What is a cylinder block? Aluminum cylinder blocks: alloys. What can go wrong

Any motor has a complex structure, each element of which is necessary to perform a specific task. One of these elements is the cylinder head.

The cylinder head is the main component in any car or motorcycle. The device is necessary to control in the engine internal combustion removal of gases. By its nature, the cylinder head is a cover that covers the block itself. The cylinder head cover is made of aluminum alloys; it can also be made of cast iron. In production, the cylinder head is subjected to an artificial aging process. The number of cylinder heads directly depends on the type of internal combustion engine; if it is V-shaped, a separate head is used for each row.

The operation of the cylinder head very much depends on the degree of sealing of the head with the cylinder block. This explains the fact that the upper part of this part is slightly narrower in comparison with the lower one. The gasket is located between the head and the cylinder block itself.

Installation and fixation of the cylinder head is carried out using pins, which are designed to secure the part. Correct installation greatly influences the further operation of the cylinder head. For everyone vehicle The instructions contain their own regulations. For this reason, you should not borrow a head installation diagram from a foreign car for a domestic car. Do not forget that the pins have a certain tightening order, and the required tightening torque is indicated. For correct installation cylinder head, a special tool is used - a torque wrench.

When installing and tightening the cylinder head, you should primarily rely on the installation instructions rather than brute physical force. If you overtighten the cylinder head, you may damage the sealing gasket, the cylinder head oil channel and other equally important components of this system. For example, a cylinder head may crack or change in size; the entire operation of the engine, and, as a result, the vehicle as a whole depends on the operation of this element.

Design Features

The design of the cylinder head is not as simple as it seems at first glance. All components of this part will be described below.

Currently, all elements of the cylinder head are made of aluminum alloys; previously, alloy cast iron was used for the same purpose. Some vehicles are still equipped with a cast iron cylinder head. This is explained by the fact that cast iron is most justified for very high or very low temperatures. Aluminum alloys most susceptible to deformation due to temperature changes. The dimensions of the cylinder head change during engine operation due to increased temperature.

The cylinder head consists of the following elements.

• Sealing gasket.
• Gas distribution mechanism.
• The cylinder head housing is where all the mechanisms and pipes of the cooling system, oil wires and combustion chamber are located.
• Compartments into which spark plugs are subsequently mounted.
• Gas distribution mechanism drive.
• The combustion chamber where the fuel combustion process takes place.
• There are also landing planes that make it possible to release processed gases.

Each of these elements should be described in more detail. The cylinder head valves are located in row 1, each of which is inclined to the cylinders by twenty degrees. The latest generation cars may use a slightly different cylinder head design principle, but in general, everything is approximately the same.

It is worth talking in more detail about the sealing gasket, the basis of which is reinforced asbestos. The manufacture of this element from precisely this material is explained by the high temperatures during operation of the internal combustion engine, and a lot of pressure is also exerted on the gasket. A reinforced asbestos gasket is able to ensure the tightness of all channels and engine systems.

If you disassemble the front part of this device, you can see that the gas distribution mechanism drive is located here along with the chain tensioner. The combustion chambers have close contact with the block, for this reason they are processed mechanically. The volumes of the compression chambers are somewhat smaller than the sizes of the pistons. This is explained by the fact that during internal combustion engine operation, at the moment the pistons rise, this design allows the air mixtures to swirl. As a result, the combustion process itself improves.

On the left side of the cylinder head there are holes for the spark plugs; systems for supporting the lever and support washers are also mounted here. At the top of the cylinder head there is a cover that is attached to the rest of the body with bolts.

The cylinder head contains non-removable elements. Valve seats, which are necessary for the tightness of the gas distribution mechanism, are also located here. Please note that these elements were installed using pressing. That is, it is impossible to replace them at home; you will need to contact a service center or use special equipment.

Some car owners try to do cylinder head repair work on their own, but this is not recommended, otherwise there may be negative consequences.

