Engine Fundamentals
How gasoline engines work and how they are measured, diagnosed and repaired, followed through an apprentice's work at Ridgeline Auto Service in Denver: the four-stroke cycle, engine construction, displacement, compression and power at altitude, cylinder heads and valve trains, camshafts and timing belts and chains, variable valve timing and cylinder deactivation, precision measurement, lubrication and oil pressure, cooling systems, compression, leak-down and vacuum testing, gaskets, seals and head bolts, and a capstone timing chain repair.
AUTO-120 12 lessons · 4 h 23 min ▶ Video lessons coming soon
Offered by HSM University · Automotive Service
This is the American version of this course. See the Canadian version.
What you'll learn
- Explain the four-stroke cycle, valve and spark timing, firing order and firing interval, and identify TDC on the compression stroke
- Identify the parts of the bottom end and top end, describe cylinder and valve train arrangements, and identify an engine from its VIN code and labels
- Calculate displacement, compression ratio, power, BMEP, volumetric efficiency and piston speed, and explain how altitude reduces the power of a naturally aspirated engine
- Describe valves, seats, guides, springs and valve train layouts, check springs and cylinder head flatness, and measure and adjust valve clearance
- Explain how gears, chains and belts drive the camshafts, set timing with marks and locking tools, and schedule timing belt replacement and judge chain wear
- Explain how cam phasers, oil control valves and cylinder deactivation work, and use scan tool data to judge whether a phaser follows its command
- Use micrometers, bore gauges, dial indicators, feeler gauges and plastic gauge to measure bores, rings, journals, bearing clearances and end play against specifications
- Select oil by viscosity grade and specification, describe the lubrication system, confirm oil pressure with a mechanical gauge, and investigate low pressure and oil consumption
- Describe coolant, the thermostat, pump, radiator, cap and fans, calculate the effect of cap pressure, mixture and altitude on boiling point, and diagnose overheating
- Diagnose engine mechanical faults by listening and by cranking compression, wet, cylinder leakage, running compression and vacuum tests, allowing for altitude
- Prepare gasket surfaces, use gaskets and sealants correctly, and install a cylinder head with new bolts tightened by torque and angle in the specified sequence
- Diagnose and repair a timing chain fault from interview and verification through scan data, estimate, measurement, timing, relearn and delivery
Course content
12 lessons · 4 h 23 min total · final exam
- 1 How a four-stroke engine works 23 min · quiz
- 2 Engine construction and configurations 24 min · quiz
- 3 Engine displacement, compression and power 22 min · quiz
- 4 Cylinder heads and valve trains 22 min · quiz
- 5 Camshafts, timing belts and timing chains 21 min · quiz
- 6 Variable valve timing and cylinder deactivation 21 min · quiz
- 7 Engine measurement and precision tools 20 min · quiz
- 8 Lubrication systems and oil pressure 22 min · quiz
- 9 Cooling systems and thermostats 23 min · quiz
- 10 Engine mechanical diagnosis: compression, leak-down and vacuum 23 min · quiz
- 11 Gaskets, seals and fasteners in engine repair 20 min · quiz
- 12 Capstone: diagnosing and repairing a timing chain fault 22 min · quiz
- E Final exam 20 questions
Requirements
Recommended background. You can start any course at any time.
Description
How gasoline engines work and how they are measured, diagnosed and repaired, followed through an apprentice's work at Ridgeline Auto Service in Denver: the four-stroke cycle, engine construction, displacement, compression and power at altitude, cylinder heads and valve trains, camshafts and timing belts and chains, variable valve timing and cylinder deactivation, precision measurement, lubrication and oil pressure, cooling systems, compression, leak-down and vacuum testing, gaskets, seals and head bolts, and a capstone timing chain repair.