Reciprocating Engines
The other name for the Combustion stroke in a four stroke engine.
What is the power stroke?
Another name for a constant speed propeller.
What is a variable pitch propeller?
One of the two types of systems used to combine air and fuel in an internal combustion engine.
What is a carburetor system or a fuel injection system?
The valve though which the exhaust from an internal combustion engine cylinder will pass.
What is the exhaust valve?
The word that a pilot yells out the window just before starting an engine.
What is "clear!"
The part of a reciprocating engine which provides the electrical spark for ignition.
What is the spark plug?
The lever used to adjust the propeller RPM in a variable pitch propeller.
What is the prop lever?
The device that can be used by a pilot to reduce the chances of icing in the carburetor.
What is carburetor heat?
The causes of pre-ignition will typically be the result of problems with this part of a reciprocating engine.
What are the spark plugs?
The instrument used by a pilot to set power in a turboprop engine.
What is the torquemeter?
The method for producing combustion in a reciprocating engines which does not involve the use of a spark plug.
What is compression?
The instrument that is used by a pilot to set power when flying with a fixed pitch propeller.
What is the tachometer?
The impact on engine performance when a pilot turns on carburetor heat.
What is decreased engine performance?
The indications on the oil temperature and pressure gauges when there is an insufficient supply of oil in the engine.
What is high oil temperature and low oil pressure?
The first step for a pilot to take when increasing power with a constant speed (variable pitch) propeller.
What is to increase prop RPM by moving the prop lever forward?
One of the two strokes in a four stroke engine that occurs with both valves closed.
What is the compression stroke or the Power (or combustion) stroke?
The instrument that is used by a pilot to set power when flying with a constant speed propeller.
What is the Manifold Pressure Gauge?
The purpose of the venturi in a carburetor.
What is to reduce the pressure of the fuel-air mixture (to create an area of low pressure)?
The name of the generators that are devoted to energizing the spark plugs.
What are magnetos?
The biggest difference between turbochargers and superchargers.
What is turbochargers are driven by engine exhaust and superchargers are driven by engine power?
The ratio between the volume in the cylinder before compression to the volume after compression.
What is the compression ratio?
The type of pitch on a variable pitch propeller when the engine fails (resulting in the minimum amount of wind resistance from the propeller.)
What is flat pitch or "feathered."
The level of humidity below which you will typically not experience carburetor icing.
What is 50% humidity?
One of the possible dangers from a damaged exhaust system.
What are (1) carbon monoxide in the cabin, (20 decreased engine performance, or (3) engine fire?
The pressure indicated on the Manifold Pressure Gauge when the engine is not running.
What is ambient air pressure (or the air pressure outside the aircraft)?