How Does a Gasoline Engine Work?

• A gasoline engine works on the principle of combustion, the burning of a mixture of air and fuel inside the cylinders of the engine. Pistons compress the fuel and air inside your engine. Cylinders, located in the middle of your engine, are passageways that contain the pistons. When the pistons move down, the controlled explosion is transmitted to the engine crankshaft, moves through the driveshaft and onto the wheels of your vehicle. These elements are essential in making your vehicle run and your gasoline engine work.
  

Ignition

• Small ceramic diodes called spark plugs are attached to the cylinder walls. They ignite the compressed air and fuel inside the gasoline engine. This spark in the engine creates the combustion and gives your gasoline engine its power. Spark plugs work because they're connected to wires in the car's engine and are powered by an electrical current from your automobile's electrical system.
  

Power

• The controlled explosion gives your gasoline engine power. It's what makes it work. The gasoline engine works because it sends out power to the rest of your vehicle. The piston moves downward through the intake valve, letting in the fuel and air. When the piston comes back up, the fuel and air are compressed inside your engine. This happens every time the fuel and air are brought together.