Cars are made up of thousands of parts, with an average of 30,000 parts, give or take a few thousand depending on the model. An engine compartment is made up of parts that you can see as well as parts within parts that are concealed, including everything from tiny bolts and wires to an engine block or radiator. An internal combustion engine consists of individual parts that perform specific actions that all work in concert, so your car or truck moves when you step on the gas!
The engine is the heart of your car, a complex, multi-faceted machine built to convert heat from burning fuel into the force that drives the wheels. It consists of two basic parts. One, the heavier, lower section is the cylinder block, a casing for the engine's main moving parts. And two, the cylinder head, a detachable upper cover. An engine assembly is made up of many parts, including the engine block or cylinder block, combustion chamber, cylinder head, head gaskets, pistons and rings, crankshaft, camshaft, timing chain, valve train, valves, rocker arms, connecting rods/lifters, fuel injectors, and spark plugs.
When you turn the ignition on, the starter motor engages and turns the engine over, allowing everything else to happen. Connected to the car’s battery, the starter engages the engine’s flywheel, delivering power and getting the engine rotating so it sucks air and fuel into the cylinders to start the combustion process. Essentially a magnetic and electric motor, parts of the starter motor include the armature, commutator, brushes, solenoid, plunger, lever fork, pinion, and field coils.
The starter solenoid is mounted right on the starter motor and is a key element of the starter. The solenoid contains two coils of wire that are wrapped around a moveable core, and it receives both large electrical currents from the car’s battery and smaller electrical currents from the ignition system when the car is turned on and relays those electrical currents to the starter motor.
Your engine provides only mechanical energy, it does not generate electricity. The alternator is a type of electric generator that converts mechanical energy into electricity to power all the electrical accessories in your car, as well as charging the battery. The charging system consists of the car battery, alternator, and voltage regulator working together to supply alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) to keep your car’s systems running properly.
The voltage regulator is in charge of keeping the right amount of electrical power flowing consistently to various parts of your car. It controls the voltage produced by the alternator, ensuring that the input voltage to electrical systems is not too great to cause electrical overload.
The first purpose of an auto battery is to provide power for starting your car. The two most common auto batteries for the internal combustion engine are standard wet-cell batteries (flooded) and absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries, also called dry-cell batteries. Both use lead-acid technology to turn chemical energy into electricity through the usage of cells, which contain and store the energy until needed. Wet-cell batteries require regular topping off with distilled water while AGM batteries are sealed, no maintenance required. Batteries for hybrid or electric cars include lithium-ion batteries or hybrid battery packs that include an auxiliary lead-acid battery as secondary storage.
Battery trays are used to keep a car’s battery and /or battery packs securely in place, so they don’t get jostled around and damaged. Battery trays are constructed from steel, aluminum, or plastic. Mounting bolts hold the tray in place and may have adjustable straps to keep the battery anchored in the tray. It’s essential to get the right battery size and terminals placement so it mounts securely in the tray and the battery cables reach and fit correctly.
The ignition coil, which is basically a small transformer, transforms the low 12 volts from the car battery into the high voltages necessary for the spark plugs to make the spark that ignites the fuel mixture. The ignition coil works with the distributor which routes the electricity from the coil to the spark plugs.
A distributor is located above or to the side of an engine and its main function is to route high-voltage electricity from the ignition coil to each spark plug in the proper firing sequence to ignite the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. Spark plug wires in the distributor cap deliver the current to the individual spark plugs.
An automotive relay is an electronically controlled switch in your car’s electrical system used to turn on and off different components like the horn, headlights, fuel pump, air conditioning, and windshield wipers. When you turn on something in your car that requires a lot of electrical current, that current passes through the electrical relay to power the accessory.
Inverters and converters are used for the conversion of AC power into DC power and vice-versa and This is important because DC power and AC power aren't interchangeable. The input power to the converter can be either AC (alternating current) or DC (direct current) and the converter can give either AC power or DC power as output. Inverters, however, are designed to convert DC current into AC current exclusively. Inverters utilize the direct current from your car's battery (DC) power source and convert it to an AC power source so you can plug in cell phones, laptops, tablets, or other small portable devices.
The Engine Control Module, also called the Powertrain Control Module or PCM, controls multiple systems of an internal combustion engine in a single unit, including fuel mixture, ignition timing, variable cam timing, and emissions control. Motor control modules modify power input to a device's motor, regulating the motor's torque and speed, to reach a desired output level.
