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The engine consists of many components that are
listed below, worn components affect the way an engine runs. This
results in deterioration of vehicle handling and stability. The engine
should be regularly monitored and well maintained to help prolong the life of
the engine. These are several of the items that should be closely
monitored and maintained:
- Valve Covers - These
are covers sealed by a gasket that protect the valves and valve
springs that seal the combustion chamber. Oil also circulates in
this area to lubricate these components.
- Cylinder Heads - These
are components that are bolted to the engine block and are separated
by the cylinder head gasket. This is the full assembly of the
valves and valve train that seal the combustion chamber. This
also has coolant paths that allow coolant to circulate and keep the
engine at a safe operating temperature.
- Water Pump - This
is the component that draws the water and coolant from the lower
radiator hose circulates it from your radiator through pipes called
water jackets in your engine to keep the engine cool. A water
pump keeps the fluid circulating, and the cooling fan draws air
through the radiator to help reduce the heat of the coolant returning
to the radiator.
- Radiator - A device
that cools the liquid in the cooling system by allowing it to
circulate through a series of water channels, which are exposed to air
ducts.
- Freeze Plugs - On
the sides of your engine block you will see little circular
depression, these are called core plugs or freeze plugs. They
plug the holes where the sand was removed when they cast the engine
block. If you see rust streaks leading away from the freeze
plugs on your engine block and you have been losing coolant lately,
you should replace the freeze plugs.
- Oil Pan - The
chamber at the bottom of the crankcase which stores the engine
oil. The drain plug on the bottom of the oil pan can be removed
to allow old oil to flow out of the car during an oil change.
- Oil Pump - A
small pump located in the crankcase which circulates the oil from the
oil pan to the moving parts of the engine
Key Benefits
- Prolonged engine life
- Reduction in oil leaks
- Reduction in coolant leaks
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