Your car gets you to where you want to go, but do you know how it all works? If you ask me, you have to have a basic understanding of how your car works if you want to look after it. Once you can appreciate and understand those things, you can start to care for your car better.
Table of Contents
The Engine
The majority of engines in modern cars are spark-ignition internal combustion engines. These engines run on both gasoline and air. The air flows into the engine, controlled by the as pedal that you control with your feet. It then makes its way through the labyrinthine engine system. The mixture of air and gasoline is kicked into action by the spark of the ignition. The air and fuel used to be combined by the carburetor, but now a fuel injection system is used.
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Automatic Transmission
The inner workings of an auto transmission are pretty hard to understand. This is by far the most complex and intricate system in your car. Therefore, you probably don’t need to understand how it works in intimate detail. But you can get to know the basics. The automatic transmission sends the power from the engine to the wheels. If you didn’t have this system or it stopped working, your car simply wouldn’t move. They combine mechanical, hydraulic, electrical and, sometimes, computer components to function.
Brakes
Your car’s braking system is one of its most vital components. Without it, you would not be able to control the car properly. The braking system in cars has been developed over a century and is now very safe and reliable. When you put your foot down on the brake pedal, you push a plunger which pushes oil through cylinders to the brake on each wheel. This will then cause the piston to squeeze the brake pads against the disc of an ordinary disc brake. And then, of course, the car will slow.
Battery
Car batteries are known as lead-acid storage batteries. But what does your car even need a battery? First of all, it supplies a current to the car’s starter motor. It also offers all other power needs when the demand is high, and the alternator can’t cope with it. These batteries are very long lasting and resilient, but they do require some basic maintenance. You should clean the battery. And if it does run out, you will have to connect the battery cables to recharge it. This isn’t a difficult process though.
Maintenance Essentials
There are some car maintenance essentials that every driver should know about. First of all, think about the tyres on your car. They need to have the right pressure level, so check them and top them up regularly. You should also check the tread depth while you’re there. You should also check the oil level and add more oil whenever necessary. Do the same thing with the coolant and water too. Make sure you understand all the lights and signs that are on your dashboard too. This can allow you to know exactly what’s wrong when you get a warning light flash as you drive.
