What is a car's cooling fan?
The cooling fan is a vital part of a car’s cooling system. It is sited just in front of the car’s radiator, and is electrically powered.
Engines Tips and Tutorials Archive
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What is a car's throttle body
What is a throttle body?
A throttle body is only fitted to petrol (gasoline) cars and comprises a valve that is used to control the amount of air entering an engine, and therefore the amount of fuel admitted from the carburettor or by the injectors...
What exactly is an electric car?
Electric autos have been around since the 1880s in small numbers, but it was only in the 2000s that advances in battery technology boosted their range - and their popularity.
What is a car's oil pump?
A car’s oil pump is needed to make sure the engine oil reaches all moving parts that require lubrication during an engine’s operation.
What is a hydrogen fuel cell car
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles use liquid hydrogen that is converted onboard to generate electricity. This is then used to power electric motors, which drive the wheels.
What is an expansion tank and what does it do?
An expansion tank is one part of a complex overall car cooling system that’s designed to keep the engine operating at exactly the right temperature. In the sealed cooling system that’s present on most cars, it is partially filled with air. The air in the expansion tank provides a ‘cushioning’...
What is a hybrid car?
A hybrid car uses two forms energy - petrol or diesel and electricity - for propulsion in an effort to keep CO2 emissions to a minimum and maximise fuel economy.
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Turbo vs non-turbo: what is the difference
A turbocharger is an easy way to get a significant amount of extra power out of an engine. It is, in essence, two fans connected by a rod, all encased in a housing. One of these fans sits in the airflow of the engine’s exhaust, while the other sits in the engine’s air intake.
What is a timing chain and what does it do in your car’s engine
An engine’s timing chain keeps the movement of the components in the top half of an engine in synchronisation with those in the bottom half.
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2 vs 3 vs 4 cylinder engines: what is the difference
Whether you choose a car with a two-cylinder engine, three-cylinder engine or four-cylinder engine depends largely on what you need your car to do.