Only an Expert Can Name All of These Tools Needed When Working On An Engine. Can You?

By: Craig
Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

Have you ever owned a fix-it car? You know the type. Just when you get the headlights aligned, the oil pan cracks. Just when you get the spark plugs gapped properly, the carburetor clogs. If you've had this kind of car, this quiz will probably be a snap for you!

The internal combustion engine revolutionized the world early in the 20th century when Henry Ford started rolling Model Ts off his production line. Of course, those early cars were pretty easy to work on, since no one had yet gotten the bright idea of slapping a bunch of emission controls, fuel injectors, and computer chips of all sizes and types on the system.  As long as the fuel ignited properly and the driveshaft turned, you could pretty much get where you needed to go, and not much could go wrong that couldn't be fixed on the side of the road.

Today, of course, things have changed. The driver's seat of today's cars looks more like the cockpit of a Colonial Viper from "Battlestar Galactica" than your dad's old Dodge Challenger.  What's under the hood has gotten similarly advanced, and the variety of tools needed to work on modern engines can be dizzying. Think you can identify them all?  Get on your crawler, put this quiz up on lifts, and test your tool identification ability!

No self-respecting workshop is going to attempt any engine work without a number of wrenches. Available in a range of sizes, these are the easiest way to tighten or loosen nuts. An adjustable wrench where you can set the size is known as a monkey spanner.

A socket set serves much the same purpose as a wrench but here, you place the socket over the nut and use a socket wrench to tighten or loosen. The advantage is that it can be used to work on hard to reach nuts thanks to extender bars.

Allen keys come in an array of sizes and are made to fit a small hexagonal-shaped head. They are sometimes called hex keys.

All modern cars have computers that run pretty much everything in the vehicle. When something goes wrong with this computer, having one of these gadgets can not only help identify the problem easier but can also fix it in many cases.

This is used for working on the crankshaft particularly and allows for its rotation with the damper removed. It workes with a normal ratchet.

This tool is particularly useful when working on the valves of an engine. It helps to determine the right height for both the spring and the valve in their chambers. A micrometer is needed for exact measurements. As measurements will differ between cylinders, use the shortest measurement taken.

When rebuilding an engine, having the correct length pushrods is critical. This tool helps ensure that this happens. Best of all, they are relatively inexpensive.

Sometimes studs can be damaged, making it impossible to remove the bolt from the thread or perhaps the bolt has broken off and the stud needs to be removed to insert a new one. Luckily, in times like this, a stud removal tool is just what you need to get the job done.

Similar to an Allen Key, a Torx bit will fit a specially shaped head on a range of bolts. They are easily identified by their six-point star shape.

Although you think you might never need pliers when working on an engine, you will be surprised the number of times you wish you had one if you didn't have one in your toolbox.

Similar to a regular wrench except in the fact that it applies a precise torque to the fastener or bolt you are tightening. This prevents overtightening. The torque wrench was invented in 1918 by Conrad Bahr.

Ohm meters are a necessity, especially for any auto electrical work that you might need to carry out. They measure electrical resistance.

These special tools are used if you would like to create screw threads. This might be necessary when overhauling an engine.

This tool is used when working with engines, specifically to measure the inside diameter of pipes, cylinders or other round objects. Bore gauges are calibrated to 0.001 inches or 0.0001 inches.

When working on a make of vehicle, having the repair manual can help immensely. These are available online or in good bookstores.

This category can actually be divided into two parts. First, many car manufacturers have specialty tools that are used in certain parts of their makes and models. Second, it also refers to tools for working on certain parts of the car, like the brake system for instance.

This is not a tool that everyone will have in their workshop but if you plan on rebuilding engines on a regular basis, it is a necessity. This adjustable tool holds and installs different sized cam bearings.

Bolts within an engine are crucial. You don't want them coming loose now, do you? This tool helps to stretch a bolt to the tolerance level as instructed by the manufacturer. This torquing process means that the bolt won't come loose during engine operation.

Used in conjunction with a Valve Checking Spring Kit, this micrometer helps determine the height of the valves in the engine.

A good screwdriver set is never out of place in a workshop and is a necessity when working on an engine of any kind. Make sure you have a range of different kinds from regular, to Philips or Robertson just to name a few.

To remove the timing cover of the engine, the dampener must be removed first. This is always an extremely tight fit and needs a specific tool to remove.

A hammer? To work on an engine? Yes, you never know when it might come in handy. For example, a jammed starter motor might just need a gentle tap of a hammer to become unstuck.

No self-respecting workshop will be without a pulley, hoist and lift. Engines are heavy and these three tools make it possible to not only remove them but replace them back into the chassis with minimal fuss.

A flashlight is crucial while working on the innards of a car, be it the engine, suspension or practically anywhere. And to keep your hands free, use a flashlight that straps to your head. Or employ an apprentice to hold one for you!

While working on an engine, the crankshaft will need to be turned and adjusted many times. This socket does the job for you without any fear of damaging the crankshaft itself.

A good set of cleaning brushes can be used throughout your workshop on a number of different things, including keeping an engine spic and span.

A crucial part of keeping any engine running properly, a good workshop will always have a few cans of engine lubricant nearby.

Engines are heavy. When removed from a vehicle, they need somewhere to stand without the chance of falling and getting damaged. An engine stand will do the job perfectly.

Feeler gauges are to measure gap widths, most notably in spark plugs. For example, too large a gap width means the spark plug will not fire properly which will affect the performance of the engine.

Thread sealant can be used instead of thread tape and pipe dopes. This sealant is specifically formulated for metal and makes sure any threads are sealed, safe and secure.

No, it's not something you need for Halloween but a simple flat board with wheels. Use this to scoot anywhere you need to while checking under a vehicle. This is particularly useful if you do not have a vehicle lift.

Struggling with a flat battery? A jumper pack will get it started the first time and the charger will ensure that you get a charge back into it so you won't need to jump it again.

Engine parts, particularly on old engine rebuilds need to be cleaned. The best way to do this is by simply soaking them and then cleaning them in a part washing container.

Drip pans help keep the floor of your workshop clean. Engines are filled with various fluids and when taking them apart, these will drip onto the floor. A drip pan helps you to keep control of the mess.

Every good workshop needs a vise. You never know when you need to grip something tightly to be able to work on it without worrying that it might come loose and fall to the ground.

Also known as an air gun, this uses compressed air to spin and is the quickest way to attach or remove nuts.

Is there an auto doctor in the house? This stethoscope includes a long pointy probe, perfect for placing at places throughout the engine to listen for problematic sounds.

A hydraulic floor jack is the perfect way to quickly raise a car from one side.

Car lifts help raise a car off the ground and allow mechanics to check underneath the engine with ease.

Many oil filters are turned into place by hand and then tightened using an oil filter wrench. These also help remove older filters that might have become stuck in place due to the heat of the engine over time.

A socket extension allows you to reach in difficult areas within an engine to loosen bolts or nuts.

Not sure if a particular circuit is working within the electrical system of your car? A circuit test will tell whether it is or not.

A nut splitter is a great way to loosen nuts, screws or bolts that have become tricky to turn or loosen. It the nut still won't loosen, the splitter can be tightened until the nut breaks in half.

Zip ties are a great way to keep pipes, wires and leads together. For example, keep the high tension leads between the spark plugs and distributor cap neat and tidy by using zip ties to bind them together.

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