I 21

Under the bonnet

What do these abbreviations means? Work with a partner to see how many you know.
STARTER
1 FWD front- wheel drive
2 bhp

3 g/km

4 GDI

5 mpg

6 mph

7 Nm

8 rpm

9 RWD
10 SI
11 TDI

1 Label the diagram with words from the box.

clutch • crankshaft • engine • gearbox • piston • propeller shaft

Brake
(Drum Type) Clutch Pedal

Brake _,,,,,,,.

Gearstick

6
Half Shaft

Final Drive
(Differential)
28 I UNIT 4 Under the bonnet

2 Look at this extract from a tour of a car factory. Complete the text with words from the box.

clutch • combustion •

crankshaft • cylinders •

distribution • fuel • piston •

spark plug • torque

'Now we come to the engine.

The principle of the internal
_ _ __ _ _ _ 1 engine has

not changed in the last 100 years.

The engine takes in

2
_______ and air which is compressed in a combustion chamber. Then this mixture is
ignited by a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 3 to produce an explosion, which moves the _ _ _ _ _ __ 4

in the cylinder. The up and down motion of the piston in the cylinder is converted into rotational
motion by the _ _ _ __ _ _ 5 . The rotational force generated by the engine is known as
6

The size of the engine determines the power.

The more _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 7 there are, the

more powerful the engine. This power is

transmitted through the

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ 8, the gearbox, the

propeller shaft (in rear-wheel and four-wheel

drive), and the axles to the wheels. The

position of the engine can vary, but generally

speaking it is mounted at the front. In some

sports cars, the engine is mounted at the rear

(e.g. Porsche) or in the middle (e.g. Ferrari or Lamborghini) because of weight _ _ _ _ __ _ 9•

So, that's enough about the engine for the moment - let's move on to the next stage ... '

AUDIO

Now listen to the recording to check your answers.

15

British English
gearbox
Americ~n _English
transm 1ss1on
7
___J
 UN IT 4 Under the bonnet I 29

3 find words in exercise 2 to complete the table. Use your dictionary if necessary.

Noun Adjective
b
to _ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ a power
combustible

to _ _ _ _ __ __ __ d ignition

to _ __ _ _ _ __ __ e
explosive
to _ _ _ _ _ __ _ __ g
rotation
to _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ transmission

Now complete the sentences with the correct form of words from the table.

1 In an engine, linear motion is converted into _ __ _ __ _ _ _ _ motion by the crankshaft.

2 The power of the engine is through the clutch and the gearbox.
3 The spark plug _ __ _ __ __ the air/fuel mixture and sets off an _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _

4 A 6-cylinder engine is more than a 4-cylinder engine.

5 Fuel and air is compressed in the chamber.

4 Match the descriptions of engine layout with the diagrams.

1 This layout is used for high-performance engines with

a compact layout such as in the BMW 7-series . The cylinders are
arranged in two banks set at an angle to one another. This layout
is normally more cuboid in shape than the other two.

D Horizontally opposed engine

2 This layout is wide and flat and gives the engine a low
centre of gravity. The cylinders are arranged in two banks on
opposite sides of the engine. It is very practical for cars with
the engine located at the rear, such as the Porsche .

D In-line engine

3 This layout is long and narrow. The cylinders

are all next to each other in a single bank.
It is a standard, simple layout used in the
Mercedes A-class, for example.
D V-engine
30 I UNIT 4 Under the bonnet

5 Work with a partner. First look at the phrases in the Language Box used to describe position and
shape. Then look at the engine layouts in the Partner Files. Tell your partner where the
components from the box below are.

battery • brake fluid reservoir • engine oil dipstick •

engine oil filler cap • power steering reservoir • radiator expansion

tank • windscreen/headlight washer container

litMIIIUillf l Partner A File 7, p. 63
Partner B File 14, p. 64

DESCRIBING POSITION AND SHAPE

The ... is on the right/left-hand side

of the engine.
This layout is cuboid in
shape.
□ square LJ cuboid

This part is located at the front/rear

of the engine.
The brake fluid reservoir
is the rectangular
D rectangular 8 cylindrical

It's on the opposite side of the engine container on the right.

from the ... Q circular spherical

It's above/below/next to/beside the ...

