How a Car Engine Works

[00:00] I'm Jake O'Neal, creator of Animagraffs. 

[00:07] Let's start at a single piston, the powerhouse 

[00:14] The four stroke cycle

[00:17] When a piston travels to the end of its 

[00:24] Car engines use a four stroke 

[00:30] First, intake. The piston descends, sucking 

[00:36] through the intake port, 

[00:42] Next, compression. With all valves 

[00:48] compressing the fuel and air mixture 

[00:54] Then, the power stroke. An electrical spark 

[01:02] and the resulting combustion forces the 

[01:07] A connecting rod transfers 

[01:12] Finally, exhaust. The piston comes back up,  

[01:17] pushing the spent mixture out through 

[01:23] Connecting multiple pistons

[01:26] For smooth power delivery, pistons take turns 

[01:32] is 1-3-4-2. Camshafts with specially shaped 

[01:45] Cam gears and a timing belt or chain 

[01:51] and it all spins together.

[01:56] The crankshaft translates 

[02:00] It has counterweights to balance against the 

[02:07] This is what RPM means -- we're counting the 

[02:16] The engine block holds the crankshaft 

[02:21] head holds valves, ports, cams, etc.

[02:28] crankshaft for connection to a transmission. It's 

[02:36] This engine has four cylinders 

[02:40] But there are many other possible configurations, 

[02:46] in a V shape. Or eight. Despite different design 

[02:55] Now let's look at the other systems 

[03:03] Air intake

[03:10] and then into the intake manifold where 

[03:15] into individual cylinders through intake ports.

[03:25] Fuel

[03:36] through a fuel filter, to the engine 

[03:39] where fuel injectors emit a precisely 

[03:54] Cooling

[03:58] and require a cooling system. Coolant channels 

[04:05] heads carry a special liquid called "anti-freeze" 

[04:12] (It's called anti-freeze because 

[04:18] After cooling hot engine parts, coolant 

[04:23] The radiator has a network of small tubes and 

[04:30] air (pulled in by the radiator fan) flows by the 

[04:44] A water pump keeps the coolant system 

[04:51] The thermostat regulates coolant 

[04:55] through the engine or to the 

[05:02] Electrical 

[05:05] The spark plug delivers the electrical spark 

[05:11] The metal core is insulated from the 

[05:15] The spark jumps between these conductive surfaces.

[05:27] spark plugs as directed by the ECM (engine 

[05:36] directs many core engine functions like spark 

[05:45] The alternator works like a power generator, 

[05:50] electricity to charge the battery or run other 

[05:59] The battery provides power to 

[06:07] Oil

[06:11] clean, prevent corrosion, improve sealing, and 

[06:16] parts. Rings around the top of the piston head 

[06:25] otherwise allowing the cylinder to be lubricated.

[06:30] engine block and cylinder head that 

[06:38] Oil flows through the engine and back 

[06:41] The oil pump keeps oil properly 

[06:45] Oil rests in the oil pan when not in circulation.

[07:04] Exhaust 

[07:10] The exhaust manifold collects gases 

[07:17] Exhaust flows through the catalytic converter, 

[07:23] And then out through a muffler 

[07:29] Full model

[07:31] here's the full functioning engine with