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.

A computerized brain that regulates an engine's operation by monitoring certain engine characteristics (rpm, coolant temperature, intake airflow, etc.) through a network of sensors and then controlling key variables (fuel metering, spark timing, EGR, etc.) according to pre-programmed schedules.

Laboratory fuel-economy tests administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) using simulated weight and drag to re-create real driving conditions. The city fuel-economy test, also used to test emissions compliance, is based on a drive through typical Los Angeles urban traffic of about twenty years ago. Of course, such conditions are purely nostalgic these days. The highway test uses a higher, steadier speed, averaging 49.4 mph.

A form of gear used by Benz in which small pinions revolve around a central or sun gear and mesh with an outer ring gear called the annulus. Type used in the Ford Model T. Also called planetary gears, sun-and-planet gears.

The part of the air-conditioning system where refrigerant changes from a liquid to a gas and absorbs heat from the air.

The system of exhausting the burned gases from an internal-combustion engine consisting of piping or tubing, silencers, and, at times, resonators.

The network of passages that gathers the exhaust gases from the various exhaust ports and routes them toward the catalysts and mufflers of the exhaust system. Metal tubes that lead exhaust gases from the engine to the exhaust system. A manifold with free-flowing passages of a carefully designed configuration, called a 'header,' can improve breathing.

The passageway in the cylinder head leading from the exhaust valves to the exhaust manifold.

An exhaust-emission control system in which a portion of the exhaust gas is picked up from the exhaust manifold and sent back to the intake manifold to be reburned in the engine. Mixing exhaust gases with the fresh air/fuel mixture lowers the combustion temperature and reduces the formation of oxides of nitrogen in the exhaust. The EGR valve is part of the emissions control system; it recirculates exhaust gas into the intake manifold, cooling the combustion chamber.

An engine configuration in which the intake valves are in the cylinder head, while the camshaft and exhaust valves are located in the cylinder block. The camshaft operates the intake valves via lifters and pushrods, while it operates the exhaust valves directly.

In used vehicles the combination of original standard equipment and production options that make up the equipment of a used vehicle. May also be referred to as 'base' equipment.

Also called a drive belt or serpentine belt. Fan belts are used to drive the engine's accessories, such as the alternator, power steering pump, or air conditioning compressor. A serpentine belt is a wide single drive belt that drives all the engine's accessories.

The heat-operated, viscous-fluid clutch that controls whether or not an engine fan rotates to help cool an engine.

An electric motor with a fan that controls the airflow to the interior of a car.

A car that has an unbroken curved line from the top of the roof to the rear bumper as opposed to a drop in the line for a near-vertical rear window. In a fastback design the rear window slope follows the unbroken roof line and is often at less than a 45 degree angle.

A feature of a computer-controlled fuel system. By using a sensor to measure the oxygen content of the engine's exhaust, the system keeps the fuel-air ratio very close to the proportion for chemically perfect combustion. Such tight control of the fuel-air ratio is mandatory for the proper operation of three-way catalysts.

A blade, usually metal, of precisely predetermined thickness, used to measure the clearance between two parts, e.g., spark plus 'gap'.

A composite material that relies on small glass fibers for its strength. A very tough and durable plastic material with fibers running through the plastic. Used for race car bodies, many sports car bodies, and also enjoys considerable acceptance for passenger car bodies. Matting and Resin are often used to fill in large rust holes where filler would be unable to work, and where welding in new metal would be difficult.

Load supporting plate mounted to the frame of a vehicle. Pivot mounted, it contains provision for accepting and holding the kingpin of a trailer, providing a flexible connection between the tractor and the trailer. Center of the fifth wheel should always be located ahead of the centerline of the rear axle.

Filler, also referred to as Bondo, is a plastic material used to repair minor accident and rust damage. Filler begins as a paste, but hardens to a solid consistency in minutes.