It's between the ... and the ... D triangular 8 conical

AUD I O

~
16-22
6 Listen to seven questions from customers and match them with the answers (a-g) given by a
technical support hotline employee.
a You look at the level in the reservoir.
b The cooling system is filled once at the factory and never has to be changed.
c Oil consumption can be up to 1.0 1/1000 km so the engine oil level must be checked at regular
intervals. It is a good idea to check the oil level every time you put fuel in the car.
d Under normal conditions you don't have to do anything with the battery except check the
electrolyte level occasionally.
e You needn't go to a service station for a brake fluid change, but make sure the person who does
it is competent and has the necessary tools.
f It's the plastic rectangular container next to the power steering reservoir.
g Battery acid is highly corrosive so you mustn't work on the battery without wearing eye
protection and gloves.

Speaker: 1 [I] 2 D 3 D 4 D 5 D 6 D 7 D
 UNIT 4 Under the bonnet I 31
AUDIO

~
23
7 A potential customer is visiting the stand of a major car manufacturer
at an international car show.

Listen to the dialogue and put these key

features in the order in which they are
mentioned.

D a low fuel consumption

IT] b design
D c top speed
D d six-speed automatic gearbox as standard
D e optional extras included in the price
D f acceleration from 0-60 in 6 seconds
D g increased power of the engine

AUDIO

~ Now listen again and note down what these numbers refer to.
23

1 4.2
2 330
3 155
4 W12 and V6
5 16.1
6 23
7 54,000
8 18

Work with a partner. Discuss these questions.

1 Why does the visitor first look at the car?

2 Why does the car have low fuel consumption?
3 What two things does the rep give the visitor, and why?

8 Match the two parts to make sentences from the dialogue (listen again if necessary).

1 we have increased the power a an effect on fuel consumption.

2 a six-speed automatic gearbox b with a 3.7 and a 4.2-litre petrol engine.
3 We're launching the model c is a six-disc CD unit with nine speakers ...
4 That naturally has d by 20 bhp to 330 bhp.
5 Included in the price e then just call or email me.
6 If you have any other questions, f comes as standard .
32 I UNIT 4 Under the bonnet

9 Work with a partner to do a role-play. First look at the Language Box for phrases you can use.
Then look at your role cards in the Partner Files.

l@;i014;iiilff S Partner A
Partner B
File 3, p. 62
File 15, p. 64

AT A TRADE FAIR

Visitor Sales rep

I'd like more information on ... Can I help you?
I'm interested in ... Which car are you interested in?
What about ... ? Would you like more detailed information?
Can I take one of these brochures? Would you like a brochure?
Could you tell me something about ... ? Here is our price list.
Let me give you my (business) card.
- - - - - - - --- -

10 Complete the puzzle. The answers are all words from this unit.
2
Across
This keeps the brake lubricated: brake
3 This can be petrol or diesel. 4
5 This fluid is put in the cooling system.
7 The motion of the pistons rotate this.
1O You use a dipstick to check the .. . level.
11 You need electricity from this to start
the engine.

Down
2 A type of fuel.
4 This moves up and down in the
cylinder. 11
5 A six- ... engine.
6 This fluid is used to keep the windscreen
clean: windscreen ... .
8 This is highly corrosive: battery ... .
9 This ignites the fuel-air mixture
in petrol engines. (2 words)
 UNIT 4 Under the bonnet I 33

Read the article and answer the questions which follow.

GDI Engines
When developing a new motor-
vehicle engine, engineers are faced
·with the dilemma of more power or
less fuel. The goal is to combine high
power output and low fuel
consumption. Increasing fuel
efficiency helps motorists to save
money and also reduces
CO 2 emissions. Gasoline Direct
Injection (GDI) engines can reduce
fuel consumption by up
to 20%, thereby producing
20% lower emissions.

How does it work?

GDI engines use a new combustion charge of fuel and fresh air near the
control method that injects gasoline source of ignition is the process
directly into the cylinders, where it behind GD l's low fuel consumption.
mixes with oxygen from air drawn in Some car makers have developed
from the outside. Conventional spark- other key components, for example a
ignition engines mix air and gasoline high-pressure common-rail injection
in the intake manifold before injecting system with a single piston injection
the mixture into the cylinder. pump. This pump supplies the exact
The GDI engine produces a finer amount of fuel needed to maintain
mist of gasoline in the cylinder which the required pressure in the system.
leads to cleaner burning and more GDI engines will become more
power. It also has a shaped piston important in the future because of the
crown to swirl the finely atomized need to reduce fuel consumption and
gasoline into a tight cloud near the because of growing environmental
tip of the spark plug . This stratified concerns.

OVER TO YOU

Can you explain in your own words how GDI engines work?
How important dci you think GDI engines will be in the future?
Do you know of any other current engine innovations?