Plain-language basics for people who know almost nothing about cars. Safety guidance comes first on every procedure.
How an engine works
- 01Air enters through the intake and mixes with fuel.
- 02The piston compresses that mixture inside the cylinder.
- 03A spark ignites it, pushing the piston down — this is the power stroke.
- 04Exhaust gases leave through the exhaust valve and tailpipe.
- 05Four strokes — intake, compression, power, exhaust — repeat thousands of times a minute.