Car Piston

A piston is located in the center of the engine. It mixes fuel and ignites it by moving up and down. This up and down movement is caused by the crankshaft which spins really fast with groves were the pistons shafts connect. The piston head is the piece that effects the fuel ignition.

How does a Car Engine Piston Work??

The Heart

The Car Tuning Central Websites describes a car piston as the “Heart” of an automobile motor. There is no more apt metaphor for the central role that pistons play in powering a car by means of its pumping motion with the cylinders that are bored in the engine block.

Four-Part Harmony

Both car tuning central and garage Library define four parts to the process that moves the piston in the pumping motion that ultimately puts a car in motion. These generally are described as fuel/air intake, compression, combustion and exhaust. Ordinarily, more and larger pistons in an engine would translate into a faster and more powerful car. However, if a car is poorly tuned it could be outrun.

Fuel/Air Intake

As the piston makes its way toward the high point of its motion, a mixture of fuel and air is injected into the cylinder through a carburetor or a fuel injection system. A proper mix of fuel with air enables the piston to function optimally

Compression

As the piston nears the top of it's up-and-down motion, it compresses the fuel and air that has been injected into the cylinder. Compression increases the explosiveness of a combustible material.