Engine Pistons - The Heart of the Matter
Engine pistons are at the heart of engine performance. Whether we're talking about a family minivan or a sport compact street racer, the primary focus of the engine is the same -- transform fuel and air into rotary motion to drive the wheels of the car. When we review basic engine function, we see the engine pistons at the center of it all.
Engine Pistons - Back to the Basics
Picture a sport compact with four engine pistons moving up and down in the cylinders. On the upper side of the pistons is the combustion chamber where the fuel and air combine, compress and ignite. On the lower side of the pistons is the crankcase full of oil. The crankshaft is connected to the engine pistons via a connecting rod. As the pistons move up and down in the cylinders, the crankshaft rotates and converts straight line motion into rotary motion. Simply, the engine pistons are at the core of the power source.
Continuing with the basics, here's a standard four-stroke engine cycle:
- Intake: The camshaft opens the intake valve and the piston moves down the cylinder. This creates a vacuum that draws air and fuel into the combustion chamber above the piston.
- Compression As the piston starts moving back up the cylinder, the intake valve closes and seals off the combustion chamber. This causes the air and fuel to compress.
- Combustion (Power) As the piston reaches the top of the cylinder and the air/fuel blend is compressed, the spark plug ignites the compressed mixture. This explosion drives the piston back down the cylinder and powers the crankshaft.
- Exhaust When the piston hits the bottom of the cylinder, the exhaust valve opens and the remaining air/fuel byproducts are released through the exhaust system.
There you have it -- a simple explanation of a four-stroke engine cycle. Simply, this "back-to-the basics" approach shows the huge importance of engine pistons, whether we're talking "off-the-showroom-floor" or "off-the-racetrack-infield."
Engine Pistons - Embee Performance
Engine pistons are vital to the racing and performance industries. At Embee Performance, we've built solid relationships with the best piston manufacturers in the business, including JE, CP, Arias and Ross. Not only do we distribute the best forged pistons in the racing world, we specialize in top-performance piston coatings that give our customers the slightest edge possible. At Embee, we pride ourselves in serving both the manufacturer and the customer by offering the finest coated pistons in the industry.
If you're looking for the best in performance engine pistons, you've found them at Embee Performance. Please visit theEmbee Performance Store now!
