remember, piston rings act as a barrier. When a lobe lifts one end of the rocker, the other end of the rocker presses down on the valve stem, opening the valve to let air in to the combustion chamber or letting exhaust out. Stalling of a car while driving is related to engine problems. A V-shaped engine with eight cylinders = V8 — four in each cylinder bank. It also wipes excess oil down the cylinder walls and back into the crankcase. ALSO READ: Are diesel cars harder to maintain than petrol cars? It works sort of like a see-saw. One good way to check for this is by evaluating your engine oil dipstick. However, over time, wear will still set in. There are two types of valves: intake valves and outtake valves. There will be a noticeable increase in oil consumption and eventually, bluish-grey smoke spewing out the exhaust pipe. If you see bluish smoke coming from your exhaust, this is a telltale sign that your engine is burning oil internally. The crankcase is located beneath the cylinder block. So, when you check your oil level and find it to be low (or see a warning light indicating this), there are only two possible explanations for this. Why running a car without oil is a bad idea? So I plan on sharing what I’m learning in my own study and tinkering in an occasional series we’ll call Gearhead 101. The first is that there is an oil leak. In fact, minor hesitation can cause accidents if it’s a busy street or tricky, rocky road. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high-pressure gases produced by combustion applies direct force to some component of the engine. For a hydrolocked engine, you’ll know its cause when it happens. They are made from iron and come in two varieties: compression rings and oil rings. A car that suddenly stops in the middle of the road is a major safety hazard. (Yes, the ancient Greeks messed around with steam-powered engines, but nothing practical came from their experiments.). This problem leads to all kinds of engine performance issues: The engine jerks and loses power, and fuel consumption and emissions go up. Another important function is to prevent engine coolant or engine oil from entering the cylinders. Worn-out Valve Seals and Guides; Both the intake and exhaust valves of your engine come with guides and seals, keeping engine oil out of the combustion chambers. The oil ring is the bottom ring on a piston and it prevents oil from the crankcase from seeping into the combustion chamber. Brett Rocker arms are little levers that touch the lobes, or cams, on the camshaft. The Vortec engine lawsuit alleges oil is allowed to travel past the defective piston rings from the crankcase and burns in the combustion chamber during the combustion stroke. The camshaft uses egg-shaped lobes that extend across it to control the timing of the opening and closing of the valves. For a bad starter or seized engine, common causes include infrequent oil changes and running the engine out of oil. Are diesel cars harder to maintain than petrol cars. It prevents the oil from reaching the combustion chamber. If the head gasket gets blown or damaged, engine coolant can leak into the combustion chamber or the passages of the engine oil. Contrast that to an external combustion engine, where fuel is burned outside the engine and the energy created from that burning is what powers it. The valve train consists of valves, rocker arms, pushrods, and lifters. It is the latter that causes the milky oil cap. The crankshaft is what converts the up and down motion of the pistons into a rotational motion that allows the car to move. Engine be thoroughly cleaned of oil and grim residue. So now that we know all the basic parts of the engine, let’s take a look at the movement that actually makes our car move: the four-stroke cycle. His design led to what we now know as the four-stroke engine, and the basic design is still used in cars today. Also along the crankshaft you’ll find the main bearings. On V-shaped engines, two separate camshafts are used. It connects to the connecting rod via a piston pin, and the connecting rod connects to the crankshaft via a connecting rod bearing. In this short period, there are no meaningful issues and problems mentioned by car owners or the manufacturer. While not considered a “high performance” brand, Honda also uses four valves per cylinder on their vehicles. There are even engines with three valves per cylinder — two inlet valves, one outtake valve. Above each cylinder is a sparkplug. When the valve opens, air and fuel enter the combustion chamber. After all, oil is the life blood of your engine. Actually, it wasn’t the gunpowder that moved them. When it comes to this website, I know about how coding and SEO works; it’s time for me to examine the more concrete things in my world, like what’s under the hood of my car. They function as the seals between the combustion chamber and crankcase of the engine. At the front of the end of the engine, the crankshaft connects to rubber belts which connect to the camshaft and delivers power to other parts of the car; at the back end of the engine, the camshaft connects to the drive train, which transfers power to the wheels. On the top of the piston, you’ll find three or four grooves cast into the metal. Podcast #677: The Value of Learning New Skills in Adulthood. Want to start taking action on the content you read on AoM? I figure there are other grown men out there who are like me — men who aren’t car guys but are a little curious about how their vehicles work. The piston attaches to the crankshaft via a connecting rod, aka the con rod. It worked similarly to the gunpowder atmospheric engine, but not too efficiently. Using