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Main Bearings |
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The main bearing secure the crankshaft in its place. The largest number of main
bearings a crankshaft can have is one more than the number of cylinders, but it
can have one less bearing than the number of cylinders. Not only do the
bearings support the crankshaft, but one bearing must control the
forward-backward movement of the crankshaft. This bearing rubs against a ground
surface of the main journal, and is called the "thrust bearing."
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Manifold to Exhaust Pipe Gaskets |
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There are several types of gaskets that connect the exhaust pipe to the
manifold. One is a flat surface gasket. Another type uses a ball and socket
with springs to maintain pressure. This type allows some flexibility without
breakage of the seal or the manifold. A third type is the full ball connector
type, which also allows a little flexibility. |
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Muffler |
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The muffler serves to muffle the noise coming out of the engine. Exhaust gases
leave the engine under extremely high pressure. If these gases escaped directly
from the engine the noise would be tremendous. Therefore, the exhaust manifold
sends the gases to a muffler where they go through metal plates, or tubes, with
a series of holes. The pressure of the gases is reduced when they pass through
the muffler, so they go out of the tail pipe quietly. Made of metal, the
muffler is located underneath the body of the car. It is connected between the
tail pipe and the catalytic converter. There are two types of muffler designs.
While one type uses several baffled chambers to reduce noise, the other sends
the gases straight through perforated pipe wrapped in metal or fiberglass. This
type of muffler is designed for the purpose of reducing backpressure and,
consequently, makes slightly more noise. |
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Nuts and Bolts |
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Nuts are hexagon shaped metal objects with a threaded hole through them so that
they can be attached to bolts. Bolts are cylindrical objects with groves on the
outside, which enable them to be screwed into nuts. A bolt without an end is
classified as a ‘lug’ or ‘stud’. There are many grades of nuts and bolts.
Grades depend on the quality of the materials and the tolerances observed
during the manufacture of the nuts and bolts. Nuts and bolts are often
separated by washers. Washers have many shapes and sizes. They give the nut and
the bolt a firm hardened surface for bedding against. The parts that you put
together with nuts and bolts are usually not as strong as the nuts and bolts
themselves. The washers allow the nuts and bolts to be fully tightened down,
providing a wider area to spread out the force of the tightening and they keep
the nuts and bolts from digging into the material when they are tightened. |
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Oil Filler Cap |
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The oil filler cap is a plastic or metal cap that covers an opening into the
valve cover. It allows you to add oil when the dipstick indicates that you need
it. Some cars have the crankcase vented through the filler cap. Oil which is
added through the filler passes down through openings in the head into the oil
sump at the bottom of the engine. |
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Oil Gauge |
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The Oil Gauge lets you know the pressure in the oil pump; and is a direct
indicator of the condition of your engine. If the oil gauge gives very low
readings, it means that your oil pressure has dropped. The engine would soon
grind to a halt if the oil is not forced into the nooks and crannies that need
to be oiled. |
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Overhead Valve (OHV) |
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In an overhead valve (OHV) engine, the valves are mounted in the cylinder head,
above the combustion chamber. Usually this type of engine has the camshaft
mounted in the cylinder block, and the valves are opened and closed by push
rods. |
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