UNIT 3

SOME ENGINE COMPONENTS

Most modern engine assemblies have very similar components and a similar layout, but
they will not be identical. Even orthodox components and layout differ slightly from
vehicle. For example, the position of the valves, or the number of piston of the valves, or
the number of piston rings used, may be different.

1. What has very similar components and a similar layout?

2. “…. they will not be identical”. What does they refer to?
3. What do orthodox components and layout differ slightly from?

The Crankcase Assembly

The Crankcase
The crankcase is that part of the engine which contains the cylinders, pistons and
connecting-rods. Nowdays, the crankcase and the cylinder are cast as a single unit. The
casting also contains all the waterways etc. inside the cylinder block.
Cylinder heads were originally part of the casting but now days they are
detachable. Detachable heads have certain advantages. If the head was fixed, it would be
impossible to overhaul the pistons or the valves. If the head was fixed it would also be
impossible to re-bore the cylinders.
Cylinders and crankcases are generally made of cast iron. This metal has a high
resistance to abrasion and is thus a suitable material for cylinder bores. However, it has
the disadvantage that it is quite a heavy material. Some makers therefore use an
aluminum or magnesium alloy for the crankcase. This construction may be found in some
large engines, especially diesels, in which weight reduction is an important factor.
4. Mention the parts of crankcase!
5. Why are at present cylinder heads separable?
6. Why are cylinders and crankcases generally made of cast iron?
7. What is the disadvantage of cast iron?
8. Why is aluminium or magnesium alloy used for the crankcases of large engines?

Cylinder
Some makers fit cylinder lines (or sleeves) of hardened steel which have even higher
resistance to wear or abrasion. On commercial vehicles with heavy working schedules,
these liners may be fitted when the cylinders become worn so that the same pistons may
be used.
The procedures are as follows:
1. When the cylinders are first overhauled, the cylinders are re-bored to accept
oversize pistons.
2. At the second overhaul, liners are fitted so that the standard pistons can be reused.
3. When the engine is re-conditioned for a third time, the cylinder liners will be
machined to accept the same oversize pistons used before.
Piston and Connecting-Rod Assembly

Pistons
Pistons were originally made from cast iron, but now they are frequently aluminum alloy.
The main reason for using this alloy is that it has higher thermal conductivity. That is, it
can dissipate the excess heat inside the cylinder more rapidly than iron. Its disadvantage
is that the alloy expands more rapidly than cast iron with increasing temperature.

In other words, if cast iron pistons were still used, engines would require lower running
temperatures. If iron was still used, the cold clearance between piston and cylinder wall
could be made smaller.

Aluminum is also comparatively soft, aluminum pistons are sometimes coated with tin to
prevent scratching. Alternatively, the surface of the piston may be anodized.

Piston Rings
Piston rings are normally made from cast iron. They are machined slightly larger than the
bore. (If they were not larger, they could seal the gap between the piston and the cylinder
wall). There is a slight gap between the two ends of each ring to allow for expansion at
running temperatures.

The number of piston rings fitted depends on the type of engine. The lowest ring is a
scraper ring to control the amount of oil passing up the cylinder wall.

Connecting-rods
These are usually steel forgings of 1 section to provide maximum stiffness and minimum
weight. The two bearings have bushes (or shells composed of a special aluminum alloy
which is extremely hard and has high thermal conductivity. It these shells were not fitted,
the bearings would soon overheat and become damaged.

9. Why are pistons frequently made of aluminium alloy?

10. “That is, it can dissipate the excess heat inside the cylinder more rapidly than
iron.” What does it refer to?

Simple Past Tense

It expresses activities that occurred at a point of time, over a period of time or intervals in
the past. The auxiliaries used in this tense are did for verbal sentences and was/were for
nominal sentences. The followings are the sentence patterns.
Affirmative\Positive
Verbal
Subject + verb 2 + Object  John visited Bali
Nominal
Subject + was/were + Complement  John was in Bali.
Negative
Yes/No Questions
Verbal
Did + subject + verb. Inf. + (object)?  Did John visit Bali..?
Nominal
Was\Were + subject + Complement?  Was John in Bali ?
Statement Questions
Verbal
Question word + did + Verb. Inf/ + (Object)?
Except who asking about the subject of a sentence
Who + Verb 2 + Object?
When did John visit Bali?
Nominal
Question word + was/were + complement?
Except who asking about the subject of a sentence
When was John in Bali?
Fill in the blanks in each sentence with the second form of the verb provided in the
bracket!
1. He ……. To a small village in the Middle East in 1960. (move)
2. I was hungry this morning, so I ……. Something to eat at the closest store. (buy)
3. Tony’s father …… him how to drive a car when he was eighteen. (teach)
4. Ann ……. A lot of money for her daughter’s birthday last week. (spend)
5. Jimmy is absent today because he …..down the stairs this morning. (fall)
6. Yesterday I …… many important people in the conference. (meet)
7. I ……. A robbery in the Central Bank downtown last night. (see)
8. Tom usually ….. to that park every week when he was young. (go)
9. I …… to work lately this morning because of the traffic jam. (come)
10. We needed much money, so we ….. our car. (sell)

E. Writing Section

Yesterday, I went on to my hometown by bus. It was a pleasant trip. I was

travelling for my enjoyment. I woke up early. I want to be bus station at 9: 30. The bus
was late. It arrived about 10: 00 and we left. We travelled through the beautiful
countryside. The sun was shining brightly at first. After a while, dark clouds appeared in
the sky. By the time we arrived at my hometown, it was raining heavily. I went out
without a raincoat or an umbrella. Fortunately, an old friend was waiting at the station. I
went to my parents’ home in my friend’s car. I stayed all day. We talked for a long time.
At 5:00, I returned to the city. This time I travelled on an express train. It left on time. I
arrived in the city on schedule. The day passed pleasantly and eventually. Next weekend,
I am going there again.

Write a short paragraph about a brief journey. Use the paragraph above as a
model. Pay attention to the time sequence in which they happened.