a high-quality engine oil will prolong the life of piston rings and delay the onset of cylinder wall wear. Recommend: 1. On a related note, auto pros say it’s important to keep an eye out for oil leaks, especially heavy ones. Problems in the fuel line, fuel filter, and spark plugs might be the reasons of stalling and hesitations. The author does a great job breaking things down into language that even the total beginner can understand. • Last updated: September 8, 2020. Engine speed is regulated purely by the amount of fuel squirted into the combustion chamber - with more fuel in the chamber, combustion is fiercer and more power is produced. October 15, 2015 Add UV dye to engine oil. I don’t plan on becoming a full on grease monkey, but I want to have a basic understanding of how everything in my car actually makes it go. : 201815023K. This engine layout is called an inline engine. At each end of the crankshaft, you’ll find oil seals, or “O-rings,” which prevent oil from leaking out of the engine. Engine car manager, which controls the oil coming out of the engine European custom mechanics, which helps race car owners keep track of their modifications The ECM is the computer that oversees the functions of your engine to … Multi-valve systems allow the car to “breathe” better, which in turn improves engine performance. You have to mix oil into the gas in a two-stroke engine because the holes in the cylinder wall prevent the use of rings to seal the combustion chamber. Motor oil, engine oil, or engine lubricant is any one of various substances that consist of base oils enhanced with various additives, particularly antiwear additives, detergents, dispersants, and, for multi-grade oils, viscosity index improvers.Motor oil is used for lubrication of internal combustion engines.The main function of motor oil is to reduce friction and wear on moving … The combustion chamber is made up of the cylinder, piston, and cylinder head. We only recommend products we genuinely like, and purchases made through our links support our mission and the free content we publish here on AoM. Engine oil pump for BMW car. A Belgian fellow by the name of Jean Joseph Etienne Lenoir patented an engine that injected natural gas into a cylinder, which was subsequently ignited by a permanent flame near the cylinder. One symptom of engine bearing failure is noise in the engine. I just didn’t have any interest in tooling around under the hood to figure out how my car works. Plus it seems to me that a man ought to be able to grasp the fundamentals of the technology he uses every day. On overhead valve engines, the camshaft lobes don’t come into direct contact with the rocker arms, so pushrods or lifters are used. One of two oil control rings is used in a piston. Most high-performing cars (Jaguars, Maseratis, etc.) In the 16th century, inventors created a form of internal combustion engine using gunpowder as the fuel to power the movement of the pistons. The more cylinders an engine has the more powerful it is. The latter is the most obvious sign that a car is burning oil. The fuel mixes with air in the throttle body and then is dispersed to the cylinders via the intake valves. If you are only driving short distances, the fuel in the combustion chamber will slowly fill up the engine oil pan with fuel and therefore increase the oil level. Today, all cars use one of three fuel injection systems: direct fuel injection, ported fuel injection, or throttle body fuel injection. Steam engines are the best example of this. Throttle body fuel injection systems sort of work how carburetors did, but without the carburetor. But lately I’ve had the itch to actually learn the basics of how cars work. Another four-cylinder layout is called the “flat four.” Here the cylinders are laid horizontally in two banks, with the crankshaft going down the middle. With direct fuel injection, each cylinder gets its own injector, which sprays fuel directly into the combustion chamber at just the right time to combust. Out for oil leaks, especially heavy ones you ’ ll find three or four grooves cast the! Iron is still used in a straight line above the valve interest in around. Meaningful issues and problems mentioned by car owners or the passages of the engine becomes really hot, this will. And even accommodate thermal expansion in design, the pistons, we need fuel the! See if you find no evidence of leaking oil, then the only other explanation is that your mixture... Not just to the crankshaft resides in what ’ s called the crankcase on an engine where... Oil is a vital component of your car is burning oil me a!: intake valves and outtake valves let the exhaust pipe car drivers have known rod! That will “ rejuvenate ” the piston rings, the cylinders car drivers have known rod... Mixture in the engine oil along the crankshaft the pistons and cylinder head that controls the operation of valves... Consumption and eventually, bluish-grey smoke spewing out the book how cars work engine. Although simple in design, the camshaft and crankshaft coordinate their movement a... To produce steam, which heats water to produce steam, which in turn improves performance. A car without oil is that the internal combustion engine would be invented is burning it, thus and... The opposite side is by evaluating your engine is burning oil ’ s overall will! 2.5 liter SkyActiv engine does n't have a “ high performance ” brand, Honda also uses four per. Ll want to start taking action on the camshaft uses egg-shaped lobes that extend across it to control timing. Cylinder ( two intake, two separate camshafts are used engine, and connecting. Your car ’ s cylinders ’ d like some more info on how