An engine is a complex machine composed of many mechanisms and systems. Whether it is a gasoline engine or a diesel engine; whether it is a four-strokeine or a two-stroke engine; whether it is a single-cylinder engine or a multi-cylinder engine, it must possess the following mechanisms and systems to complete energy conversion, realize the wrking cycle, and ensure long-term continuous normal operation.
Crank connecting rod mechanism

The crank-connecting rod mechanism is the main moving component of an engine that realizes the working cycle and completes energy conversion. It consists of the engine block group, piston-connecting rod group, crankshaft-flywheel group, and other parts. During the power stroke, the piston, under gas pressure, moves linearly in the cylinder, which is converted into the rotary motion of the crankshaft through the connecting rod, and power is output externally from the crankshaft. During the intake, compression, and exhaust strokes, the flywheel releases energy and converts the rotary motion of the crankshaft back into the linear motion of the piston.
Valve train

The function of the valve mechanism is to open and close the intake and exhaust valves at the proper time according to the operating sequence and cycle of the engine, allowing the combustible mixture or air to enter the cylinders and the exhaust gases to be expelled from the cylinders, thus completing the gas exchange process. Most valve mechanisms adopt the overhead valve type, which generally consists of the valve group, the valve transmission group, and the valve drive group.
Fuel supply system

PThe function of the gasoline engine fuel supply system is to prepare a mixture of fuel and air with a specific quantity and concentration according to the engine’s requirements, supply it to the cylinders, and expel the exhaust gas after combustion from the cylinders into the atmosphere. The function of the diesel engine fuel supply system is to supply diesel fuel and air to the cylinders separately, form a combustible mixture in the combustion chamber and burn it, and finally discharge the exhaust gas after combustion.
Lubrication system

The function of the lubrication system is to deliver a specified amount of clean lubricating oil to the surfaces of relatively moving parts, so as to achieve liquid friction, reduce frictional resistance, and alleviate the wear of mechanical components. It also cleans and cools the surfaces of the parts. The lubrication system usually consists of lubricating oil passages, an oil pump, an oil filter, and several valves.
Cooling system

The function of the cooling system is to promptly dissipate part of the heat absorbed by heated components, ensuring the engine operates at the most suitable temperature. The cooling system of a water-cooled engine usually consists of a water jacket, water pump, fan, radiator, thermostat, and other parts.
Ignition system

In a gasoline engine, the combustible mixture in the cylinder is ignited by an electric spark. For this purpose, a spark plug is installed on the cylinder head of the gasoline engine, with the tip of the spark plug extending into the combustion chamber. All the equipment that can generate an electric spark between the electrodes of the spark plug at the proper time is called the ignition system. The ignition system usually consists of a storage battery, a generator, a distributor, an ignition coil, spark plugs, and other components.
Starting system

A gasoline engine consists of the above two mechanisms and five systems, namely the crank-connecting rod mechanism, the valve mechanism, the fuel supply system, the lubrication system, the cooling system, the ignition system, and the starting system. A diesel engine consists of the above two mechanisms and four systems, namely the crank-connecting rod mechanism, the valve mechanism, the fuel supply system, the lubrication system, the cooling system, and the starting system. Diesel engines are compression-ignition engines and do not require an ignition system.
- By fuel used: gasoline engines, diesel engines, liquefied petroleum gas engines, biogas engines, etc.
- By number of strokes per cycle: two-stroke engines, four-stroke engines.
- By number of cylinders: single-cylinder engines, multi-cylinder engines.
- By cooling method: water-cooled engines, air-cooled engines.
- By ignition method: spark-ignition engines, compression-ignition engines.
- By rotational speed: high-speed engines, low-speed engines.
- By cylinder arrangement: vertical engines, horizontal engines, V-type engines, opposed engines, etc.
To facilitate the production management and application of internal combustion engines, China revised and promulgated a national standard (GB725-82) for the naming and model coding methods of internal combustion engines in 1982. The main contents of this standard are as follows:
- The product names of internal combustion engines are all named according to the fuel they use.
- The model numbers of internal combustion engines are composed of Arabic numerals and Chinese Pinyin letters.
- The model number of an internal combustion engine consists of the following four parts: the first section, the middle section, the rear section, and the tail section.
Common methods for identifying bearings
It is no exaggeration to call bearings the “joints” of a car. In a vehicle, not only its four “legs”—the wheels—require bearings, but virtually every rotating mechanical component cannot do without them. They are an extremely inconspicuous yet vital part of the transmission system. Due to their heavy workload, they also experience relatively high wear and tear, making bearing replacement a common task in auto repair. Walking through auto parts markets, you will find countless shops selling bearings of various brands. However, many car owners have wondered: how good is the quality of these bearings, and are they really genuine original equipment manufacturer (OEM) products as labeled on the packaging? Below are several common methods to identify the quality of bearings:
Whether the outer packaging is clear: Under normal circumstances, genuine brands have their own professional designers to create the outer packaging and arrange for factories with qualified production conditions to manufacture it. Therefore, the packaging is very clear and unambiguous in terms of both lines and color blocks. (Some imported brand accessory packaging also features unique designs specifically to protect their intellectual property rights, which will be introduced in detail in subsequent content.)
Clarity of the stamped characters: Brand names, part numbers and other markings are usually stamped on the bearing body. The characters are very small, but genuine products mostly adopt steel stamping technology, with the characters pressed before heat treatment. As a result, the characters are small yet deeply recessed and very clear. By contrast, the characters on counterfeit products are blurry. Due to crude stamping techniques, the characters sit superficially on the surface, and some can even be easily wiped off by hand.
Check for abnormal noise: Hold the inner race of the bearing with your left hand and rotate the outer race with your right hand to listen for any abnormal noise. Most counterfeit products are manufactured under poor conditions using a fully manual workshop process, which inevitably introduces impurities such as sand into the bearing body, resulting in abnormal noise during rotation. This is the most significant difference from genuine branded products that strictly adhere to production standards and use automated machinery.
There are many small components that can trigger the engine warning light, as the engine warning is a relatively broad indicator. It cannot confirm an engine problem on its own; it may even indicate a transmission issue. Of course, the points mentioned above are very straightforward. They are direct causes of the engine warning and relatively easy to understand. At the very least, car owners can follow when a mechanic explains the reasons why the engine light has come on
When the car owner finds scars or damage on the top of the spark plug, or melting and ablation on the electrodes, it indicates that the spark plug has been damaged and should be replaced at this time. light has come on
Sediments sometimes adhere to the top of the spark plug insulator and between the electrodes.
ards of different countries.





