Glossary of Auto Terms

DriverSide's Car Dictionary has the most comprehensive definitions of automotive terms. This auto glossary can help you decipher what your mechanic is fixing and what the purpose or function of the particular auto part or accessory is for. We have taken the mystery out of automotive service jargon, so that you don't have to.

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Blow-by

An "uh oh" event in which a portion of the air/fuel mixture in the engine's combustion chambers works its way past the rings and into the crankcase. This is not normal, and a symptom of a larger problem.



See Also:
Backfire
Crankcase
Accelerator
Idle
Connecting Rod
Gasket
Crankshaft Pulley
Sending Unit

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