Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
AUTO D094A
Course Title (CB02)
Principles of Four Stroke Cycle Gas and Diesel Engines
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
Shop operations specific to engine repair and rebuilding including safety and hazardous waste management. Emphasis on theory, diagnosis, disassembly, cleaning, inspection and failure analysis.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This CTE, CSU transferable course belongs on the Certificate of Achievement-Advanced and AS degree in Automotive Technology. It is also a recommendation from industry advisory committees to help better prepare students for the automotive job market, with a better foundation of engine theory.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to CSU only

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
6.0
Maximum Credit Units
6.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours4.08.0
Laboratory Hours6.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
48.0
Laboratory
72.0
Total
120.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
96.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
96.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

  • ESL D272. and ESL D273., or ESL D472. and ESL D473., or eligibility for EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.
  • Elementary algebra or equivalent (or higher), or appropriate placement beyond elementary algebra

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

(Approved Automotive Technology Course Sequence Contract required.)

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Homework and extended projects

Laboratory experience which involve students in formal exercises of data collection and analysis

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

Assignments

  1. Reading from text and handouts
  2. Homework based on readings
  3. Lab assignments per expanded National Automotive Technology Education Foundation (NATEF) task list
  4. Lab journal entered into Engine Log Book

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Lab assignments, per NATEF task list, entered on repair orders and checked for correctness. Tasks are weighted according to the time the task should take to complete
  2. Objective, multiple-choice examinations covering each lecture unit and text readings
  3. Objective, multiple-choice, comprehensive final examination
  4. Lab journal consisting of specifications and notes, and then entered into the Engine Log Book and graded on completeness and accuracy.
  5. Short answer questions at the end of each chapter based on the readings and lectures, graded for completeness and accuracy

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • Basic tool set
  • Shop clothing, safety glasses and work shoes
Essential College Facilities:
  • Automotive machine shop laboratory
  • Computers and required software (ProSIS information system www.prosispro.com and Engine Analyzer Ver. 3.2, Performance Trends Inc.)

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Lewis, W.G. "Automotive Machining and Engine Service." Engine Books, 2016.

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
ProSIS information system. www.prosispro.com
Alldata information system. www.alldata.com
Shop-key information system. www.mitchell1.com
"Engine Build Log Book," Performance Trends Inc. 2010. Software installed locally

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Summarize safety and hazardous waste management and pass written exams with scores of 100%
  • List and demonstrate basic machining principles that apply to automotive machining
  • Explain the operation of automotive measuring tools and how to interpret the readings
  • Compare the different types of automotive fasteners and their uses
  • List the different engine types and explain the operation and theory for each
  • Explain the diagnostic techniques used for various engine malfunctions
  • List the proper procedures for engine disassembly
  • Summarize the proper techniques and cleaning agents used for cleaning engine parts of different materials while maintaining a safe environment
  • Analyze valve training components through various inspection techniques, concentrating on failure analysis
  • Analyze engine block components using various inspection techniques, concentrating on failure analysis

CSLOs

  • After studying the theory of a 4-stroke cycle, internal combustion engine, the student will be able to explain in detail each of the four strokes, valve overlap, and blowdown. This will be done using a cut-away engine.

Outline

  1. Summarize safety and hazardous waste management and pass written exams with scores of 100%
    1. Lifting hazards
    2. Accidents during installation
    3. Substance abuse in the workplace
    4. Safety guidelines
    5. Handling hazardous materials
  2. List and demonstrate basic machining principles that apply to automotive machining
    1. Machining processes
    2. Tool materials
    3. Cutting tool glossary
    4. Single point tools
    5. Milling cutters
    6. Drills, reamers and other drilling tools
    7. Grinding and honing
    8. Speeds and feeds
    9. Machine installation and set-up
    10. Correcting alignment between centers
    11. Tramming spindles
  3. Explain the operation of automotive measuring tools and how to interpret the readings
    1. Understanding specifications and tolerances
    2. Calculating thermal expansion
    3. Comparing units of measurement
    4. Using micrometers
    5. Making transfer measurements
    6. Using dial indicators
    7. Using dial bore gauges
    8. Using vernier calipers
    9. Checking alignments
    10. Measuring surface finishes using a profilometer
    11. Measuring thicknesses of castings using an ultrasonic thickness tester
  4. Compare the different types of automotive fasteners and their uses
    1. Determining the strength of fasteners
    2. Comparing clamping force and torque when using torque-to-yield fasteners
    3. Identifying threads
    4. Using pipe threads and fittings
    5. Removing broken fasteners
    6. Installing helicoils
    7. Removing broken tools
  5. List the different engine types and explain the operation and theory for each
    1. The four-stroke cycle
    2. Compression ignition engines
    3. Valve timing and camshafts, including variable phasing, lift, and duration systems
    4. Valve train configurations
    5. Valve lifters and lash compensators
    6. Engine oiling
    7. Engine oils
    8. Engine measurements
    9. Fits and clearances
    10. Cooling system operation
    11. Combustion efficiency
  6. Explain the diagnostic techniques used for various engine malfunctions
    1. Looking for signs of engine war
    2. Checking the block assembly
    3. Testing power balance
    4. Testing compression, both cranking and running
    5. Testing cylinder leakage
    6. Checking valve timing
    7. Testing manifold vacuum
    8. Testing exhaust back pressure
    9. Diagnosing engine noises
    10. Measuring exhaust gas pressure
    11. Testing engine oil pressure
    12. Testing cooling systems
    13. Diagnose engine conditions using a pressure transducer and a labscope
  7. List the proper procedures for engine disassembly
    1. Hints for disassembly in the chassis
    2. Disassembling cylinder heads
    3. Numbering connecting rods
    4. Ridge reaming
    5. Removing piston and rod assemblies
    6. Removing the timing chain and sprockets
    7. Removing the crankshaft
    8. Removing cams and lifters from pushrod engines
    9. Removing camshaft bearings
    10. Removing oil plugs and core plugs
  8. Summarize the proper techniques and cleaning agents used for cleaning engine parts of different materials while maintaining a safe environment
    1. Using solvent and cold solutions
    2. Cleaning in hot tanks
    3. Degreasing in ovens
    4. Using airless shot blasters
    5. Bead blasting
    6. Small parts tumbling
    7. Using hand and power tools
    8. Removing rust and scale
    9. Working under regulations
  9. Analyze valve training components through various inspection techniques, concentrating on failure analysis
    1. Determining valve guide wear
    2. Checking valves
    3. Testing valve springs
    4. Inspecting the camshafts, lifters, and followers
    5. Checking timing chains and gears
    6. Inspecting rocker arms and pushrods
    7. Checking cylinder head castings
  10. Analyze engine block components using various inspection techniques, concentrating on failure analysis
    1. Measuring cylinder wear
    2. Measuring piston clearance
    3. Checking piston clearance
    4. Checking pistons
    5. Checking piston pin clearances
    6. Checking cylinder block flatness
    7. Measuring main bearing bores
    8. Checking the crankshaft
    9. Measuring connecting rod bores

Lab Topics

  1. Fastener identification and thread repair: fractional and metric
  2. Engine diagnostic tests: performing each diagnostic test
  3. Engine disassembly: demonstrate disassembly of each system
  4. Cleaning engine parts and castings: ferrous and non-ferrous
  5. Valve train inspection: inspect each valve train component for wear
  6. Block inspection: inspect each engine block component for wear
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