(3)
Wheel tilt angle, wheels tilted inward at the top is negative camber,
wheels tilted outward at the top are positive camber.
Caster
(3)
Angle between spindle axis and true vertical, when spindle axis tilts rearward at the top, caster is positive.
Positive caster makes the vehicle more stable but harder to turn, some drag cars have a ton of positive caster built in.
Catalytic Converter
(2)
A device used to reduce the toxicity of emissions from an internal combustion engine.
First widely introduced on series-production automobiles in the US market for the
1975 model year to comply with tightening EPA regulations on auto exhaust,
catalytic converters are still most commonly used in motor vehicle exhaust systems.
CFM
(3)
Cubic Feet Per Minute is a measurement of a carburetors airflow capacity.
CC
Cubic-Inch Displacement
CID
(3)
Cubic Centimeter is a metric unit of measurement that is equal to approximately 0.061 cubic inch.
Cylinder Heads
(3)
Part of engine that covers tops of cylinders and pistons, and contains the combustion chamber and valvetrain.
This term represents the one or more computers in the car that control the engine's performance or behavior.
While trying to squeeze the most fuel economy and achieve the cleanest emissions, this system controls the inputs to the engine,
(i.e. timing, spark, injector pulse width), by receiving the outputs of the engine sensors, (i.e. exhaust temperature,
ambient air temperature, throttle position, speed…)
To effectively do its job, the EEC relies heavily on the Oxygen Sensors, (O2). The O2 sensors tell the EEC how much
oxygen is in the exhaust. But, for the O2 to correctly detect oxygen, they must first warm up.
Therefore, when the car is cold, the computer works in open-loop, meaning it is operating on fixed values.
Once the sensors are able to properly detect values, the system quickly changes into closed-loop, described above.
Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR)
(2)
EGR is a NOx (nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide) reduction technique used in most gasoline and diesel engines.
EGR works by recirculating a portion of an engine's exhaust gas back to the engine cylinders. Intermixing the
incoming air with recirculated exhaust gas dilutes the mix with inert gas, lowering the peak combustion temperatures
and (in diesel engines) reducing the amount of excess oxygen. Because NOx formation progresses much faster at high temperatures,
EGR serves to limit the generation of NOx. NOx is primarily formed when a mix of nitrogen and oxygen is subjected to high
temperatures.
(3)CH3NO2
, highly combustible racing fuel. Nitromethane is also a powerful paint solvent.
Always use the proper safety equipment when working with Nitrometahne.
Nitrous Oxide
(3)
N2O, non-flammable, non-explosive gas that acts as an oxidizing agent with gasoline or methanol to improve the rate and efficiency of combustion, thus increasing engine horsepower.
This term has a great many definitions. Here's what I have come to find it to mean:
A manufacture puts its name on equipment built by another manufacture
The equipment meets the manufacture's specifications
Oxygen Sensor (O2)
(2)
An oxygen sensor is an electronic device that measures the proportion of oxygen in the gas being analyzed.
The sensing element is usually made with a zirconium ceramic bulb coated on both sides with a thin layer of
platinum and comes in both heated and unheated forms. The most common application is to measure the performance
of internal combustion engines in automobiles and other vehicles. Divers also use a similar device to measure
the level of oxygen they are breathing.
(2)
A spark plug is an electrical device that
fits into the cylinder head of
some internal combustion engines and ignites compressed aerosol gasoline by means of an electric spark.
Super Charger
(3)
A mechanically driven compressor (SuperCharger) that pumps air into the engine's indiction system at a pressures higher than normal atmospheric pressure.
A bulletin issued to an auto dealer by the manufacturer detailing a fix for a known concern. The bulletin is for informational purposes only. It is not a recall. The dealer is under no obligation to make the repair or notify customers. TSB's are intended to assist dealers in ongoing repairs.
Torque
(1)
A force that produces or tends to produce rotation or torsion <an automobile engine delivers torque to the drive shaft>;
also : a measure of the effectiveness of such a force that consists of the product of the force and the
perpendicular distance from the line of action of the force to the axis of rotation.
Or simple turning or twisting force.
Torque Wrench
A wrench that allows measurement of the rotating force applied to a fastener.
Transmission
(2)
Early transmissions (gearboxes) included right-angle drives and other gearing in windmills, horse-powered devices,
and steam engines, mainly in support of pumping, milling, and hoisting. Most modern gearboxes will either reduce an
unsuitable high speed and low torque of the prime mover output shaft to a more useable lower speed with higher torque,
or do the opposite and provide a mechanical advantage (i.e increase in torque) to allow higher forces to be generated. However,
some of the simplest gearboxes merely change the physical direction in which power is transmitted.
Many systems, such as typical automobile transmissions, include the ability to select one of several different gear ratios.
In this case, most of the gear ratios (simply called "gears") are used to slow down the output speed of the engine and increase
torque. However, the highest gear(s) may be an "overdrive" type that increases the output speed.