The way that the manufacturer of any given vehicle determined to engineer it.
Questions tagged [automotive-design]
60 questions
31
votes
3 answers
what is difference between DOHC and SOHC?
I want to know the SOHC and DOHC configurations. On what factors an engine manufacturer decides to go with SOHC or with DOHC, what should I choose? DOHC or SOHC?
BraveNinja
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22
votes
3 answers
How do the latest automatic transmissions match the efficiencies of manual gearboxes?
Most people know that for old or even somewhat old cars, manual transmissions are more efficient. Recently automatic cars have become almost as efficient or even as efficient as manuals.
I was recently reading an article by Road & Track magazine…
user180969
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16
votes
2 answers
How does a transfer case split power between front/rear?
I've read somewhere that transfer cases (on 4x4 vehicles) split the power from front to rear, but don't do it equally. Something along a 60% rear/40% front (though I'm sure it could be any percentage as set by the manufacturer). My question is:…
Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2
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15
votes
6 answers
Why is the speed of a motorcycle measured at the front wheel?
I have been thinking about this, from quite long ago.
Why is speed always calculated from the front wheel?
Let's just consider the following situation:-
You are in a race, and you have given full throttle in 1st gear and you have ended up in a…
NANDAKUMAR THANGAVELU
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14
votes
5 answers
Factors Limiting EV Battery Acceptance Rate on DC Fast Chargers
There is a bunch of, relatively speaking, inexpensive EVs with 200-250 mile (320-400 kM) range -- e.g., the Kia Niro, Subaru Solterra, Volvo C40, and late model Nissan Leafs. All, in my experience have enough range for day-to-day use (40 mile daily…
dlu
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10
votes
5 answers
What are the problems in building 2 stroke engines with a large displacement?
I understand (from preliminary research) that when engine gets bigger, with a higher displacement that it is practically not possible to have a two stroke engine.
What are the implications in building a higher cc two stroke engines?
BraveNinja
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10
votes
3 answers
How did luxury cars provide smoother rides without active suspensions?
It seems all luxury cars have active suspensions now, so it's not a fair comparison to "non-active" cars. But I was recently driving a mid-2000 Mercedes E-class over the same roads I normally travel with an Acura TL and Mazda 6 of the same vintage…
feetwet
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9
votes
2 answers
How do seat belts function?
How do belts function (work)?
A diagram could be useful and a description of how seat belts function.
How do you pull the belt?
How do you buckle the belt properly?
Sohalia Mathur
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9
votes
2 answers
Keep Alive Memory (KAM)
What is "Keep Alive Memory" (KAM) and how is it different from RAM?
From what I read over the internet, it is kept alive even after the ignition is OFF, but isn't that what a ROM is supposed to do?
Randy
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9
votes
3 answers
Location of exhaust manifold
In four cylinder engines, why are some cars designed with the exhaust manifold towards the front of the car while other cars have it towards the back? Is there any advantage in one design over the other?
For example, the Toyota Corolla has the…
Samrach
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9
votes
1 answer
What is Lobe Separation Angle (LSA)?
What is Lobe Separation Angle (LSA) and how is it used in camshaft design?
How is it measured?
What difference does a long or short LSA make?
Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2
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9
votes
2 answers
What are reverse lights used for besides showing intention to reverse?
Recently I have noticed cars in parking lots with their reverse lights on even when the driver is not behind the wheel. I stop to let the drivers back out, and then realize they have no such intention. I don't know what that signal is telling me.
On…
Lee C.
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8
votes
1 answer
What is a sprag unit and what does it do?
I know a sprag unit is used in the transmission.
What is it and how does it work?
Is it used anywhere else or is it strictly a thing used in transmissions?
Are there different kinds of sprags?
Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2
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8
votes
4 answers
Designing an Ackermann steering mechanism
I'm designing a car with an Ackermann steering mechanism. According to everything I have read about Ackermann steering, if I set up my steering mechanism like this:
... then I should get behaviour like this:
Well, not according to my CAD. The…
Rocketmagnet
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7
votes
6 answers
1 Piece versus 2 Piece Drive Shaft
A guy on a Nissan forum asked why he should keep his 2 piece drive shaft in his truck instead of changing over to a 1 piece version.
This was the answer I gave him:
The 2 piece drive shaft (DS) is meant to prevent the drive shaft from pulling out…
jp2code
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