1. The cylinder head may change in shape, resulting in the sealing of the valves and combustion chamber being compromised.
2. Due to improper heating, the cylinder head will become unusable.
3. The formation of cracks and microcracks is possible, with which proper operation of the motor will become impossible.

Repair work on non-removable elements at home may lead to the need to purchase a new cylinder head. No one is saying that a competent specialist cannot repair one of these parts, but this is not always possible.

Diagnostics and maintenance

Sooner or later, any mechanism in a vehicle will require diagnostics and maintenance, The cylinder head is not any exception to the rule. In this matter, the main task of the vehicle owner is to periodically diagnose those elements that most often fail.

• Valves and their seals.
• Sealing gasket.

Particular attention should be paid to the gasket; if it is worn out, the working fluids may mix, which will lead to engine failure. If coolant gets into the working oil, it will bubble. Over time, this will make it impossible to start the engine. In this case, the main signal will be the temperature sensor, which will indicate the boiling of the internal combustion engine. You can also assess the situation by removing the spark plugs. Why are repairs necessary? Most often, dismantling the cylinder head cannot be avoided in the following cases.

• The height of the cylinder head has changed.
• There was a need to press out the valves and seats.
• One or more valves have stopped functioning and need to be replaced.
• The cover needs sanding.
• The sealing gasket needs to be replaced.
• It is necessary to get rid of microcracks.

If you understand what each step will lead to and have the necessary tools, you can do repair work The cylinder head can be repaired at home, but even the most high-tech equipment in the hands of an inexperienced owner will not help fix the problem.

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them

The engine cylinder block is the largest massive part of the internal combustion engine body; conditionally, it can be considered a housing. It is a support for the moving units of the crank mechanism, the cylinders are located in it, and attachments are attached to it, for example, a starter, a generator, etc.

In this article we will tell you the history of the creation of the cylinder block, what materials it is made from and what parts it consists of.

The first in-line engine cylinder block was invented by the German inventor Nikolaus August Otto; it was he who in 1876 developed a very efficient engine for that time. gasoline engine. The V-shaped version was designed by Gottlieb Daimler in 1889, when he took part in the creation of an improved two-cylinder engine.

After these events, the part went through a long path of evolution and became what it is in most modern engines.

What is the engine block made of?

The most common material used in production is cast iron. This is the traditional option. In second place is aluminum. Or rather, its various alloys. Well, there is also a rather exotic material - magnesium alloy. Now about all three options - in more detail.

Cast iron

This is a traditional material; this part has been made from it for many decades.

Cast iron was used with additives: nickel, chromium. Among the positive qualities of a cast iron product are: less sensitivity to overheating, rigidity, which is very important when boosting the engine.

The device mainly works with frequent changes temperature regime, so cast iron products are a priority. Main disadvantage– significant weight, which worsens the dynamics of a passenger car.

Aluminum

It has such positive properties as optimal engine cooling and low weight. It is in second place in terms of the number of cylinder blocks produced. A special feature of the aluminum design is the installation of sleeves.

Today, to perform this operation, two technologies are mainly used: Locasil and Nicasil. In the first case, sleeves made of an aluminum-silicon alloy are pressed in; in the second, a nickel coating is applied. The second technology has a significant drawback - if, for example, a piston burns out, a connecting rod breaks off, or the nickel coating fails, then the product cannot be repaired.

Also, nicosil technology does not provide for boring; the entire assembly has to be replaced. It is clear that in this case the car owner has to fork out a substantial amount.

Magnesium alloy

The engine cylinder block made from it is as hard as cast iron and light as aluminum. True, such a product is expensive, and for this reason it is not used in conveyor production, although it combines best qualities cast iron and aluminum.
As you can see, each of the materials mentioned has certain pros and cons, but it would be incorrect to say that any of them is better.

Overview of main parts

Engine cylinder

The main part of an engine cylinder is the liner.

There are two types of sleeves:

• pressed sleeves (in an aluminum block);

• removable sleeves - they are “wet” and “dry”.

