What Are the 10 Main Engine Parts Called?

The 10 core parts of a typical four-stroke internal combustion engine are commonly named: engine block, cylinder head, pistons, piston rings, connecting rods, crankshaft, camshaft(s), valves, timing system (belt/chain/gears), and oil pump. While naming can vary slightly by engine design (gasoline vs. diesel, overhead-cam vs. pushrod), these components form the foundation of how most modern engines convert fuel into motion.

The 10 essential engine parts and what they do

Below is a concise breakdown of the ten components most technicians and manuals treat as the engine’s fundamental moving and structural parts. Together, they define the engine’s mechanical core regardless of brand or vehicle type.

• Engine block: The main housing that contains the cylinders, coolant passages, and oil galleries, serving as the engine’s structural backbone.
• Cylinder head: Bolts atop the block; contains combustion chambers, intake/exhaust ports, and (in OHC designs) the camshaft(s) and valvetrain.
• Pistons: Reciprocating components that compress the air-fuel mixture and transmit combustion force to the connecting rods.
• Piston rings: Seals between piston and cylinder wall that retain compression, control oil, and transfer heat from piston to cylinder.
• Connecting rods: Link the pistons to the crankshaft, converting the pistons’ up-down motion into rotary motion.
• Crankshaft: The rotating shaft that turns reciprocating motion into rotational output sent to the transmission/driveline.
• Camshaft(s): Timed shaft(s) with lobes that open and close the valves; may be located in the head (OHC/DOHC) or in the block (OHV/pushrod).
• Valves (intake and exhaust): Regulate the flow of air/fuel into the cylinders and exhaust gases out, opening and closing in precise sequence.
• Timing system (belt/chain/gears): Synchronizes the crankshaft and camshaft(s) so valves open at the correct moments; includes belt/chain, tensioners, and guides.
• Oil pump (lubrication system): Circulates engine oil through galleries to lubricate, cool, and protect bearings and moving parts.

Taken together, these ten parts govern compression, combustion, and the conversion of linear piston motion into usable rotational power, while ensuring proper timing and lubrication.

Other components often included in “top parts” lists

Depending on the source or the engine’s configuration, you may see supporting systems or bolt-on parts included in “main parts” lists. They’re vital to operation and reliability, even if they sit just outside the engine’s mechanical core.

• Intake manifold (and throttle body): Distributes air (and sometimes air-fuel mixture) to each cylinder.
• Exhaust manifold/header: Channels exhaust gases from cylinders to the exhaust system.
• Fuel injectors (or carburetor) and fuel rail: Meter and deliver fuel into the engine.
• Ignition system: Spark plugs, coils, and related electronics to ignite the mixture (gasoline engines); diesels use glow plugs only for cold starts and rely on compression ignition.
• Turbocharger/supercharger (and intercooler): Force more air into the engine to increase power and efficiency.
• Water pump and thermostat: Circulate coolant and regulate engine temperature.
• Radiator and cooling fans: Reject heat from coolant to the air.
• Flywheel/flexplate: Smooths crankshaft rotation and interfaces with the clutch or torque converter.
• Gaskets and seals (e.g., head gasket, valve cover gasket): Maintain pressure and prevent leaks between mating surfaces.
• Sensors and ECU/PCM: Electronic monitoring and control for fuel, ignition, timing, and emissions.

While not all of these are “internal” parts, they’re integral to modern engines’ performance, durability, emissions control, and drivability.

How naming varies by engine type

Engine architecture influences which components are present and what they’re called. The core idea—precise air, fuel, compression, ignition, and exhaust—remains the same, but layouts and supporting hardware can differ.

• Gasoline vs. diesel: Gas engines use spark plugs; diesels use high-pressure injection and compression ignition (plus glow plugs for cold starts).
• OHC/DOHC vs. OHV (pushrod): Overhead-cam engines put camshafts in the head; pushrod engines keep one cam in the block and use lifters/pushrods/rockers.
• Turbocharged vs. naturally aspirated: Turbo engines add turbocharger, intercooler, and related plumbing; naturally aspirated engines do not.
• Two-stroke vs. four-stroke: Many two-stroke engines use ports instead of poppet valves and have different lubrication strategies.

These variations change the component list at the margins, but the fundamental mechanical chain—from piston to crank to output—stays consistent across designs.

Summary

If you’re asked to name the engine’s “10 parts,” a widely accepted set is: engine block, cylinder head, pistons, piston rings, connecting rods, crankshaft, camshaft(s), valves, timing system, and oil pump. These define the engine’s mechanical heart; manifolds, ignition/fuel systems, cooling, and forced induction components round out how modern engines breathe, burn, cool, and comply with emissions standards.

How many parts are on an engine?

An engine can contain hundreds to thousands of individual parts, depending on its type, complexity, and the level of detail used to count them. While a simple two-stroke engine might have fewer than a dozen major parts, a modern car’s internal combustion engine can involve thousands of components, including the engine block, pistons, crankshaft, camshaft, valvetrain, and hundreds of minor components like nuts, bolts, and sensors.
 
Factors influencing the part count:

• Engine Type and Complexity: Simpler engines (like a single-cylinder two-stroke) have fewer parts than complex, multi-cylinder engines. 
• Level of Detail: Counting every single nut, bolt, washer, and gasket will drastically increase the total part count. 
• Ancillary Systems: Engines also rely on supporting systems like lubrication, cooling, fuel, and electrical systems, each adding numerous components. 
• Engine Configuration: Engines with advanced features, such as turbochargers or variable valve timing, have more parts than basic engines. 

Examples:

• A basic two-stroke engine has around five major moving parts. 
• A four-cylinder internal combustion engine can have over 200 parts, a number that escalates when you include all the smaller components and systems. 
• Some sources estimate that a typical car engine has more than 2,000 individual parts. 

What are the names of the engine parts?

The different parts that make up your car’s engine consist of: the engine block (cylinder block), combustion chamber, cylinder head, pistons, crankshaft, camshaft, timing chain, valve train, valves, rocker’s arms, pushrods/lifters, fuel injectors, and spark plugs.

What are the 10 components of the engine?

What are the different parts of an engine? The different parts that make up your car’s engine consist of: the engine block (cylinder block), combustion chamber, cylinder head, pistons, crankshaft, camshaft, timing chain, valve train, valves, rocker’s arms, pushrods/lifters, fuel injectors, and spark plugs.

What is a 10 cylinder engine?

A V10 engine is a ten-cylinder piston engine where two banks of five cylinders are arranged in a V configuration around a common crankshaft.