Can You Name More Than 11 of These Engine Parts?

By: Diana Spasic
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Can You Name More Than 11 of These Engine Parts?
Image: seksan Mongkhonkhamsao/Moment/Getty Images

About This Quiz

Can you pinpoint the most important parts of your vehicle on an auto-parts diagram? How about the heart of your car, its engine – could you name its pieces it and how the main parts operate?

When your vehicle has a problem, it's always best to send it on a vacation to the service center. However, knowing a thing or two about your car, especially about what's under its hood, may help tremendously.

Many auto enthusiasts know their car engines like the back of their hands, but there also are many drivers without much interest in learning the detailed ways their vehicle operates. It’s not only good for your general knowledge to know the ins and outs of your car’s engine, but it also may help you find a solution more quickly if a problem occurs. Knowing your way around a car engine may save you a lot of time and money. After all, it's much harder to fool a person into unnecessary maintenance costs if they understand the inner workings of their machine.

So, let’s see how familiar you are with various engine parts. Do you know what differentiates the piston from the spark plug? Can you recognize the wastegate? Take this quiz to find out if you can name at least 11 of these engine parts!

Connecting rod
fiatnutz via youtube
It may look plain, but it forms an important mechanism. Can you name this engine part?
Air filter
Cross-bolted bearing
Connecting rod
Radiator
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The connecting rod connects the piston to the crank or crankshaft. It converts reciprocating motion into rotating motion.

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Gudgeon pin
MrCuervoRacing via youtube
This part operates in some of the engine's highest temperatures. Can you name it?
Gudgeon pin
Exhaust system
Rocker arm
Ignition coil
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The gudgeon pin is also called the wrist pin or the piston pin. It connects the piston to the connecting rod and also provides a bearing for the connecting rod when the piston moves.

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Connecting rod cap
vidsharing10101 via youtube
This part is often constructed with another key engine component. What is it called?
Valvetrain
Connecting rod cap
Engine block
Water pumps
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The connecting rod cap is used to clamp around the crankshaft and the big-end bearing. Connecting rods and matching rod caps are sometimes constructed together as one piece.

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Oil filter
Douglas Sacha / Moment / Getty Images
How about this important engine part — can you name it?
Starter ring gear
Oil pump
Spark plug
Oil filter
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Automobile engines of the past didn’t use oil filters, which is why very frequent oil changes were required. The first automotive oil filter was invented in 1923.

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Unit injector
FrankHurtAuto via youtube
Do you recognize this clever piece of engineering?
Unit injector
Thermo switch
Alternator
Mass flow sensor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The unit injector (UI) is an integrated direct fuel-injection system for diesel engines. It operates under high pressure, combining the injection pump and the injection nozzle in a single component.

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Tensioner
Gates Auto Aftermarket via youtube
Can you name this small — but important — engine part?
Thermostat
Tensioner
Cooling fan
Wastegate
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Every belt-driven engine has a timing belt, a tensioner and several pulleys. The tensioners ensure the correct amount of tension is applied to the belt.

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EGR Valve
MrRangerZr1 via youtube
What is this system called?
Screamer pipe
Connecting rod bearings
Intercooler
EGR Valve
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) recirculates a portion of an engine’s exhaust gas back to the engine cylinders in internal combustion engines.

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Cooling fan
EXPERIENCE APNA via youtube
This one's name speaks for itself. Do you know what it’s called?
Injection pump
Cooling fan
Crankshaft
Intake manifold
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The cooling fan allows the engine to maintain constant temperature. Front-wheel drive cars have electric fans while rear-wheel drive cars usually have engine-driven cooling fans.

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Oil pressure switch
donlyl3 via youtube
This part activates an alarm in the driver dashboard. What is it called?
Oil-pressure switch
Main crankshaft bearings
Piston rings
Poppet valve
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Depending on the engine construction, the oil pressure switch is usually located in one of these three locations: the cylinder block of the engine, the oil filter housing or the engine head.

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Thermostat
4DIYers via youtube
This part is only about 2 inches in diameter. Can you name it?
Cylinder head
Thermostat
Carburetor
Piston
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The thermostat is a small device found in every liquid-cooled car engine. Its role is to block the coolant flow from reaching the radiator until the engine has warmed up.

