Parts & Engines

40 questions · Answers revealed below each question · Print this set

1.Which car part keeps the engine coolant cool?
- A. radiator
- B. brake disc
- C. alternator
- D. spark plug
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radiator
Did you know? Radiator fins spread heat into the passing air.
2.Which engine type fits six cylinders in a compact V shape?
- A. rotary engine
- B. V12 engine
- C. V6 engine
- D. inline-six engine
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V6 engine
Did you know? V6s became common in family sedans.
3.Which car part uses exhaust flow to force air into the engine?
- A. coil spring
- B. turbocharger
- C. CV joint
- D. ball joint
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turbocharger
Did you know? Turbochargers let small engines make big power.
4.Which engine type is prized for smoothness and high-revving power?
- A. V12 engine
- B. V8 engine
- C. straight-three engine
- D. overhead-valve engine
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V12 engine
Did you know? Two straight-sixes joined at the crank form a V12.
5.Which car part moves up and down inside the cylinder?
- A. brake disc
- B. piston
- C. thermostat
- D. battery
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piston
Did you know? Piston strokes turn combustion into motion.
6.Which engine type ignites fuel by compression alone?
- A. Atkinson-cycle engine
- B. overhead-valve engine
- C. diesel engine
- D. twin-turbo engine
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diesel engine
Did you know? Diesel engines use no spark plugs.
7.Which car part clears rain from the windshield glass?
- A. windshield wiper
- B. intercooler
- C. piston
- D. flywheel
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windshield wiper
Did you know? Wiper blades should be replaced about once a year.
8.Which engine type arranges eight cylinders in two banks at an angle?
- A. turbine engine
- B. W12 engine
- C. V8 engine
- D. HEMI engine
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V8 engine
Did you know? The "V" describes the cylinder layout.
9.Which car part ignites the fuel-air mixture in gasoline engines?
- A. air filter
- B. driveshaft
- C. spark plug
- D. carburetor
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spark plug
Did you know? Spark plugs fire thousands of times per minute.
10.Which engine type uses spinning rotors instead of pistons?
- A. four-stroke cycle
- B. diesel engine
- C. rotary engine
- D. Atkinson-cycle engine
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rotary engine
Did you know? Mazda was the last maker of rotary road cars.
11.Which car part slows the wheel when the pads clamp it?
- A. brake disc
- B. shock absorber
- C. starter motor
- D. cylinder head
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brake disc
Did you know? Brake discs glow red under hard track use.
12.Which engine type bridges the V8 and V12 in exotic cars?
- A. variable compression engine
- B. V12 engine
- C. V10 engine
- D. overhead-valve engine
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V10 engine
Did you know? V10s powered Formula 1 in the late 1990s.
13.Which car part keeps dust out of the engine intake?
- A. crankshaft
- B. intercooler
- C. starter motor
- D. air filter
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air filter
Did you know? A clogged air filter chokes engine power.
14.Which engine type lays its cylinders horizontally on both sides of the crank?
- A. twin-turbo engine
- B. flat-six engine
- C. turbine engine
- D. straight-four engine
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flat-six engine
Did you know? Flat engines lower the center of gravity.
15.Which car part clamps the disc to slow the wheel?
- A. axle
- B. brake pad
- C. spark plug
- D. thermostat
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brake pad
Did you know? Worn brake pads must be replaced for safe stopping.
16.Which engine type accepts any blend of gasoline and ethanol?
- A. flex-fuel engine
- B. rotary engine
- C. flat-eight engine
- D. twin-turbo engine
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flex-fuel engine
Did you know? Flex-fuel cars are a Brazilian signature.
17.Which car part supplies electrical power for starting and accessories?
- A. thermostat
- B. catalytic converter
- C. battery
- D. fuel pump
Show answer
battery
Did you know? Car batteries store energy as chemical reactions.
18.Which engine type is inherently smooth thanks to perfect balance?
- A. inline-six engine
- B. inline-five engine
- C. flat-four engine
- D. variable compression engine
Show answer
inline-six engine
Did you know? Inline-sixes are prized in sports sedans.
19.Which car part connects and disconnects the engine from the gearbox?
- A. head gasket
- B. clutch
- C. brake disc
- D. driveshaft
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clutch
Did you know? The clutch lets you stop without stalling.
20.Which engine type completes intake, compression, power and exhaust strokes?
- A. four-stroke cycle
- B. straight-four engine