Cylinder head - cylinder head

It is secured on top of the structure with guide pins and cylinder head bolts. Very important detail– block gasket, it is located between the cylinder head and the block itself. It is made from asbestos-metal, metal, or maybe non-asbestos.

The cylinder head consists of: a combustion chamber, timing belt mounting points, a cooling jacket, lubrication channels, threaded holes of spark plugs (injectors), holes in the intake and exhaust channels.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the cylinder head mounting technology. For this purpose, special fastening bolts are used, and the operation itself is performed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. In particular, you need to tighten the head with a torque wrench, observing the tightening torque and using the bolt tightening diagram.

Crankcase

The crankcase is considered part of the block and is attached to it from below. Closed with a tray. That is, the crankcase can be called the body of the crank mechanism.

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The cylinder block body also has holes and channels for lubrication and cooling. The drain plug is needed to drain the coolant. Motor oil, drains after removing the plug in the oil pan. Space is provided for the drive camshaft. It is closed at the front by the cylinder block cover. The crankshaft main bearing supports are located below.

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An engine cylinder block is a part of 2 or more cylinders piston engines. The cylinder block performs two main functions: it is a housing for housing all components, mechanisms and engine parts. Secondly, the cylinder block is the basis for the attached parts of the engine: crankcase, cylinder head.

Cylinder block material

Cast iron– a traditional material from which blocks were made until recently. Cast iron is used with additives: nickel, chromium. Positive qualities of a cast iron cylinder block: less sensitivity to overheating, rigidity required at a high degree. The downside is the large mass, which affects the dynamics of the car.

Aluminum– ranks second in the manufacture of cylinder blocks. Positive qualities aluminum block are: lightness and better cooling. As a disadvantage, there is a problem with the selection of material from which the cylinder should be made.

In modern conditions, technologies have been developed for the manufacture of cylinders in aluminum engine cylinder blocks: Locasil - pressing of aluminum-silicon liners, Nicasil - in the form of a nickel coating on the aluminum surface of the cylinder block.

The disadvantage of nickel technology is that if the piston burns out or the connecting rod breaks, the nickel coating fails and the cylinder block cannot be repaired. It changes as a whole. Unlike cast iron, which is also subject to a repair kit.

Magnesium alloy cylinder block combines the hardness of cast iron and the lightness of aluminum. But such a block is very expensive and conveyor production does not apply.

Each of the materials has its own pros and cons, so it is incorrect to clearly state which one is better.

Basic requirements for the engine cylinder block

• the holes of all beds must ensure alignment;
• beds must have the same diameter. The exception is special designs;
• the axes of the beds and the plane of the cylinder block must be perfectly parallel.

Overview of the main parts of the cylinder block

Engine cylinder. The main part of an engine cylinder is the liner. Two types of sleeves are used:

• liners pressed directly into the cylinder block. Typically in aluminum blocks;
• which are divided into “wet” and “dry”.

Cylinder head. It includes: a combustion chamber, timing belt mounting points, a cooling jacket and lubrication channels, threaded holes for spark plugs (injectors), holes for inlet and outlet channels.

The cylinder block is the largest and most massive part of an internal combustion engine. It is made of aluminum, cast iron or their alloys. The main requirements for a cylinder block are good thermal conductivity, strength and wear resistance.

The cylinder block serves as a container for parts of the cylinder-piston group.

Inside the block is crank mechanism engine (KShM), consisting of: pistons, piston pins, connecting rods and connecting rod bearings, piston rings(compression and oil scraper), crankshaft, fasteners.

The crank mechanism is the main mechanism of an internal combustion engine, ensuring the conversion of fuel combustion energy through the reciprocating movement of the piston into the rotational movement of the crankshaft.

According to the structural arrangement of the internal combustion engine cylinders, cylinder blocks are:

• in-line
• V-shaped
• opposed

There are cylinder blocks of other structural types, but these three types are most often used on cars.

