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Cylinder

A cylindrical opening in an engine block. One connecting rod and one piston travel up and down in each cylinder during the combustion cycle. A 4-cylinder engine obviously has four cylinders. A V6 has six cylinders, laid out in a V-shape, with three cylinders on one side (or bank) of the V and three on the other.

Cylinder Arrangement

The way cylinders are placed in an engine, such as in-line, in a row; vee, in two banks or rows at an angle to each other; or flat, pancake.

Cylinder Block

The basic framework of an engine to which all other parts and assemblies are installed or attached.

Cylinder Bore

The diameter of a cylinder.

Cylinder Combustion Pressure

The pressure in the cylinder from expanding gases immediately after the air/fuel mixture is ignited; about four times greater than compression pressure.

Cylinder Deglazing

The process of removing the glaze from cylinder walls after extended use.

Cylinder Head

That part of the engine that covers the cylinders and pistons.

Cylinder Head

A component that mounts on top of the engine block. It almost always contains the combustion chambers (completed when the piston reaches the top of its travel) and valvetrain. When the intake valves open, they allow air and fuel that have entered the cylinder head to continue into the combustion chambers, while the exhaust valves open to allow exhaust gases to pass through the cylinder head and into the exhaust manifold or header.

Cylinder Head Gasket

A gasket (usually) metal used to seal the mating surfaces between the engine block and the cylinder head

Cylinder Hone

A tool that uses abrasives to smooth out and bring to exact measurement such things as engine cylinders or brake wheel cylinders.

Cylinder Leakage Testing

Using compressed air applied to the cylinder through the spark plug hole, this test detects the percentage of leakage and the location of the leak

Cylinder Liner

A replaceable cylinder wall.

Cylinder Liner

A device that is pressed into a cylinder bore of an engine. There are two varieties

Cylinder Numbering

The order in which the cylinders are numbered; cylinder one may be on either front side of a V engine and start with one at the front of in-line engines

Cylinder Power Balance Testing

A test to determine if each cylinder is contributing the same amount of power to the turning of the crankshaft while measuring engine RPM or Exhaust HC

Cylinder Sleeve

A round, replaceable, cylindrical tube that fits into the cylinder bore.

Cylinder Sleeve

See cylinder liner.

Cylinder-head Gasket

The gasket used to seal the head to the block to promote compression and to ensure a leak-free bond.