When we turn the key, what happens under the hood and why? How does an automobile engine work? What is that sound we hear and the propulsion we feel when the accelerator is depressed? "External ...

Last month's "How It Works" story gave you the basics of the four-stroke cycle, describing the motion of the intake and exhaust valves in relation to the piston moving up and down in the cylinder.

"Bullwinkle, that trick never works. Why don't you figure out how to make hydraulic roller lifters survive big spring pressure." "Huh?" Like Bullwinkle, hydraulic roller lifters get no respect. It ...

Engines are incredibly complex. They are made out of thousands of different parts, exposed to high temperatures, and have lots of moving parts. This leaves many potential pain points an engine can ...