Also called a mass air flow sensor (MAF), an air flow meter is responsible for measuring the amount of oxygen entering the engine to calculate the correct amount of fuel needed for an optimal air-fuel ratio. A key component of the electronic fuel injection system, the MAF is located between the air filter and the engine’s intake manifold.
The air cleaner assembly consists of an air filter and an air filter housing. It is usually found above or next to the carburetor or throttle body, and its purpose is to clean the air that enters your engine before combustion. This helps by filtering dirt and other particles from the air to prevent clogging the air intake system and potentially damaging your car's engine.
The cylinder head is mounted on top of the engine housing and seals the top of the combustion chamber with a tight, leak-proof cylinder-head gasket between the engine block and the cylinder head. Above each cylinder, the cylinder head contains a combustion chamber as well as threaded holes for spark plugs, valve guides, valve seats, ports, and coolant jackets. It dissipates the heat from the combustion process to enhance engine performance.
Intercoolers are designed to reduce fuel consumption while increasing engine power and efficiency. Also called charge air cooler, diesel intercooler, aftercooler, and turbo cooler, they reduce the temperature of the inlet gas to optimize combustion since cooler air holds more oxygen. The intercooler is behind the grille at the front of the car and standard for newer vehicles with forced induction while many old-school turbo cars lack an intercooler.
Turbochargers and superchargers are forced induction systems that help create an extra boost of engine power. They use compressors to push pressurized intake air into the engine allowing extra oxygen to reach the engine to enhance its power. The main components of a turbocharger include a turbine, compressor, and center housing hub rotating assembly.
Car horns are loud for a reason. They are intended as a safety feature to warn other drivers or pedestrians of potential danger. Car horns consist of the horn button, a flexible metal diaphragm, an electromagnet, a switch, a relay, a horn, and a housing. Powered by electrical current, the horn uses more power than headlights or power seats, second in consumption only to the starter.
Within an engine there are hundreds of important parts that contribute to its proper function, mainly in supportive roles that assist the major engine parts in doing their jobs. Adapters, supports, connectors, and more are necessary for faultless engine performance. Here is a list of miscellaneous engine parts you can’t do without: radiator seal, radiator mount bracket, tank adapter, radiator shutter assembly, front upper and lower fuel tank straps, AC charging adapter, HVAC pressure switch, ignition switch bezel, clutch bell crank pivot ball, throttle cable and brackets, crankshaft pulley, radiator mount cushions, radiator cap, speedometer cable, choke cable and throttle cable with knob, ignition lock guard, coolant recovery jar cap, engine coolant pipe, engine oil dipstick tube, ignition coil mounting bracket, and air conditioning hoses.
·
The engine bracket securely holds the engine in the car. It is bolted to the body or frame and serves to keep the engine in place as well as the transmission that is bolted to the engine.
·
Also called motor mounts, engine mounts help to secure the engine in place as well as absorb vibration and shock to ensure no movement of the engine or the attached transmission. Engine mounts are made of rubber to prevent metal-to-metal contact and are connected to the car body and the engine/transmission itself.
·
Plastic engine covers serve several purposes beyond covering up engine parts for a cleaner look under the hood. Plastic is a good sound insulator, so engine covers reduce engine noises, including rattling wires, hoses, and lines that the covers also hold in check. The multitude of electronic components in modern cars are protected from dust and water which can wreak havoc on exposed systems. Some engine covers have heat shields incorporated in them that further protects engine parts.
·
The harmonic balancer is bolted to the crankshaft and is also known as the crankshaft damper. A round disk made of rubber and metal, it acts as a shock absorber against all the intense vibrations when the engine’s cylinders fire. The harmonic balancer protects the engine by dampening vibrations and the back and forth twisting of the crankshaft.
·
The oil pan, sump, oil tray, or oil reservoir functions as a container for engine oil storage, cooling, and ventilation. The lower section of the crankcase, the oil pan helps to reduce engine friction and heat by keeping engine components lubricated, allowing for easy operation.
Whenever you need replacement engine parts or even an entire engine assembly, LKQ Online offers the best prices and selection for any part under the hood. We have a nationwide inventory of genuine OEM used auto parts as well as new aftermarket replacement car and truck parts to give you the buying power and value you need. Each engine compartment part we offer is backed by our industry-leading warranty so you can have complete confidence in your purchase.