It is common knowledge that engines are a vital part of every car. However, what many people may not know is that there are various kinds of engines, and the engine you choose should fit your specific needs. At Jimmy Granger Ford of Stonewall, serving Shreveport, LA, we think knowing the basics of these machines will help you decide which one is best for you.
How Do Engines Work
The driving force inside the engine is combustion. Combustion is a controlled, localized explosion that creates energy that is used to power the transmission, which in turn powers the wheels. In that respect, engines can be considered a type of energy factory.
Cylinders
The cylinders are where the actual combustion takes place. The more cylinders you have, the higher your horsepower and torque outputs are likely to be. This is because more cylinders mean more combustion, and more combustion means more energy.
In most engines today, you’ll find 4-8 cylinders, with some engines having as many as 10 or 12. How the cylinders are arranged also determine their designation. When the cylinders are in a line, as seen in few-cylinder engines, they are called inline (i.e. I4). A more compact “V” design is used as the number of cylinders increases (i.e. V6).
Because more combustion requires more fuel, many of the engines with more cylinders burn through gas faster than an engine with fewer cylinders would. Efforts have been made to curtail this effect, with some success found in V6 engines.
At Jimmy Granger Ford of Stonewall, we have anything whatever your engine needs may be, you’ll find them here at our dealership. We look forward to assisting you soon! To order parts, visit our website or call us at 318-545-0173, our parts advisor are always here to answer any questions that you may have.
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