Can You Name the Engine Parts From a Visual Clue and a Hint?

By: Diana Spasic
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Can You Name the Engine Parts From a Visual Clue and a Hint?
Image: Samad Malik Photography / Moment / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Are you one of those people who like to know what’s under their car’s hood? Have you ever opened the hood and wondered what exactly is in there and how it all works?

When buying a new car, it can be more than useful to understand what sort of an engine that car is equipped with, how it works and which parts it includes. We all know that the very purpose of a gasoline engine is to convert fuel into motion so that you can move your car. Burning the gasoline inside an engine is the most efficient way of creating motion from gasoline today, which means that a car engine is, in fact, an internal combustion engine. But, how much more do you know?

For many people, a car engine may look like a big, hot, confusing structure built out of various tubes and wires. For others, however, it’s very clear what each of those tubes and wires is and how each little system works. To which group do you belong? Can you name a car engine part just by looking at a photo of it? We’ve thrown in some hints to help you out, so feel free to start that engine and ace this quiz!

Carburetor
Igor Ustynskyy / Moment / Getty Images
It used to be a crucial part of internal combustion engines. Can you name it?
Rocker arm
Carburetor
Intercooler
Bowl Prechamber Ignition
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A carburetor’s purpose is mixing air and fuel for internal combustion engines in the correct ratio for combustion. Fuel injection has largely supplanted them over the recent years.

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Crankshaft
kevinjeon00 / E+ / Getty Images
Can you name this mechanical engine part by looking at the photo?
Turbocharger
Valves
Crankshaft
Wastegate
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A crankshaft is a mechanical part of an engine that converts reciprocating motion to rotational motion or vice versa, depending on the type of the engine.

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Fuel pump
Hemera Technologies / PhotoObjects.net / Getty Images Plus
This one should be pretty easy. What is this engine part called?
Fuel pump
Spark plug
Water pumps
Ki-Gass
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Before the widespread adoption of electronic fuel injection, most carbureted engines used mechanical fuel pumps for transferring fuel from the fuel tank into the fuel bowls of the carburetor.

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Distributor
Wiki Commons by Dennis Bratland
What is this interesting-looking engine part called?
Engine control unit
Rocker arm
Poppet valve
Distributor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Spark-ignition internal combustion engines with a mechanically-timed ignition use distributors to properly route secondary or high voltage current from the ignition coil to the spark plugs.

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Oil pump
Wiki Commons by Ll1324
You’ve probably seen this part many times. What is it called?
Injection pump
Vacuum modulator
Wastegate
Oil pump
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An oil pump in an internal combustion engine is used for circulating engine oil under pressure to the rotating bearings, the sliding pistons and the camshaft of the engine.

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Air filter
photoggin / E+ / Getty Images
Do you recognize this essential engine part?
Air filter
Rocker cover
Cylinder head
Starter
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An air filter prevents abrasive substances from entering the engine’s cylinders to stop them from causing mechanical wear and oil contamination.

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Small end bushes
puuhastelija via YouTube
It might be tiny, but it matters a lot. What do you call this engine part?
Rocker arm
Small end bushes
Cross-bolted bearing
MAP sensor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The small end bushes are mounted in the so-called “Small end” of the connection rod. They provide relative motion of the piston to the connection rod.

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Ignition coil
Wiki Commons by Nick Ares
It’s the part that makes the spark! Can you name it?
Engine control unit
Throttle
Piston
Ignition coil
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An ignition coil, also called a ‘spark coil,’ is an induction coil in the ignition system of an automobile that transforms the battery’s low voltage to the thousands of volts required to create an electric spark to ignite the fuel.

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Radiator
art at its best! / Moment / Getty Images
Are you familiar with this engine part?
Turbocharger
Radiator
Injection pump
Exhaust system
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Despite the fact most radiators are regularly used for heating, when it comes to internal combustion engines, radiators are used for cooling.

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Valvetrain
thirty_three / E+ / Getty Images
What is this mechanical system called?
High tension leads
Poppet valve
Valvetrain
Rocker cover
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A valvetrain is an assembly of components designed to open and close the intake of exhaust valves. A sequence of components transmits motion throughout the assembly.