Engine block cooling system

In addition to the crank mechanism, the cylinder block includes a cooling “jacket”.

It serves to circulate coolant, that is, to remove thermal energy from the engine.

This ensures that the internal combustion engine operates at an optimal operating temperature. The cooling “jacket” is cut inside the cylinder block with a special tool.

To avoid clogging and coking, the coolant should be changed through certain time, according to the regulatory and technical documentation for the operation of the vehicle.

It is compiled by the manufacturer.

Cylinder block design

The cylinders themselves are cut into the block using a lathe.

They must be smooth and resistant to wear and tear high temperature. Smoothness is achieved through the homing procedure, and strength is achieved through heat treatment of the metal.

On old-style engines, the cylinders were “lined” - a liner was inserted into the drilled hole of the cylinder, inside which the piston performed reciprocating movements.

On modern cars, cylinders are “lined” only in critical cases overhaul ICE.

Problems with the block are mainly associated with grinding of the cylinder walls during engine operation.

To avoid increased wear of the cylinder walls, as well as parts of the cylinder-piston group, it is necessary to regularly change lubricants and filter materials.

When determining cylinder wear, the term “cylinder wear” is used.

It is measured special device- a gut meter, which can be...

If the output exceeds the maximum permissible value, then the cylinder block is sent for boring to the next repair size of the pistons.

If the cylinders are so worn that boring will not help, then they are lined.

However, this method is rarely resorted to, and the block is completely replaced with a new one.

After boring the block, be sure to check with the turner what size pistons the cylinders are bored to (if you haven’t told him so yourself) in order to purchase pistons of the required repair size.

Otherwise, the block will not serve you for long, and after a couple of thousand kilometers you will return it again for turning.

Remember that when repairing a block, an error of 0.1 mm can be fatal. Therefore, please be patient and necessary tool. It is especially important to have a micrometer on hand.

Since it houses all the most important components and assemblies of the engine. It is this detail that accounts for most loads (up to 50 percent). Therefore, the cylinder block (including the VAZ 2114) must be made from the most durable and wear-resistant steel on special high-precision machines.

Functions

This mechanism performs several functions at once: it is the basis for the attached parts of the engine (cylinder head, crankcase, etc.), and also serves as a housing for housing all engine parts.

Material

Most modern cars equipped with cast iron cylinder blocks. Cast iron is diluted with nickel and chromium additives, making it durable and wear-resistant. The main advantages of this material are its resistance to overheating and rigidity, which is needed at a high degree. The only disadvantage of a cast iron block is its heavy weight, due to which the dynamics of the car significantly deteriorate. To accelerate the car to the required speed, the engine has to produce more power, and this, in turn, entails increased But, as a rule, the car loses no more than 1-2 percent of the total amount of fuel consumed.

Aluminum is a less popular material for the manufacture of these products. A striking example of the use of aluminum blocks are domestic GAZelles and some Zhiguli models. The main advantages of this material are its light weight and best properties cooling. However, at the same time, car enthusiasts note a problem with searching required material, from which the cylinder is made.

Mechanism design

The design involves the placement of the following parts:

• engine cylinders;
• crankcase

And now in more detail about these devices. Engine cylinders include special liners that can be pressed directly into the cylinder block (most often in aluminum devices) or be removable (in the case of a cast iron mechanism). In turn, removable instruments are divided into “dry” and “wet”.

The cylinder head is a complex of parts that are located at the top of the device. It includes a cooling jacket, lubrication channels, as well as holes for spark plugs (if it is gasoline) and injectors (if it is diesel engine). There are also intake and exhaust valve openings in the cylinder head. There is a small connecting gap between the head and the block itself, in which it is located. If it is not replaced in a timely manner, the motor begins to lose its power and traction, and the risk of failure of other parts increases.

The crankcase is the main component of a part such as a cylinder block. It is a housing for the crankshaft. The crankcase is secured from below with a special pallet. Relative to the internal combustion engine block, it is located in the lower part.