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About This Quiz
How well do you know your way around a car's engine? You might be as skilled as a NASCAR pit crew chief, but you're going to have to prove it on this quiz. Your level of automotive knowledge will be put up on the rack for inspection!
If your car started making a loud, squealing noise every time you turned the wheel to the right, would you be able to diagnose it? Or would you need to have your mechanic take a look? Some of us are mechanically inclined, and some of us really shouldn't peek under the hood. Car engines are complex machines with dozens of parts working together. Only a trained automotive mechanic will be able to speed through this quiz with ease, but we're sure you will surprise us with your knowledge!
Put your pedal to the metal, and put yourself to the test! Tell us if you know your camshafts from your axles, and we'll be able to accurately determine how much of a car whiz you are. Have you got what it takes to change your own head gaskets, or do you have a tow truck on speed dial? Let's find out how much you know!
Cars with fuel injection no longer need which device?
Valves.
A carburetor.
Because the injector atomizes fuel into the air stream, it does not require the suction of the carburetor to draw the fuel into it. However, fuel filters that clean impurities from the fuel, valves that allow fuel into the engine, and catalytic converters that reduce air pollution are all still necessary components.
A catalytic converter.
Fuel filter.
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What is the usual order of a four-stroke engine cycle?
Intake, exhaust, compression, and power.
Intake, compression, power, and exhaust.
Intake is the first downward stroke that brings the fuel-air mixture into the chamber. The second stroke moves upward, compressing the mixture. At that point, a spark ignites the mixture and drives the piston downward in the power stroke. The final stroke moves upward and expels the exhaust from the chamber.
Intake, power, compression, and exhaust.
Power, compression, intake, and exhaust.
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What is the purpose of a catalytic converter?
It changes harmful gasses into less harmful gasses.
The catalytic converter contains a catalyst to interact with engine exhaust. This reaction changes the harmful gasses created during combustion into less harmful ones.
It mutes the sound of the engine.
It converts gear torque into wheel torque on Cadillac brand vehicles.
It is used by California pollution stations to test engine emissions.
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What is a design difference between gasoline and Diesel engines?
The gasoline engine is a two-stroke engine, and the Diesel is a four-stroke.
The gasoline engine uses a spark plug, and the Diesel uses a glow plug.
Diesel engines use compression heat to ignite the fuel instead of using an actual spark like gasoline engines. Diesel engines need a heating element, or glow plug, to help start the process on a cold day.
The gasoline engine pistons are arranged in a V-shape, and the Diesel pistons point outward in a circle.
The gasoline engine uses cooking oil to power it, and the Diesel can only use Diesel fuel.
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The connecting rod does what?
Connects the engine to the axle.
Connects the piston head to the crankshaft.
The piston head connects to the crankshaft by the connecting rod. The purpose of the rod is to convert the up-and-down motion of the piston into the rotating motion of the crankshaft.
Connects the engine to the transmission.
Connects the piston head to the camshaft.
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Thick white smoke coming out the exhaust usually means what?
The engine is on fire.
The engine is clean.
The engine head block is cracked or warped, and the head gasket has failed.
A thick cloud of white smoke indicates that radiator fluid is leaking into the exhaust. The only way for this to happen is if either the head gasket or engine block is damaged.
The air conditioning system is leaking into the exhaust.
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A four-stroke engine with which of the following number of valves would not be considered a multi-valve engine?
2.
A four-stroke engine must have at least two valves. Therefore, two valves are "standard." Three or more valves increase the efficiency of the engine and give it the “multi-valve” designation.
3.
4.
6.
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Which component initially cranks the engine so people no longer have to stand next to it and turn a crank to start their cars?
The carburetor.
The alternator.
The crankshaft.
The solenoid starter.
The solenoid starter cranks the engine when the key is turned. Not only was cranking a car by hand difficult, but it was also dangerous.
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Which three are the most common engine configurations for vehicles?
T, U, and V.
Flat, star, and delta.
I (or straight), V, and W.
The I-engine is an inline or straight engine. A variation of this would be the flat (boxer or horizontal) engine. The V-engine has the pistons angled out, and the W is a combination of the I and V.
V, W, and X.
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What is the most likely reason you would notice spark plugs coated in oil when you are changing them?
The crankshaft is leaking.
The engine block has a hole in it.
The valves or piston rings are leaking.
