Just because we learned about cylinders, pistons and horsepower doesn’t mean we know everything there is to know about cars. There are plenty of other confusing terms and now we will examine a few more.
If you have heard the term “dual over-head cams” then you probably had little idea what it actually meant. Remember, how pistons suck air into the engine to use for combustion. More specifically, each cylinder has valves that open and close to let air and to let exhaust out. Cams are what they call the lobes that press on the valves to open and close them. A higher performance engine will often have four valves per cylinder which would use two cams per cylinder, hence the “dual” part. Overhead simply means the position of the cams is over the engine. Why does this matter? Overhead cams are much more efficient and dual cams produce more power and energy then single cams. For your average car this will be a non-issue, but if you want bragging rights with your muscle car, it can make a difference. At used cars Denver you will find a car you will love.
One good thing about spark plugs is that you can change them yourself. While small, and with the right equipment, easy to change, they do play an important role in automobile engines. Remember, a combustion engine works on the explosion (combustion) of gasoline to create energy. The spark plug provides the spark that ignites the fuel and air.
To put it all together, here is what happens. A spark plug sits at the top of the cylinder head. The piston travels down the cylinder to draw in fuel and air. The piston rises back up, compressing the mixture of fuel and air together. When the piston and mixture is at its height, the spark plug creates a spark that ignites it all. This creates energy that pushes the piston back down. The pistons are attached to a crankshaft, which takes that energy and converts it in circular motion which will ultimately turn the wheels.
Now it is time to learn about supercharged and turbocharged. These two terms are synonymous with street racing and sports cars everywhere. The first and more common type is turbocharging. The very simple definition is that the car has a turbine, powered by exhaust, that compresses the air that is getting sucked into the cylinders, thus creating more room. More room means more fuel and air can be added which creates more energy during combustion. It is popular because it is relatively light weight, more affordable and create 30%-40% more energy. Check out Detroit used cars for a great deal you will love.
Supercharges work with the same ends but by a different means. They are driven mechanically by belt or chain drive from the crankshaft. The crankshaft powers the compressor, which compresses the air in the cylinders which allows for more and air and fuel. Superchargers can increase power by 45%, give or take a little.
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