Gasoline Engine Course

Lesson 1 • Engine Performance Metrics

Defines horsepower, torque, volumetric efficiency, and thermal efficiency. Students use these metrics to evaluate and compare engine designs.

Lesson 2 • Major Engine Components Overview

Identifies the block, head, pistons, crankshaft, and camshaft as primary structural parts. Connects each component's function to the combustion cycle.

Lesson 3 • History and Engine Classifications

Traces the evolution of gasoline engines from early designs to modern configurations. Provides context for understanding why current engine architectures exist.

Lesson 1 • Carburetor Operation and Circuits

Details how carburetors meter fuel through idle, main, and power circuits. Provides the foundation for understanding fuel injection as its successor.

Lesson 2 • Fuel Storage and Delivery Components

Examines fuel tanks, pumps, filters, and lines that supply the engine. Establishes the pathway fuel travels before reaching the combustion chamber.

Lesson 3 • Port and Throttle Body Fuel Injection

Explains how injectors replace carburetors to deliver precise fuel quantities. Connects injector pulse width to air-fuel ratio control.

Lesson 4 • Direct Injection Systems

Covers high-pressure direct injection that sprays fuel directly into the cylinder. Highlights advantages in efficiency and the unique diagnostic challenges introduced.

Lesson 1 • Ignition System Fundamentals

Introduces the purpose of ignition and the path from battery voltage to spark. Establishes why precise timing is critical to engine performance.

Lesson 2 • Distributor-Based Ignition Systems

Explains mechanical and electronic distributor systems that route high voltage. Provides historical context before transitioning to distributorless designs.

Lesson 3 • Ignition Timing and Knock Control

Explains how the ECU advances or retards timing based on load and knock sensor input. Links timing accuracy to power output, fuel economy, and engine longevity.

Lesson 1 • Intake Manifold Design and Airflow

Covers runner length, plenum volume, and variable intake geometry effects on torque. Students measure manifold vacuum and identify intake leaks.

Lesson 2 • Valve Timing and Variable Valve Systems

Explains how cam phasing and variable lift systems optimize power across the RPM range. Students interpret timing diagrams and identify variable valve timing faults.

Lesson 3 • Exhaust System Design and Backpressure

Explains how header design, pipe diameter, and muffler selection affect exhaust scavenging. Students identify restrictions that reduce power and increase emissions.

Lesson 1 • Overheating Diagnosis and Prevention

Identifies causes of overheating including thermostat failure, air pockets, and head gasket leaks. Students follow a systematic diagnostic process to isolate the root cause.

Lesson 2 • Coolant Types and System Maintenance

Explains ethylene glycol, organic acid, and hybrid organic acid coolant formulations. Students flush, refill, and pressure-test the cooling system correctly.

Lesson 3 • Lubrication System Design and Components

Traces oil flow from the sump through the pump, filter, and galleries to bearings. Establishes how pressure and volume protect moving parts.

Lesson 4 • Cooling System Components and Coolant Flow

Identifies the radiator, water pump, thermostat, and hoses that regulate engine temperature. Maps coolant circulation from the engine block to the radiator and back.

Lesson 1 • Emissions Control Systems

Covers EGR, EVAP, PCV, and catalytic converter systems that reduce harmful emissions. Students test each system for proper operation and diagnose related fault codes.

Lesson 2 • OBD Diagnostics and Fault Codes

Introduces on-board diagnostics monitors, readiness flags, and diagnostic trouble codes. Students retrieve, interpret, and clear codes using a scan tool.

Lesson 3 • ECU Architecture and Input Sensors

Describes ECU hardware, memory types, and the sensors that feed it real-time data. Establishes the signal chain from sensor to ECU decision.

Lesson 4 • Fuel Injection Control Strategies

Explains how the ECU calculates injector pulse width from load, RPM, and correction factors. Links fuel maps to real-world driving conditions.

Lesson 1 • No-Start and Hard-Start Diagnosis

Guides students through fuel, spark, and compression checks on a no-start engine. Builds a decision tree that narrows the fault to a single system quickly.

Lesson 2 • Performance and Driveability Complaints

Addresses hesitation, surging, stalling, and poor fuel economy complaints systematically. Links customer symptom descriptions to specific sensor or mechanical faults.

Lesson 3 • Misfire Diagnosis and Cylinder Balance

Identifies misfire causes including injector, coil, compression, and timing faults. Students use misfire counters and cylinder contribution tests to isolate the faulty cylinder.

Lesson 4 • Oil Consumption and Internal Engine Faults

Diagnoses excessive oil consumption, blue smoke, and internal wear using non-invasive tests. Students decide when engine repair or replacement is economically justified.

Lesson 1 • Short Block Assembly and Clearances

Guides students through piston fitting, ring installation, and crankshaft assembly with correct clearances. Proper torque sequences and sequences prevent premature failure.

Lesson 2 • Final Assembly and Engine Break-In

Covers head gasket selection, torque-to-yield bolt procedures, and timing component installation. Students follow a break-in protocol to seat rings and verify oil pressure.

Lesson 3 • Engine Removal and Disassembly

Details safe engine removal from the vehicle and systematic disassembly to prevent damage. Establishes documentation and parts organization practices for successful reassembly.

Lesson 4 • Cylinder Head Reconditioning

Covers valve grinding, seat cutting, guide replacement, and head surface resurfacing. Students assess head warpage and decide between resurfacing and replacement.