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Valves
Marin Tomas / Moment / Getty Images
How about these engine parts, do you know their name?
Valves
Vacuum modulator
Starter
MAP sensor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A conventional reciprocating internal combustion engine uses valves to control the air/fuel admix flow in and out of the combustion chamber.

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Spark plug
Samad Malik Photography / Moment / Getty Images
This little guy is one of the most popular ones on the list! What is it called?
Starter
Bowl Prechamber Ignition
Spark plug
Piston Rings
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Étienne Lenoir used an electric spark plug on his gas engine in 1860, creating the first combustion piston engine. Lenoir is credited for the invention of the first spark plug.

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Piston
schlol / E+ / Getty Images
Can you name this engine part just by looking at the photo?
Piston
Crankshaft
Rocker arm
Carburetor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Located in the cylinder, a piston is a component of reciprocating engines made gas-tight by piston rings. It transfers force from expanding gas in the cylinder to the crankshaft.

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Poppet valve
Wiki Commons by Cairnstones
Can you name this curly-looking engine part?
Fuel pump
MAP sensor
Piston Rings
Poppet valve
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A poppet valve is also called a mushroom valve, and it is typically used to control the quantity and timing of vapor or gas flow into the engine.

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Engine control unit
Wiki Commons by Mgiardina09
This is the boss of everything – can you name it?
Exhaust system
Water pumps
Engine control unit
Oil pump
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An engine control unit (ECU) ensures optimal engine performance by controlling series of actuators on an internal combustion engine.

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Oil Pan
Wiki Commons by Myke Waddy
Do you recognize this important piece of engineering?
Crankshaft
Oil pan
Air filter
High tension leads
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The oil pan is a reservoir for oil that’s attached to the bottom of the engine with bolts. A pump guides the oil from the pan through a filter to remove any dirt before it sends it to circulate through the engine.

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Wastegate
Wiki Commons by Freonr2
What is this complex-looking part named?
Wastegate
Electronic control unit
Intercooler
Cylinder head
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The wastegate’s primary function is to protect the engine and the turbocharger by regulating the maximum boost pressure in turbocharger systems.

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Vacuum modulator
B&M Performance & Off-Road via YouTube
Do you recognize this important piece of machinery?
Radiator
Rocker cover
Vacuum modulator
High tension leads
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Some cars use a vacuum modulator to apply pressure to the throttle valve. The device senses the manifold pressure, which further increases when the engine is under a bigger load.

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Turbocharger
jpj2000nl / Pixabay
What do you call this snail-shaped part?
Radiator
Intake manifold
Cylinder head
Turbocharger
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A turbocharger’s role is to force extra compressed air into the combustion chamber and thus increase an internal combustion engine’s efficiency and power output.

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Throttle
Wiki Commons
You’ll probably know what this engine part is called. Can you name it?
Starter
Valves
Fuel pump
Throttle
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A throttle is a valve that controls the volume of vaporized fuel delivered to the cylinders of an internal combustion engine.

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Timing belt
Wiki Commons by Terabass
This one is super-easy. Do you know what it’s called?
Water pumps
Exhaust system
Timing belt
Carburetor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A timing belt, or cambelt, is an important part of an internal combustion engine. It synchronizes the rotation of the camshafts and the crankshaft so that the valves open and close at the right time.

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MAP sensor
Schrodingers Box via YouTube
How about this engine part? Can you name it or do you need a hint?
MAP sensor
Ki-Gass
Spark plug
Piston Rings
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A manifold absolute pressure sensor (MAP sensor) is one of the sensors used typically by engines that are fuel-injected. It is mostly seen in an internal combustion engine’s electronic control system.

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High tension leads
Wiki Commons by Saen1978
Can you name the engine part you see in the photo?
Starter ring gear
Ignition coil
High tension leads
Intake manifold
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

High tension leads are the wires that connect an ignition coil, a distributor or a magneto to each of the spark plugs in many types of internal combustion engines.

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Injection pump
Wiki Commons by Panoha
What is this sophisticated piece of machinery called?
Connecting rod bearings
Injection pump
Distributor
Piston Rings
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The pump that pumps diesel fuel into the cylinders of a diesel engine is called an injection pump. It’s a very complex piece of engineering, calibrated to deliver the right quantity of fuel every time.

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Rocker arm
Wiki Commons by Rios
How about this engine part? Can you name it?
Piston
Engine block
Oil pump
Rocker arm
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Rocker arms are typically placed between the intake and exhaust valves and the pushrod. The pushrod pushes up the rocker arm and therefore pushes down the valves.