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Catalytic converter
The Auto Rules via youtube
This makes sure no poison enters the engine. What is it called?
Vacuum modulator
Intake manifold
Catalytic converter
Rocker arm
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A catalytic converter converts toxic gasses and pollutants in exhaust gas from internal combustion engines into harmless compounds by using a catalyst.

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Mass flow sensor
proclaimliberty2000 via youtube
Do you know what this interesting engine part is called?
Cylinder head
Mass-flow sensor
Connecting rod bearings
Wastegate
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A mass-flow sensor determines the mass-flow rate of air that enters a fuel-injected internal combustion engine. This information is then used by the ECU to deliver the optimal fuel mass to the engine.

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Vacuum modulator
Mr10Alpine via youtube
This device is an essential part of many car engines. What is it called?
Injection pump
Vacuum modulator
Exhaust system
Connecting rod
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Some cars use a vacuum modulator to apply pressure to the throttle valve. It senses when the manifold pressure increases (when the engine is under a great load).

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Alternator
JUST GO MAKE IT via youtube
This part wasn’t used on automobiles until the ‘60s. Can you name it?
Alternator
Valvetrain
Intercooler
Screamer pipe
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Modern automobiles use alternators to charge the battery and power the electrical system while the engine is running.

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Piston
JazzIRT/E+/Getty Images
This part is a real survivor. Can you name it?
Gudgeon pin
Oil filter
Piston
Engine block
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A piston survives thousands of mini explosions each time you use your car. It has a top and a bottom, and the top is where the explosions happen.

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Thermo switch
Anoushka Hanham via youtube
What about this part, do you know its name?
Cooling fan
Thermo switch
Unit injector
Injection pump
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The thermo switch is a temperature sensor. The device is usually located close to the radiator, and its role is to switch on the fan as soon as the engine reaches a set temperature.

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Carburetor
Uberprutser via Wiki Commons
This part is still common on some older car engines. What is it called?
Carburetor
Rod cap
Main crankshaft bearings
Poppet valve
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A carburetor mixes air and fuel for internal combustion engines into the optimal ratio for creating combustion. The first carburetor was invented in 1826 by Samuel Morey.

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Spark plug
Jorge Villalba/E+/Getty Images
What is this small but significant engine part called?
EGR valve
Catalytic converter
Spark plug
Air filter
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bosch's engineer Gottlob Honold developed the first commercially viable high-voltage spark plug as part of a magneto-based ignition system in 1902.

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Cylinder head
Игоревич via Wiki Commons
What is this massive engine part called?
Crankshaft
Cylinder head
Tensioners
Catalytic converter
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The cylinder head is placed above the cylinders on top of the cylinder block. Its job is to close the top of the cylinder and form a combustion chamber.

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Oil pump
Squidy P via youtube
Can you name this piece of sophisticated machinery?
Oil pump
Connecting rod
Unit injector
Mass-flow sensor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The purpose of the oil pump in internal combustion engines is to lubricate the bearings and allow the use of higher-capacity fluid bearings. It also has a significant part in engine cooling.

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Poppet valve
Saril Raghu via youtube
Can you name this twisted little thing?
Cross-bolted bearing
Crankshaft
EGR valve
Poppet valve
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A poppet valve consists of a hole, in most cases round or oval, and a tapered plug usually in a disk shape on the end of the shaft also called valve stream.

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Starter ring gear
realfixesrealfast via youtube
This engine part should be easy to name. Can you do it?
Oil-pressure switch
Starter ring gear
Oil filter
Thermostat
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A starter ring gear is sometimes called a ring gear or a starter ring. It’s a medium carbon steel ring that’s fitted on the periphery of the flexplate or flywheel.

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Piston Rings
donyboy73 via youtube
The invention of this part changed the way engines operate. What is it called?
Piston rings
Mass flow sensor
Cooling fan
Carburetor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The first split piston ring was invented by John Ramsbottom in 1854. The use of piston rings dramatically reduced the frictional resistance, piston mass and system leakage.

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Water pump
Peter Finn via youtube
You have probably seen one of these under your hood. What is it called?
Valvetrain
Injection pump
Water pump
Exhaust system
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The role of the water pump is to ensure the coolant keeps moving through the engine block, radiator and hoses, making sure optimum operating temperature is maintained.

