Okuzeka
Automotive vocabulary · Engine and Fuel Systems

Crankshaft

Meaning in automotive, with examples

/ˈkræŋkʃæft/nounCommon term

In automotive, crankshaft means: The main rotating shaft at the bottom of an engine. It turns the up-and-down movement of the pistons into rotation that drives the gearbox.

In Turkish: krank mili, krank

How it is used

Often shortened to crank. You hear crankshaft position sensor, crankshaft pulley and crankshaft seal. Engine speed (rpm) is the number of crankshaft turns per minute, and 'crank the engine' means turn it with the starter.

Example sentences

  1. The engine cranks but won't start, so check the crankshaft position sensor signal.

  2. Oil is leaking from the rear crankshaft seal onto the clutch.

Common collocations

  • crankshaft position sensor
  • crankshaft pulley
  • crankshaft seal
  • crank the engine
  • pistonA short metal cylinder that moves up and down inside an engine cylinder. The force of combustion pushes it down, and a connecting rod passes this movement to the crankshaft.
  • camshaftA shaft with shaped lobes (cams) that opens and closes the engine valves at the right time. It is driven by the crankshaft through a timing belt or chain.
  • timing beltA toothed rubber belt that keeps the crankshaft and camshafts turning in exact time, so the valves open and close at the right moment. Some engines use a timing chain instead.
  • engineThe machine that burns fuel, usually petrol or diesel, to produce the power that moves a vehicle. It turns the energy of burning fuel into rotation of the crankshaft.

More terms: Engine and Fuel Systems

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