How a Battery Functions

Engine Introduction

Role of the Engine

Power is needed to motor a vehicle and a vehicle's engine is a powering system which converts fuel into energy to rotate its wheels.

Engine Types

Gasoline Engine

A gasoline engine compresses gasoline and air into an air-fuel mixture and uses electric sparks to ignite the mixture. Gasoline engines are compact & lightweight and engine-emitted vibration and noise are minimal. For this reason, passenger-carrying vehicles primarily utilize the gasoline engine.

Diesel Engine

A diesel engine compresses and heats air to high temperatures and then injects fuel into the compressed hot air, setting off natural combustion. Diesel fuel is cost-economical and is the type of engine primarily used in Europe. In the past, the diesel engine lagged behind the gasoline engine in terms of vibration, noise and acceleration but this has been greatly improved upon in recent years.

Hybrid System (Engine)

A hybrid system combines 2 or more sources of power. The term 'hybrid system' is generally used to describe the combination of an electric motor and a gasoline engine, which realizes high fuel efficiency.

Basic Operation of Engine

To operate the engine continuously, the following processes should be performed sequentially and repeatedly.

Classification of Engine

1. By fuel

• Gasoline (petrol) Used for gasoline engines.

• Diesel fuel

Used for diesel engines.

2. By cylinder head (valve mechanism) arrangement

• SOHC (Single over head camshaft)

• DOHC (Double over head camshaft)

3. By cylinder arrangement

• In-line, 4- (or 5-) cylinder

Four (or five) cylinders are arranged in a straight line parallel to the crankshaft.

• V-6 cylinder

Six cylinders are arranged in two planes which form a "V" with the crankshaft at the bottom. Each of these planes is referred to as "bank", and each bank contains three cylinders.

4. By fuel system

• Carburetor

The carburetor makes the gasoline into mist conditon and mixes it to the air. It is rarely used in the current models.

• Fuel injection system (PGM-FI)

Based on the engine speed and intake air pressure, a computer calculates the necessary amount of fuel and let the fuel injector inject the fuel. The computer not only calculate the amount of fuel but also performs the overall control of the engine.

5. By ignition system

• Distributor

This system has one ignition coil, and a distirbutor distributes the high voltage current generated by the ignition coil to each spark plug in the correct timing.

• Direct ignition system

An ignition coil is mounted on each spark plug and the high voltage current directly flows to the spark plug.

6. By engine rotating direction

The direction of turning of the engine (or more specifically, the crankshaft) is not identical for all Honda engines. By convention, engine rotation directions are defined as the direction of crankshaft rotation when viewed from the crankshaft-pulley side.

Basic Construction of Engine

A gasoline engine consists of:

• Valve train
• Power train
• Lubrication system
• Cooling system
• Fuel system
• Intake system
• Exhaust system
• Engine electrical system
• Starting system
• Charging system
• Ignition system

1. Valve train
2. Cylinder head
3. Cylinder block
4. Piston
5. Connecting rod
6. Crankshaft
7. Power train
8. Oil pan
9. Flywheel

Valve Train

Located inside the cylinder head, a valve train contains intake valves which control the intake of the air/fuel mixture into the cylinder, exhaust valves which control the discharge of burned gas from the combustion chamber, and either one or two camshafts. These camshafts are driven by the crankshaft through the timing belt or the timing chain.

Power Train 

he power train comprises the pistons, the connecting rods, and the crankshaft which generate rotary motion within the engine in addition to a flywheel which is used to ensure that this rotation is smooth and stable. All of these components are located within the cylinderblock and oil pan.

Lubrication

System Driven by the crankshaft, the lubrication system’s oil pump provides a supply of lubricating oil to all of the engine’s sliding or rotating sections.

Cooling System

The engine uses water as a coolant so that its temperature may be maintained within a suitable range. The purpose of the cooling system is to circulate this water to all sections of the engine to cool down. Water which has been heated up by the engine flows into radiator and cooled down, then return to the engine.

Fuel System

The fuel system functions to supply fuel to the engine for the purpose of combustion.

Intake System

The air which is required in order that combustion may proceed is supplied by the intake system.

Exhaust System

An exhaust system is fitted so that burnt gasses which are formed during combustion may be discharged to the outside of the engine. However, because these gasses contain compounds which are both poisonous and harmful to the environment, a wide range of different sub-systems are fitted so that as much of these compounds as possible may be removed from the exhaust before it is released to the outside air. Furthermore, a number of other components are contained within this system for the purpose of reducing the levels of exhaust noise.

Engine Electrical System

All of the engine’s electrical components are grouped into one of the following three sections of the overall engine electrical system:

• Starting system: As its name suggests, the purpose of this system is to ensure that the automobile can start correctly.
• Charging system: This system generates electrical power to drive both the electrical components which are used by the engine itself and the various other electrical components which are fitted to the vehicle.
• Ignition system: This system functions to ignite the air/fuel mixture which is contained within the engine’s combustion chambers.