If oil coats the spark plug, it is usually because the piston rings or valves are leaking. This situation can cause the engine to misfire or only spark weakly.
The camshaft is leaking.
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If the engine is overheating, which of the following is most likely the reason?
The air conditioning needs Freon.
It is too hot outside.
The oil pump has failed.
The thermostat is bad.
When a car is overheating, the most likely cause is a bad thermostat out of all the options offered. Another reason a car engine might overheat is if there is an internal or external leak. The best thing to do with an overheating engine is to turn the engine off immediately because permanent damage can occur.
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Which of the following is NOT an advantage of multi-valve engines?
Increase the amount of power from a two-valve engine.
They can operate at higher RPMs.
The air exchange is better.
Lower manufacturing cost.
The more valves an engine has, the more it increases the area through which air, fuel, and exhaust travels. It improves the air-exchange efficiency and allows the engine to create more power and operate at higher RPMs. However, it increases the manufacturing cost and can also consume more oil.
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Which of the following is not an advantage of firing order in an engine?
It improves fuel efficiency.
Firing order has no effect on fuel efficiency. It is essential for maintaining balance and reducing engine vibration. Proper firing also allows the power output of an engine to flow evenly.
It is designed to reduce vibrations.
It ensures power flows evenly.
It maintains engine balance.
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What is the purpose of a torque wrench?
It tightens bolts to a specific pressure.
Torque wrenches are designed to tighten bolts to a specific pressure. Beam style torque wrenches are less reliable than the dial or digital ones. A torque wrench should never be used to loosen a bolt—break bars are designed for that task.
It is used to tighten or loosen "stuck" bolts.
It allows you to remove bolts that are in hard-to-reach places.
It is used to compress springs.
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What should you do if your car begins to overheat?
With the car off, you should immediately add more water to the radiator
You need to turn on the air conditioner to make it cooler.
You need to turn the car off as soon as possible; wait until it has cooled down before checking it.
Pulling the cap off the radiator when the engine is hot (whether it is running or not) can cause severe burns. The air conditioning may cool the inside of the car, but it will make the engine run hotter and cause more damage. As soon as you shut an overheating car off, it will begin to cool down. You should wait until it is completely cool before attempting to service it.
With the car running, you should immediately add more water to the radiator.
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What attaches the piston head to the connecting rod?
The rocker arm.
The gudgeon pin.
The gudgeon pin allows the connecting rod to pivot around it in a ratcheting fashion. If the connecting rod does not move freely, it is usually due to rust on the pin.
The rod lobe.
The flywheel.
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Which of the following is an advantage of poppet valves over sliding valves?
They rock back and forth, so they are less likely to get jammed.
They are compact.
They have almost zero leakage.
They have almost no leakage. Poppet valves work when cams press against the valve stem and compress the spring. Although their response times are consistent, desmodromic valves are sometimes used in engines that will run at high speeds because of valve float.
They are cost-saving.
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What is the purpose of a flywheel?
To maintain a steady engine speed.
The flywheel is a heavy disk that spins and stores rotational energy. Because the power stroke of the piston is the only one providing energy to the system, the flywheel allows speeds to remain constant and smooth, even during the other three strokes.
To start the engine.
To absorb the engine sound.
To change transmission gears.
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The starter relay (or solenoid starter) starts the car using which principle?
Converting DC to AC power.
Electromagnetic principles.
The starter is a coil of wires that uses electromagnetic principles to start the engine when a current passes through it. It spins the drive pinion, which then moves the flywheel to start the engine.
Converting chemical energy into mechanical energy.
Nuclear power principles.
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What is the usual firing order for a standard 4-cylindar engine?
1-2-3-4.
1-3-2-4
1-3-4-2.
Although technically any firing order could be designed into the engine, 1-3-4-2 is the standard. Another acceptable but less frequently used order is 1-2-4-3.
1-4-2-3.
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What device opens and closes engine valves?
The piston.
The camshaft.
The camshaft operates the valves with protruding lobes. The lobes press different valves open as they rotate.
The crankshaft.
The axle.
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If blue smoke is coming out the exhaust, which of the following is most likely the cause?
The spark plug gap is set wrong.
The piston rings are worn.
Blue smoke indicates oil is burning in the combustion chamber. Worn piston rings or worn valve seals could cause this problem.
The head gasket is cracked.
The timing is off.
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Engine cylinders fire in the correct order because of what?
The distributor cap and rotor.
The spark plugs.