- C. opposed-piston engine
- D. V6 engine
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four-stroke cycle
Did you know? Almost all car engines run on four strokes.
21.Which car part alerts other road users with sound?
- A. shock absorber
- B. fuel injector
- C. horn
- D. steering rack
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horn
Did you know? Early horns were hand-squeezed rubber bulbs.
22.Which engine type is the world's most common engine layout?
- A. HEMI engine
- B. diesel engine
- C. opposed-piston engine
- D. straight-four engine
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straight-four engine
Did you know? All four cylinders sit in a single row.
23.Which car part changes the ratio between engine speed and wheel speed?
- A. carburetor
- B. turbocharger
- C. transmission
- D. steering rack
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transmission
Did you know? Manual transmissions use a driver-operated clutch.
24.Which engine type uses two turbochargers, often one per cylinder bank?
- A. rotary engine
- B. variable compression engine
- C. HEMI engine
- D. twin-turbo engine
Show answer
twin-turbo engine
Did you know? Twin turbos halve the lag of one big turbo.
25.Which car part is the vehicle's structural frame?
- A. cylinder head
- B. shock absorber
- C. chassis
- D. piston
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chassis
Did you know? Unibody cars merge chassis and body in one shell.
26.Which car part damps the suspension movement?
- A. shock absorber
- B. differential
- C. camshaft
- D. head gasket
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shock absorber
Did you know? Without dampers, springs would keep bouncing.
27.Which car part converts engine rotation into electrical power?
- A. fuel pump
- B. tie rod
- C. alternator
- D. windshield wiper
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alternator
Did you know? The alternator recharges the battery while you drive.
28.Which car part cranks the engine to start it?
- A. catalytic converter
- B. steering rack
- C. brake disc
- D. starter motor
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starter motor
Did you know? The starter replaced the hand crank after 1912.
29.Which car part blinks to show your intention to turn?
- A. supercharger
- B. head gasket
- C. master cylinder
- D. turn signal
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turn signal
Did you know? Turn signals became mandatory long after cars appeared.
30.Which car part quiets the exhaust flow?
- A. horn
- B. ball joint
- C. muffler
- D. intercooler
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muffler
Did you know? The muffler is called a silencer in Britain.
31.Which car part reduces harmful exhaust gases?
- A. head gasket
- B. crankshaft
- C. catalytic converter
- D. radiator
Show answer
catalytic converter
Did you know? Catalytic converters use precious metals inside.
32.Which engine type is the classic air-cooled Beetle layout?
- A. flat-four engine
- B. V10 engine
- C. quad-turbo engine
- D. range-extender engine
Show answer
flat-four engine
Did you know? Flat-fours stay in production with Subaru.
33.Which car part removes debris from the engine oil?
- A. serpentine belt
- B. air filter
- C. oil filter
- D. master cylinder
Show answer
oil filter
Did you know? Oil filters are replaced with each oil change.
34.Which engine type fires on every crankshaft revolution?
- A. straight-three engine
- B. two-stroke engine
- C. W12 engine
- D. natural gas engine
Show answer
two-stroke engine
Did you know? Two-strokes powered many small engines and motorcycles.
35.Which car part opens and closes the engine valves?
- A. ball joint
- B. camshaft
- C. transmission
- D. fuel injector
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camshaft
Did you know? Cam lobes push the valves open at set times.
36.Which engine type places the camshaft above the valves in the head?
- A. flat-eight engine
- B. overhead-cam engine
- C. variable compression engine
- D. V8 engine
Show answer
overhead-cam engine
Did you know? Overhead cams respond faster than pushrods.
37.Which car part lets wheels spin at different speeds in corners?
- A. cylinder head
- B. camshaft
- C. differential
- D. steering rack
Show answer
differential
Did you know? Inside wheels travel a shorter arc in turns.
38.Which engine type places two pistons per cylinder?
- A. flat-six engine
- B. opposed-piston engine
- C. inline-five engine
- D. flex-fuel engine
Show answer
opposed-piston engine
Did you know? Opposed-piston designs are rare and efficient.
39.Which car part circulates coolant through the engine?
- A. starter motor
- B. driveshaft
- C. brake disc
- D. water pump
Show answer
water pump
Did you know? A failed water pump quickly overheats an engine.
40.Which engine type is common in today's small city cars?
- A. hydrogen combustion engine
- B. twin-turbo engine
- C. straight-three engine
- D. inline-five engine
Show answer
straight-three engine
Did you know? Three-cylinders save weight and fuel.

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