How are the camshaft and crankshaft connected in a gasoline engine?

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Labeled cross-sectional diagram of a V-type gasoline engine for an automobile, showing internal components such as pistons, crankshaft, camshaft, intake and exhaust valves, connecting rods, spark plugs, and intake manifold. — gasoline engine Cross section of a V-type engine.

In a gasoline engine, the camshaft and crankshaft are mechanically linked to ensure that valve timing remains precisely synchronized with the movement of the pistons. This connection is typically achieved using gears, chains, or a belt.12

Because a four-stroke engine completes one full cycle every two revolutions of the crankshaft, the camshaft is designed to rotate at exactly half the speed of the crankshaft. This reduction is often managed by a gear train known as timing gears, or by a timing chain or timing belt, which coordinates the opening and closing of the valves with the piston's position. This synchronization is critical for the engine to function efficiently, as it ensures the intake and exhaust valves operate at the correct intervals during the four-stroke cycle.213456