Tag Archive for ‘internal combustion engines’

How internal combustion engines work

Four_stroke_cycle_compression courtesy of physics.byu.edu

Even if you do much of your own basic car repair and are an expert in the art of DIY maintenance, have you ever given much thought to how a car actually works? Having a basic understanding of the processes that go on under the hood can give you a new found appreciation for your vehicle, and may even make it easier for you to be your own mechanic.

All vehicles on the road use internal combustion engines. It's the engine's job to take advantage of the temperature and pressure caused by the combustion of fuel, and turn that into mechanical energy to move a car.