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Screamer pipe
Robbie Ferreira via YouTube
Can you name this “dramatic” engine part?
Water pumps
Screamer pipe
Valvetrain
Poppet valve
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A screamer pipe is known for the loud noise it produces. It’s a type of exhaust setup fitted to some automotive turbocharged gas engines.

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Intercooler
Wiki Commons by SteveBaker
What is this complex mechanical device called?
Rocker cover
Water pumps
Intercooler
Engine control unit
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The role of the intercoolers is to reduce induction air heat created by the supercharger or turbocharger and to increase the efficiency of the induction system by promoting more thorough combustion.

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Starter ring gear
Wiki Commons by Bigchrisrogers
How about this engine part? Can you name it just by looking at it?
Cylinder head
Valvetrain
Starter ring gear
Fuel pump
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A starter ring gear is a carbon steel ring placed at the periphery of a flywheel of an internal combustion engine. The ring has teeth that are driven by the smaller gear of the starter motor.

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Exhaust manifold
Wiki Commons by zircotec.com
Do you know what this piece of engineering is called?
Intake manifold
Poppet valve
Carburetor
Exhaust manifold
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The exhaust manifold channels exhaust gases away from the controlled combustion inside an engine.

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Piston Rings
Wiki Commons by 160SX
What do you call this internal combustion engine part?
Engine block
Piston rings
Ignition coil
Wastegate
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Piston rings have several important functions in reciprocating engines, some of which include sealing the combustion chamber to ensure minimal loss of gases to the crankcase and improving heat transfer from the piston to the cylinder wall.

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Cylinder head
Wiki Commons by Ll1324
How about this robust engine part, can you name it?
Cylinder head
Ki-Gass
Radiator
Carburetor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A cylinder head sits above the cylinders on top of the cylinder block in an internal combustion engine. The head closes in the top of the cylinder, forming a combustion chamber.

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Main crankshaft bearings
jieann57 via YouTube
This engine part may look plain, but it’s very significant. What is it called?
Spark plug
Bowl Prechamber Ignition
Main crankshaft bearings
Rocker cover
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Main crankshaft bearings are mounted in the crankcase. The main bearing consists of two parts: upper and lower. It also has a hole for passing oil to the feed holes in the crankshaft.

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Water pump
VintageVideos2009 via YouTube
What is this vital engine part called?
Vacuum modulator
Water pump
Oil pump
Crankshaft
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A water pump makes sure the coolant keeps moving through the engine block, hoses and radiator while maintaining an optimal operating temperature.

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Intake manifold
Wiki Commons by Arsi Warrior
Do you recognize the engine part from the photo? What is it called?
Valves
Timing belt
Engine control unit
Intake manifold
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An intake manifold is a pipe that brings air or air/fuel mixture into the combustion chamber. It’s connected to the intake valves.

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Starter
Wiki Commons by Willdre
You can't turn on the engine without it. Can you name it?
Air filter
Turbocharger
Starter
MAP sensor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Starters can be electric, pneumatic or hydraulic. In some cases, especially when it comes to very large engines, the starter can even be another internal-combustion engine.

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Connecting rod bearing
vidsharing10101 via YouTube
This small engine part makes a huge difference. Can you name it?
Connecting rod bearing
Radiator
Cross-bolted bearing
Throttle
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Connecting rod bearings have a role of providing rotation motion in the crank pin within the connecting rod. A bearing always consists of two parts that are usually interchangeable.

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Engine block
Wiki Commons by Yannick Bammert
What do you call this structure?
Injection pump
Ki-Gass
High tension leads
Engine block
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An engine block is the main structure of an internal combustion engine that contains the cylinders and other parts. It typically consists of the cylinder, oil galleries, coolant passages, crankcase and cylinder head(s).

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Rocker cover
Wiki Commons by Moebiusuibeom-en
Final question: Can you name this engine part?
Rocker arm
Rocker cover
Electronic control unit
Bowl Prechamber Ignition
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Rocker covers are bolted on over rocker arms in internal combustion engines. They are also called valve covers, but they are also sometimes referred to as a “timing cover” or a “cam cover.”

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Samad Malik Photography / Moment / Getty Images