- Driveshaft
- A rotating shaft that transfers power from the transmission to the rear wheels.
- Engine Overhaul
- A general term for major engine work that usually requires removing the engine from the vehicle, and rebuilding or replacing internal components (e.g. pistons, connecting rods, valves).
- Engine, Boxer or Flat
- A designation for an engine where the cylinders are arranged opposite(180 degrees apart) from each other. Boxer engines are relatively flat compared to inline or V engines. Common examples of boxer engines are the Porsche 911 flat-6 and the Subaru flat-4.
- Engine, Diesel
- An internal combustion engine that compresses fuel until it ignites. A gasoline engine, in contrast, uses a spark plug to start combustion. Diesel engines use kerosene as fuel. Diesel engines usually provide better fuel economy than a comparable displacement gasoline engine; at the cost of lower power.
- Engine, Inline
- An engine configuration where all cylinders are in one plane. Most 4-cylinder and some 6-cylinder engines are inline. An inline engine is cheaper to manufacture than a V type of engine because the engine block can be a simpler casting.
- Engine, V
- (e.g. V-8):A V engine has two banks of cylinders arranged like a V. V engines have an included angle of around 30-90 degrees that separates the individual banks. V engines are more compact than comparable inline engines. A V-8 is significantly shorter, and wider, than an inline-8.
- Four Wheel Drive
- A part time system that transfers engine power to all four wheels. 4WD systems usually lack a center differential that allows use in dry conditions. 4WD provides superior traction compared with front or rear-wheel drive.
- Four Wheel Steering
- A mechanism that allows the rear wheels to steer. The steering angle is usually limited to 2-3 degrees. 4WS improves handling by allowing more stable cornering.
- Front Wheel Drive
- The front wheels receive engine power. FWD provides more traction than rear-wheel drive(RWD) in poor road conditions because more weight is over the drive wheels. FWD also allows better use of interior space than RWD because all drivetrain components are concentrated in the front of the car.
- Fuel Injection
- A device(injector) that sprays fuel into air to provide a combustible mixture. Fuel injection provides better metering of fuel and air than carburetors. This results in more power, improved fuel economy, and lower emissions. The simplest systems use single or dual injectors in a central chamber to supply all cylinders. More sophisticated systems use an injector at each cylinder to precisely meter fuel.
- Generator
- A device that converts rotational energy to DC current. Generators were used in older cars to provide electrical energy for the vehicle.
- Horsepower
- The power produced by an engine. Net horsepower or bhp(brake horsepower) and Kw(kilowatts) are the standard units. Higher horsepower increases vehicle top speed. Equal displacement(size) engines that rev higher often produce more power than lower revving engines, because more air and fuel is burned in a given time. A typical 3.0L 24V V-6 produces 190 bhp @ 6400 RPM. A lower revving 3.0L 12V V-6 produces 160 bhp @ 5000 RPM. The 24-valve V-6 makes 190 bhp because it can rev higher(and breathe better) than the similar 12-valve V-6.
- Independent Suspension
- A suspension where the motion of one wheel does not affect the opposite wheel. Independent suspension allows a vehicle to provide a more level and stable ride.
- Intercooler
- Essentially a radiator used to cool the compressed intake air for the engine. The cooled air is denser and can provide more power and also reduces pinging/detonation. Intercoolers are used for both turbocharged and supercharged engines. Most intercoolers are air-to-air type, which means that ambient air is used to cool the compressed intake air. Less common air-to-water intercoolers use engine coolant to shed heat from the intake air.
- Leaf Spring
- A type of spring made up of several thin, curved, hardened steel plates. The plates are attached at the ends to the underbody. The curved shape of the plates allows them to flex and absorb bumps.
