Our cars are fine pieces of precision engineering, technology and design. Every car has something like 15,000 individual parts and working units.
The basic principles have remained the same since its advent in the 1870s. It has an internal combustion engine, four rubber wheels and a protective body. To provide the energy required to make the car move, the engine needs either petrol or diesel, air and electric current. The engine temperature is usually kept relatively low by water or air. The major moving parts of the engine are the pistons, these move up and down very quickly inside cylinders. To reduce engine wear and prevent seizure the pistons are lubricated by oil. The clutch connects the engine to the gearbox by means of plates and the drive shafts are arranged to suit whether the car is front or rear wheel drive. Of course, there have been many engineering improvements - as well as reading the articles in this category, the manufacturer's handbook will provide excellent reference material. |