The computer and coils.
A and C.
At one time, cars only used a distributor spinning a rotor to create an electrical current that would flow through the leads to the right spark plug and fire each cylinder in the correct order. However, many modern cars use a more direct system where the computer fires each coil in the correct order.
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The Wankel engine is unique because of what?
It runs on water.
It is made out of plastic.
It doesn’t have valves.
It doesn't use pistons.
The center of a Wankel engine contains an internal elliptical rotor instead of reciprocating pistons. Because of its simpler design, it tends to be lighter than piston engines with similar power output.
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Which of the following is not an electric car?
Toyota Mirai.
BMW i3.
Honda Civic.
Although Honda has experimented with hybrids, its Civic remains powered by a gasoline engine (or hybrid) instead of being fully electric. The Honda Fit EV is the company's pure electric model.
Tesla Model S.
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What is a ring compressor used for?
It is used to expand piston rings to fit over the piston head.
It makes it easier to place o-rings.
It is for compressing piston rings.
A ring compressor fits around the piston rings and compresses them so that the piston will fit into the cylinder. There are adjustable and fixed models, each with benefits and drawbacks.
It is an air compressor used to clean small places.
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An OHV engine has a camshaft located where?
In the engine block over the crankshaft.
The abbreviation OHV stands for OverHead Valve. It is used to describe a camshaft located directly over the crankshaft in the engine block (as opposed to being over the valves).
Outside the engine block under the bottom of the pistons.
Inside the engine block under the crankshaft.
In front of the engine.
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What is the purpose of a fuel injector?
To inject fuel into the oil.
To atomize fuel.
Fuel injectors atomize fuel into a spray and inject it either into the air stream or directly into the combustion chamber. It is cheaper to use for controlling emissions than the complex carburetors required to do the same job.
To purify the fuel.
To eject used fuel from the combustion chamber.
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What is the purpose of honing?
To ensure proper lubrication.
Honing is a process of putting small cross-hatches in the metal, which helps it retain oil across its surface. It cannot be too rough, or it will cause excess wear.
To ensure smooth operation.
To ensure a tight seal.
To ensure force is transferred correctly.
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What are some disadvantages gasoline engines have as compared to Diesel engines?
Gasoline engines have a lower power-to-weight ratio than Diesel engines.
Gasoline engines produce more carbon monoxide and are less efficient.
Because Diesel engines use compression heat to help create the explosion, they are more efficient and produce less carbon monoxide than gasoline engines. Diesel engines are louder, more expensive, and have a higher power-to-weight ratio.
Gasoline engines are louder than Diesel engines.
Gasoline engines are more expensive to buy.
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Which of the following tools would be used to clean debris from threaded holes?
Sprocket cleaner.
Straight-edge.
Calipers.
Taps.
Thread cleaning taps clean threaded holes to keep debris out of the engine and torque measurements correct. Thread-cutting taps are sometimes used for this purpose, but they can damage the threads if they are not used correctly.
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When the radiator thermostat is hot, what does it do?
It closes.
It turns on the radiator.
It opens.
As the temperature of the engine rises, the thermostat opens, allowing coolant from the radiator to flow more freely into the engine and cool it. The thermostat is made out of metal that expands at the necessary temperatures.
It turns on the check engine light.
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What does DOHC stand for?
Differential Oil Hardware Cylinder.
Double Overhead Cam.
When the camshaft is over the valves, it is called an OverHead Cam. When there are two camshafts, one for intake and one for exhaust, it is called a double camshaft. When a camshaft is over the valves, it is considered an overhead camshaft or cam. DOHC is a double overhead camshaft.
Digital Optimal Horsepower Control.
Direct Open Hydraulic Catalyst.
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Which part of the engine do you need a harmonic balancer tool to install and remove properly?
The crankshaft.
A harmonic balancer tool prevents damage to the crankshaft when pulling the crankshaft out or installing it. It enables you to safely remove and install the harmonic balancer that connects the engine to the drive belts, as well as reducing vibration.
The cylinder head.
The oil pump.
The piston.
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In what way can you "tune" the exhaust system to increase engine power?
Moving the muffler closer to the engine.
Installing afterburners.
Installing headers (extractor manifold).
Installing headers separates the gas flow from each cylinder, to keep them from interfering with each other. It also maintains the ideal speed of the exhaust and allows cylinders to assist each other.
Lengthening the exhaust pipe.
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