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Main crankshaft bearings
TechTrixInfo via youtube
Can you name these engine parts?
Gudgeon pin
Vacuum modulator
Thermo switch
Main crankshaft bearings
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Main crankshaft bearings are mounted in the crankcase. A main bearing consists of two parts: upper and lower.

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Engine block
How Its Made via youtube
What is this structure called?
Engine block
Ignition coil
Catalytic converter
Oil filter
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An engine block is also commonly called cylinder block. It’s a structure in which the cylinders are placed in an internal combustion engine. Modern engine blocks usually include several other elements, too.

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Intake manifold
Peter Finn via youtube
This pipe has a very particular name. What is it?
Wastegate
Intake manifold
Cylinder head
Thermostat
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The intake manifold is a pipe connected to the intake valves. Its role is to bring air or air-fuel mixture into the combustion chamber.

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Valvetrain
EmpEntTV via youtube
Can you name this mechanical system?
Thermo switch
Spark plug
Valvetrain
Tensioners
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Valvetrains (or valve trains) are produced in several variations that are differentiated by the location of the camshaft within the engine.

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Crankshaft
Youtube via Peter Finn
What is this strange-looking part called?
Piston
Crankshaft
Vacuum modulator
Rocker arm
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The crankshaft is a mechanical part of a car engine that converts reciprocating motion into rotational motion and vice versa.

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Ignition coil
CarsNToys via youtube
This little part does a MASSIVE job. Can you name it?
Intercooler
Carburetor
Starter ring gear
Ignition coil
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The role of the ignition coil is to generate a very high voltage from a car’s 12-volt battery – and to send it to each sparkplug, igniting the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber.

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Injection pump
western truck and tractor repair via youtube
What is this massive engine part called?
Injection pump
Screamer pipe
Starter ring gear
Rod cap
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An injection pump is a very complex and sophisticated piece of engineering. It pumps diesel fuel into the cylinders of a diesel engine.

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Rocker arm
Prestige Motorsports Inc via youtube
What about this clever part, can you name it?
Thermo switch
Connecting rod bearings
Rocker arm
Water pumps
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The rocker arms are placed in the drive train of the internal combustion engine. Their function is to assist the pushrod in the opening and closing of the exhaust valve and intake valve.

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Intercooler
Luke Andersen via youtube
What is this engine part called?
Oil filter
Piston
Cylinder head
Intercooler
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Intercoolers reduce the induction air heat created by the supercharger and promote more thorough combustion by increasing the efficiency of the induction system.

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Exhaust system
HumbleMechanic via youtube
Does this part look familiar? Can you name it?
EGR Valve
Exhaust system
Mass flow sensor
Oil pump
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An exhaust system consists of pipes that guide reaction exhaust gases away from a controlled combustion inside an internal combustion engine. Depending on its overall design, it may include one or more pipes.

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Connecting rod bearings
vidsharing10101 via youtube
This part can put up with a lot. What is it called?
Alternator
Tensioners
Connecting rod bearings
Connecting rod
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The connecting rod bearings are placed in the big end of the connecting rod. They have a role of providing rotating motion of the crank pin within the connecting rod.

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Radiator
speedkar99 via youtube
In car engines, it’s used for cooling. What is it called?
Wastegate
Radiator
Piston rings
Engine block
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In cars with liquid-cooled internal combustion engines, the radiator is connected to channels running through the engine and cylinder head, through which a coolant is pumped.

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Screamer pipe
Rusted nutz and ratchets garage via youtube
Can you name this particular piece?
Screamer pipe
Cylinder head
Thermostat
Piston
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When it comes to the screamer pipe, opinions are divided: some people think these things make the worst noise they have ever heard, while others think it sounds pretty good and powerful.

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Wastegate
The Auto Rules via youtube
This part does an extremely important job. Can you name it?
Oil-pressure switch
Main crankshaft bearings
Mass-flow sensor
Wastegate
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A wastegate is a boost-controlling device that operates by limiting exhaust gases through the turbocharger and controlling the maximum boost pressure the turbocharger produces.

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Air filter
supra320man via youtube
Do you know the name of this car engine part?
Air filter
Spark plug
Unit injector
Intercooler
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The air filter in internal combustion engines prevents debris and any abrasive particulate substance from entering the cylinders of the engine.

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You Got:
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seksan Mongkhonkhamsao/Moment/Getty Images