Car Engine Quiz!

AUTO

By: Staff

5 Min Quiz

Image: iStock by Getty Images

About This Quiz

From pistons to push rods, engines dominate the automotive conversation. How well do you know your car engine? Get "inline" to test your car smarts with this challenging quiz!

A car engine is what type of combustion engine?

Diesel and gas turbine engines are both types of internal combustion engines.

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Nikolaus Otto invented the four-stroke combustion cycle in what year?

The four-stroke combustion cycle is also known as the Otto cycle invented over 140 years ago.

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The stroke that lets in air and gasoline is the _____ stroke.

The piston moving down allows air and gasoline for combustion.

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The stroke that makes the explosion more powerful is the ______ stroke.

The piston moving back up compresses the gasoline and air.

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During the combustion stroke the ____________ ignites the gasoline.

The explosion the spark plug ignites causes the piston to move down.

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The _________ connects the piston to the crankshaft.

The connecting rod connects the piston to the crankshaft.

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During the exhaust stroke the exhaust leaves the engine and goes out the __________ .

The exhaust valve opens at the bottom of the piston’s stroke allowing the exhaust to exit.

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The ___________ is the part of the engine that changes the linear motion of the piston into rotational motion.

Rotational motion is the type needed to rotate the wheels of the car.

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The piston moves up and down inside of the _________ .

Most cars have either four, six, or eight cylinders in their engines.

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The three most common arrangement of cylinders in an engine are inline, V, and _______ .

Inline, V, & flat cylinder arrangements each have their own advantages and disadvantages.

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The _______ arrangement of cylinders has all of the cylinders in a line in a single bank.

The simple inline arrangement makes these engines easier to manufacture than V and flat types.

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The spark plug _________ the air and fuel.

Timing the spark plug ignition is critical for the engine to work correctly.

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What moves up and down inside the cylinder?

The piston tightly fits inside the cylinder to seal air and gas and control the combustion process.

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Engines using overhead cams have their camshaft located _______ the valves.

The overhead cam design with the camshaft above the valves is the most common type found in modern engines.

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A timing belt or timing chain links the ______ and the ________ so valves and pistons stay in sync.

Synchronizing the crankshaft and camshaft is important for the valves and pistons to perform their best.

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A camshaft turns at ______ the rate of the crankshaft.

Gearing allows the camshaft to turn once for every two turns of the crankshaft.

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The spark plug needs a _________________ from the ignition system to work.

Creating the spark to ignite the air/fuel mixture requires a precisely timed high-voltage electrical charge.

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Air-cooled engines are typically lighter but run _______ than liquid-cooled engines.

Air-cooled engines run hotter which typically reduces engine life and performance.

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Most cars use an air circulation technique known as ______________ .

Normal aspiration means air only needs to pass through a filter before it enters the cylinders.

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Turbocharged and supercharged engines first do what to the air before mixing it with fuel?

Pressurizing the air helps increase the performance of the engine.

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The pressurization amount used in turbocharging and supercharging engines is called:

Higher pressure means a bigger boost.

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What spins the engine a few revolutions so the combustion process can start?

To start your engine it takes a powerful motor to get things going!

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The fuel system of an engine takes gas from a gas tank and mixes it with what?

Mixing the proper amount of gas and air makes sure your engine is working efficiently.

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The device that mixes gas into air as the air flows into the engine is called the ________ .

If the carburetor doesn’t mix air and gas in the right amount it could be wasting gas or cause the engine to produce less power.

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The exhaust pipe and the muffler are part of what system?

The exhaust system clears the way for the next round of combustion inside the engine.

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The liquid used in the engine’s lubrication system is _______ .

Oil helps lubricate the engine parts like pistons and bearings to help those parts move more easily and reduce wear.

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The purpose of a catalytic converter is to:

An emission control system helps clean harmful chemicals from the exhaust by running the exhaust through the catalytic converter before it exits the tail pipe.

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The battery in most cars used to start the motor which in turn starts the engine is typically what kind?

The powerful 12-volt battery runs the starter motor and then is recharged by the alternator once the engine is running.

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Using bigger cylinders or more cylinders increases displacement which results in:

More displacement means you can burn more gas which means more power.

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Cooling the air entering the cylinders in some supercharged and turbocharged engines is done by the:

The cooler air from an intercooler will expand more than warmer air during combustion.

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How does a dual exhaust system help an engine run more efficiently?

Dual exhaust systems help reduce air resistance of exhaust leaving the engine’s cylinders, this helps avoid back-pressure.

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What part is not used in a diesel engine which is used in a gasoline engine?

Diesel engines use the heat and pressure from compression to ignite the fuel in the cylinder.

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Internal combustion engines need pure, high-quality liquid or gaseous ________ .

Unlike external combustion engines, internal combustion engines can only use specific types of fuel.

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Which fuel source, in general, is more efficient at generating torque.

The higher energy potential in diesel fuel makes diesel engines more efficient at generating torque.

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Engine knock is the engine problem best described by:

Engine knock is the result of improperly ignited fuel interfering with the engine cycles.

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What does octane rating mean?

Using the right type of fuel for your vehicle is important, different engines perform their best with the right octane rating fuel.

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The electronic device that monitors and controls the fuel and air mixture and spark timing is called what?

Engine control modules use a network of sensors to make sure the right amounts of fuel and air are properly ignited.

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Which of the following does NOT describe “horsepower”?

James watt created the measurement of horsepower while watching ponies work at a coal mine.

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Which of the following is not part of a gasoline engine:

The speedometer measures the velocity of the car as a whole, but doesn’t directly measure or control the engine.

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The ______ contains oil and surrounds the crankshaft.

Oil in the pan helps keep the crankshaft lubricated to reduce friction.

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