🔥 Engine — The Heart of Your Car
Converts fuel + air into motion. 4-stroke cycle: intake, compression, power, exhaust — happening 1000s of times per minute.
Key components
- Pistons + crankshaft — turn explosions into rotation
- Camshaft + valves — breathe in air/fuel, breathe out exhaust
- Head gasket — seals block to head, fails = overheating
- Oil pump + filter — lubricates, change 5k–7.5k mi
- Spark plugs + coils — ignite mix, 30k–100k mi
- Timing belt/chain — keeps valves in sync, belt 60k–100k mi
5 warning signs
- 🔊 Knocking/ticking — low oil or worn bearings
- 💨 Blue smoke = burning oil, white = coolant leak, black = rich fuel
- 🐢 Loss of power + check-engine
- 🌡️ Overheating — stop immediately
- 🛢️ Oil light — low pressure, engine damage in minutes
Maintenance that saves your engine
| Task | Interval | Cost if ignored |
|---|---|---|
| Oil + filter | 5k–7.5k mi | Sludge → seized engine $5k+ |
| Air filter | 15k–30k mi | Low MPG, low power |
| Coolant | 30k–60k mi / 5yr | Warped head $2k+ |
| Spark plugs | 30k–100k mi | Misfire, cat damage |
| Timing belt | 60k–100k mi | Snaps = valves hit pistons |
💡 Pro tip: Check oil monthly when engine is cold on flat ground. Between dots = OK. Milky oil cap = coolant leak — see a mechanic.