Every time you get behind the wheel, you take control of a network of many different systems that work together to make your car work the way it does.

How Do the Fuel and Exhaust Systems Work?

The fuel and exhaust systems in a car must operate properly to maximize engine efficiency and minimize pollution. 

• The Fuel System

Your car’s fuel system includes the fuel tank, fuel pump, fuel filter, carburetor, and air filter. Fuel is stored in the tank through the filter to the carburetor. There the fuel is mixed with air drawn in through the air filter. The mixture of air and fuel become a misty fuel vapor that then goes to the engine’s cylinders, where it is ignited. 

Newer cars have a fuel injection system instead of a carburetor. In cars with fuel injection systems, an electronic mechanism senses fuel demand and injects the correct fuel air mixture into the cylinders.

• The Exhaust System

The Exhaust system serves two main purposes. First, it carries off carbon monoxide and other harmful gas by products of combustion. Second, it muffles engine noise.

The pipes that make up the exhaust manifold collect unburned gasses from the engine and carry them to the muffler where the muffler absorbs noise from the explosions in the cylinders. Exhaust gasses exit through the tailpipe. Pollution control devices, such as the catalytic converter reduce the amount of harmful gasses coming from the tailpipe. 

How Can You Maintain the Fuel and Exhaust Systems?

To maintain your car’s fuel system, replace the air and fuel filters as needed. You may have to adjust the carburetor occasionally to ensure fuel efficiency. 

Most cars today operate on lead free gasoline using leaded gasoline will destroy the catalytic converter. How much maintenance the exhaust system requires varies with the conditions under which you drive. Short trips are harder on a car than long highway trips.

To help improve air quality, idle less. Idling wastes gas and money and adds unnecessary pollution into the air. Also, when you idle, you’re exposing yourself and your passengers to higher levels of harmful pollutants.

Drive less and drive cleaner. Transportation accounts for nearly 50% of wintertime pollution. Skip unnecessary trips, carpool, link errands together, and take public transportation. If you’re in the market for a new car, consider an all-electric, hybrid, or low-emission model. Look for cars with cleaner smog ratings. We are consistently breathing in harmful pollution. Transportation accounts for most of our local air pollution. Electric cars are the cleanest option for passenger vehicles and they don’t even have tailpipes.

How Do the Electrical and Light Systems Work?

The electrical and light systems help to keep your car running smoothly and safely. 

• The Electrical system

The heart of your car’s electrical system is the battery. The battery provides the power to start the engine. It enables you to operate your radio and lights when the engine isn’t running. 

The alternator or generator supplies electricity needed to keep the engine running, operate equipment, and recharge the battery. The voltage regulator controls the amount of electricity generated and the rate at which the battery is recharged. The distributor sends electric current to the individual spark plugs to ignite the fuel air mixture in the engine cylinders. 

To protect electrical circuits from overloading, your car is equipped with fuses which burn out in case of an electrical problem preventing damage to the car’s wiring. 

The Light System

• Your car’s light system enables you to see and be seen.

Exterior lights include all of the following: emergency flashers, signal lights, brake lights, parking lights, headlights, taillights, side-markers lights. Interior lights include all of the following: dashboard lights and the dome light. 

How Can You Maintain the Electrical and Light Systems?

 Always keeping your battery in top working condition is the first step in maintaining the electrical and light system. Keep the battery cables firmly connected and battery terminals free from corrosion. 

Keep the headlight properly aligned and clean. Even a thin layer of dirt can reduce the light output by as much as 90 percent. Misaligned lights can momentarily blind oncoming drivers and reduce your ability to see the roadway. 

How Do the Lubricating and Cooling System Work?

Fiction and heat is caused by the car’s engine parts moving rapidly and rubbing against each other. The engine temperature can exceed 4,ooo degrees Fahrenheit as the fuel air explosions in the cylinders create more heat. 

• The Lubricating System 

The key element in your car lubricating system is oil reducing friction, heat, and wear. Oil cleans internal engine surfaces and prevents rust and corrosion. The oil pump moves oil from the oil pan where it is stored to all moving engine parts. Where the oil filter cleans the oil as it circulates through the engine parts. Grease is also used to lubricate parts of the car which reduces friction and helps parts move smoothly.

• The Cooling System

In order to keep your car’s engine from overheating is the purpose of the cooling system. Coolant is a mixture of water and antifreeze which is circulated by the cooling system through the engine by means of a network of pipes, channels, and connecting hoses. 

The liquid in the cooling system would freeze in very cold weather and boil over in hot weather, in traffic jams and on long trips, without coolant as it does not circulate and the engine would overheat. 

The coolant is stored in the radiator and radiator overflow tank. A water pump pumps the coolant through the radiator and the circulating network. A fan forces air through the radiator to cool the liquid. To maintain the best operating temperature a thermostat in the system works to control the flow of coolant. 

How Can You Maintain the Lubricating and Cooling Systems?

The key to maintaining your car’s lubricating system is to check and change the oil and oil filter regularly. Low oil pressure allows the engine to become hot which causes excessive wear of moving parts. 

Never drive your car with insufficient oil as you could destroy the engine. The oil pressure gauge does not indicate how much oil is in the engine but it will signal a drop in oil pressure. Driving an overheated engine can damage your car so stop driving as soon as possible. Have the cooling system completely drained, flushed, and refilled every two years.