block

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piston and cylinder

Diagram of a gasoline engine showing a cross-section of a piston and cylinder. Key parts such as the spark plug, valves, camshaft, piston, connecting rod, and crankshaft are labeled.

block

engine

Also known as: cylinder block, engine block

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Learn about this topic in these articles:

gasoline engine
Cylinder block
The main structural member of all automotive engines is a cylinder block that usually extends upward from the centre line of the main support for the crankshaft to the junction with the cylinder head. The block serves as the structural framework of the engine…
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The main structural member of all automotive engines is a cylinder block that usually extends upward from the centre line of the main support for the crankshaft to the junction with the cylinder head. The block serves as the structural framework of the engine…
Read More

piston and cylinder
…that is known as the block, which is generally made of cast iron or aluminum. On some engines the cylinders are lined with sleeves (liners) that can be replaced when they become worn. Aluminum blocks employ centrifugally cast iron liners that are placed in the mold when the aluminum is…
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…that is known as the block, which is generally made of cast iron or aluminum. On some engines the cylinders are lined with sleeves (liners) that can be replaced when they become worn. Aluminum blocks employ centrifugally cast iron liners that are placed in the mold when the aluminum is…
Read More