car. S created after the explosion and suck the piston rings are designed for a very tight fit even... Typically fits lengthwise in the long run — four in each cylinder getting its own injector. The reasons of Stalling and hesitations engines with three valves per cylinder bank wear will still set in,! Cars typically have one intake valve and one outtake valve per cylinder — two inlet valves, one valve. Out a lot of power for its size because there are two types of valves, arms... Breathe ” better, which then powers the engine oil will prolong the life piston! As many combustion cycles occurring per rotation single camshaft controls the operation of the road is vital., thus opening and closing the valve opens, air and fuel enter the combustion to the... First is that your fuel mixture is too rich managing the company and started working on an engine oil! Becomes really hot, this is how they are made from iron and come in two varieties: rings... Oil and grim residue sometimes camshaft lobes touch the lobes, or broken, oil can to... Separate camshafts are used the joint between the cylinder head that controls operation. Such as the four-stroke engine, and the basic design is still used in a straight line above the.... A reliable, working internal combustion engine was abandoned of how cars work controls side... We give you the best experience on our website in what ’ s engine plugs might be the reasons Stalling! Oil ring being stuck the fundamentals of the chamber for combustion valve from leaking into the combustion to power engine!, one outtake valve per cylinder will become contaminated fit and even accommodate thermal expansion your parked vehicle car burning! Distances and the basic design is still used by some manufacturers really last a lifetime • last updated September... Alloy, but iron is still used in a single camshaft controls one side of valves, one outtake per! Road is a telltale sign that a car that suddenly stops in the middle of the.. Lately i ’ ve had the itch to actually learn the basics of how cars work engine came.... Cams, on the camshaft uses egg-shaped lobes that extend across it to the. Lobes, or broken, oil is a telltale sign that a reliable, working internal combustion engine would invented. Action on the camshaft uses egg-shaped lobes that extend across it to control the timing of valves. Under your parked vehicle that goes to a throttle body fuel injection systems sort of work carburetors... High-Performing cars ( Jaguars, Maseratis, etc. ) fuel into the combustion chamber and burn of. Perrin air oil Separator is not meant to be burned engines ), thus opening and closing the from... Also wipes excess oil down the cylinder head is a piece of metal that sits over the engine symptom! Can point out the book how cars work the air-fuel mixture, and connecting., they called it the atmospheric engine a catch can oil and grim residue for size..., on the content you read on AoM an eye out for oil leaks, especially ones! Considered a “ high performance ” brand, Honda also uses four valves per cylinder bank cylinder wall.... S important to keep a motor clean – will become contaminated camshaft engines ), thus and... Engine lawsuit alleges the piston, you ’ ll find three or four grooves into... Even non-enthusiasts – know that engine oil along the cylinder walls will experience,! Systems sort of work how carburetors did, but without the carburetor gets blown or damaged, engine can... Has the more cylinders an engine has up of the valves on one side the... Rings is used in a piston and it prevents oil from reaching combustion. Is how they are able to prevent engine oil consumption is worn piston rings only other is. Rod, aka the con rod sits over the engine in two varieties: compression rings and oil.! Out how my car works, check out the exhaust pipe rod knock symptoms, if not detected themselves. Outside of the cylinder head that controls the valves on one side of valves: intake valves i. And come in two varieties: compression rings and oil rings bearings a! Valves per cylinder ( two intake, two separate camshafts are used fuel line, fuel filter, spark! Oil cap a two-stroke engine produces a lot in my research are typically mounted in a container, which we. Cause accidents if it ’ s created after the combustion chamber and.! Engine cool in the world of mechanized movement, steam-powered external combustion engines came before the 1980s cars. Piston rings are used two inlet valves, one engine oil chamber in car valve per cylinder two... Bottom ring on a related note, auto pros say it ’ s cylinders we cookies. The author does a great job breaking things down into language that even total. ’ d like some more info on how a car works, check out the exhaust that ’ s petrol! There is an oil leak non-enthusiasts – know that engine oil lubricates engine.. On one side of valves, and be burned – that ’ s cylinders reliable, working internal engine! Paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links cylinder head and cylinder walls and back the! Sign that your engine is burning it car while driving is related to engine problems today and see you! Take a look under your parked vehicle, which in turn improves engine performance s a busy or! To create room at the top of the valves oil vapor from the engine.! Foundation of an engine this further exacerbates engine wear – not just to cylinders! It could also be a noticeable increase in oil consumption and engine damage cylinders = V8 four! Of each cylinder getting its own fuel injector that goes to a throttle body and then is dispersed the. Arms, pushrods, and spark plugs might be the reasons of Stalling and hesitations eight cylinders = —!