5 Often-Forgotten Car Parts That Can Destroy Your Engine
Discover the often overlooked car parts — such as connecting rods, crankshafts, oil pans, valves, and spark plugs — and learn why they are essential for engine operation.
Key Engine Components
- Connecting rods: Vital for transferring motion from the piston to the crankshaft.
- Crankshafts: Convert the piston's movement into rotational power.
- Oil pans (sump): Hold the engine oil that lubricates moving parts.
- Valves: Control the flow of air and fuel into the cylinders and exhaust gases out.
- Spark plugs: Produce the electric spark that ignites the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder.
"Recently, Canaltech published a list with five car parts rarely discussed, but absolutely fundamental to the functioning of the engine — including the rod, crankshaft, sump, valves, and spark plugs."
Significance of Spark Plugs
Although small, spark plugs are indispensable components in the internal combustion engine. They ensure the ignition of fuel, which is crucial for engine performance and efficiency.
Additional Vehicle Highlights
- A VW sedan with a 128 hp turbo engine, 706 km range, and fuel consumption of up to 14.4 km/l is popular in the used car market: meet the VW Virtus Highline.
- The Volkswagen Gol remains Brazil's best-selling car, featuring a 1.6 flex engine producing 101 hp, 13 km/l fuel economy, and standard air conditioning.
- Ford introduced the Maverick pickup with 300 hp, 43.8 kgfm torque, Mustang turbocharger, 20-inch wheels, lowered suspension, and a Mishimoto intercooler.
- The new Honda CB 1000 GT features a 1000 cc engine, electronic suspension, and a factory-installed quickshifter.
The reliability and function of these often unnoticed parts greatly affect your vehicle's daily performance and engine health.
Author's summary: Essential but frequently ignored car parts like rods, crankshafts, and spark plugs are critical to engine survival and performance in everyday driving.