Combustion chamber: operation and maintenance
Content
The combustion chamber is the place where air and fuel are mixed. Located in your engine, it may have one or more combustion chambers depending on the number of cylinders. In this article, we will share with you everything you need to know about operating and maintaining your vehicle's combustion chamber!
💨 What is a combustion chamber?
The combustion chamber is the space between buttock and a piston in which an explosion of the air-fuel mixture (gasoline or diesel fuel) occurs. More precisely, it is located between the piston head when it is at top dead center and the cylinder head. There are currently 7 different types of combustion chambers:
- Cylindrical chambers : they are buried right in buttock with valves located in parallel on the same axis with the cylinder;
- Hemispherical rooms : on this model, the valves are installed in a V-shape at an angle;
- Triangular rooms : the spark plug is closer to the intake valve;
- Corner rooms : the valves are always parallel, but have a slight tilt relative to the cylinder axis;
- Lateral trapezoidal cameras : often used on Mercedes-Benz car models, the piston has an elevation. Cameras of this type have a longer service life;
- Heron's rooms : widely used in modern cars, have an excellent surface area to volume ratio;
- Rover Rooms : here the inlet valve is in position one and the outlet valve is on the side.
Diesel engines have a slight difference inside the combustion chamber, they don't have a spark plug, but a glow plug.
🌡️ How does the combustion chamber work?
A combustion chamber works using multiple parts that inject fuel, allow air to enter, and then. ignite this mixture. The first step is to allow air to enter the chamber using valves. Then the air will compress pistons the fuel is supplied by very high pressure injectors. It is at this moment that the mixture burns. After combustion, the flue gases escape.
⚠️ What are the symptoms of a malfunctioning combustion chamber?
If combustion in the chamber is no longer correct, this may cause various dysfunctions... Since the combustion chamber is made up of many parts, a malfunction on their part can cause combustion problems. For example, a cylinder head gasket that no longer provides sealing A cylinder head or a faulty injector may be responsible for these occurrences. In general, the following signs may alert you:
- Loss of engine power ;
- Problems with starting the engine ;
- Shocks during acceleration phases ;
- Thick smoke comes out of the exhaust pipe ;
- Le engine warning light on the dashboard lights up.
💧 How to clean the combustion chamber?
In order to clean the combustion chamber yourself, you must have solid knowledge of automotive mechanics be able to disassemble several of the components that make up your car's engine. Cleaning the combustion chamber removes scale from the pistons and cylinder head.
Required material:
Protective glasses
Protective gloves
Degreaser
Sponge for washing dishes
Nylon scraper
Scraper with plastic blade
the cloth
Step 1: access to the pistons
Inside the engine, you can find pistons and apply a degreaser to them. Then scrape off any remaining limescale with a washcloth and dry with a cloth. Repeat the operation until the scale dissolves completely.
Step 2: Remove the cylinder head gasket.
Spray a degreaser on the cylinder head gasket and cylinder head, then let sit for fifteen minutes. Using a nylon scraper and a plastic scraper, remove scale from the cylinder head gasket and the cylinder head itself. Rub the sponge again until all scales are removed, then wipe with a cloth.
Step 3. Reassemble the elements
Collect all items and start the engine to check if there are still signs of clogging.
👨🔧 How to calculate the volume of the combustion chamber?
The volume varies from one combustion chamber to the next. This volume determines volume ratio... To calculate the volume of the combustion chamber, it is necessary to inject a mixture of engine oil and fuel into the cylinder head with a syringe. As soon as the mixture enters the top of the spark plug well or piston for diesels, you need to remember the volume that you just poured and take there. 1.5 ml if it is a short base cylinder head or 2.5 ml if it is a cylinder head with a long base. This will give you the volume of the camera.
From now on, you know everything about the combustion chamber, the signs of its malfunction or the calculation of its volume. If you feel that your engine is having difficulty starting or accelerating, there is a good chance that some component in the chamber is not working properly. Feel free to use our garage comparator to find the one that is closest to you and at the best price!
