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The basic components of an internal-combustion
engine are the
engine block, cylinder head, cylinders, pistons,
valves, crankshaft, and camshaft. The lower part of the
engine, called the
engine block, houses the cylinders, pistons, and crankshaft.
Fuel vapor enters and exhaust gases leave the combustion chamber through
openings in the cylinder head controlled by
valves. The typical
engine valve is a metal shaft with a disk at one end fitted to block
the opening. The other end of the shaft is mechanically linked to a
camshaft, a round rod with odd-shaped lobes located inside the
engine block or in the cylinder head. Inlet
valves open to allow fuel to enter the combustion chambers. Outlet
valves open to let exhaust gases out.
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