Many parts work together to produce a car’s power and motion. By keeping these parts operating smoothly, you help your car run safely and fuel efficiently.

How Does the Engine Work?

Your car’s engine is known as an internal combustion engine. It is called that because the power it produces comes from burning a mixture of fuel and air inside, rather than outside the engine. 

When you start your car’s engine, you are setting off a chain of events.

1. Turning the key in the ignition causes power to be drawn from the battery to a small electric starter motor.
2. The starter turns the flywheel of the engine. When the flywheel turns, it turns the crankshaft.
3. A piston in each cylinder of the car is attached to the crankshaft. Most cars have four, six, or eight cylinders. The more cylinders in a car, the more power the engine has, but the more gasoline the engine uses.
4. In each cylinder, a spark plug produces a spark. This spark causes the fuel-air mixture inside the cylinder to explode. The explosion pushes down the piston which turns the crankshaft.
5. The continuous up and down motion of the pistons keeps the crankshaft turning. Power sent from the crankshaft is transmitted to the wheels, making the car move.
   The more explosions per minute in the cylinders the faster the engine runs. 

What is the PowerTrain and What does it Do?

Several parts of your car work together to transmit power from the engine to the wheels. These parts make up the “Power Train.” In most cars, the power train sends power from the engine to only two of the four wheels. The wheels that receive the power are called the “drive wheels.” If the two front wheels are the drive wheels, the car has front wheel drive. If the two rear wheels receive the power, the car has rear wheel drive. A car has four wheel drive if all four wheels receive power. 

The transmission is part of the powertrain. Gears in the transmission allow it to transfer power to the drive wheels. In a car with a manual transmission, the driver uses the clutch pedal and the gearshift lever to shift gears and change the amount of power that goes to the drive wheels. In a car with automatic transmission, the clutch works automatically so the gears are shifted automatically. 

In a car with rear wheel drive the transmission is connected by a drive shaft to the differential, rear axle, and rear wheels. The differential allows the rear wheels to turn at different speeds when the car turns. In a car with front wheel drive, engine power is sent to a combination transmission and differential, and then directly to the front wheels. 

How Can You Maintain the Engine and Powertrain?

Cars that are well maintained perform better, are more fuel efficient, and last longer than cars that are neglected. Here are some basic guidelines for keeping your car’s engine and powertrain in top condition. 

• Check and Change the Oil Regularly

Check your car’s oil level at least once a month. Have the oil changed at least twice a year, or every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. 

• Have Regular Tune Ups

If you drive 10,000 to 12,000 miles a year, you should take your car in for one major and one minor tune-up during that period. In addition to the 15 minute monthly checkup you can perform yourself, a mechanic might do some or all 

1. Change the oil filter.
2. Check the carburetor adjustment or fuel injection system.
3. Clean or replace the spark plugs.
4. Check and if necessary, replace the air and fuel filters.
5. Check the alternator, battery, and voltage regulator.
6. Check the ignition wires and timing or electronic ignition system.
7. Check and if needed, clean the battery terminals.
8. Check the car’s pollution control devices and exhaust systems.

Keep in mind that the kind of driving you do will affect how often you need to have your engine tuned. Stop and go city driving is much harder on a car than steady highway driving.