Glossary / Engine

piston

26 Episode Mentions

Too Afraid to Ask

Inside a car’s engine there are many small metal pieces that move up and down. The piston is one of those pieces, and it’s very important for the engine to work.

Technical Definition

A piston is a cylindrical component inside an engine that moves up and down to compress air/fuel mixtures, generating power.

Hear It Discussed

"[372.4s] Yeah. [372.8s] You'll have a really nasty looking piston and valve and the price quality's got is accurate"
Automotive Experts - Don't Just Use The Cheapest Gas Without Knowing What It Is Under The Hood show 06:12

"burn a hole in the top of a piston if going up one heat If going up one heat range burns a hole in the top of a piston, I've got to think that's the result of mechanical damage due to inefficient..."
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - July 11, 2026 Hour 2 - The Little Things That Make Cars Last Ron Ananian The Car Doctor 07:02

"the piston itself has a has a full crack and is separated slightly all across it."
From Illegal Nash Ambassadors to SEMA Prep, it’s V8 Radio’s Latest Automotive Adventure! V8 Radio Podcast 29:56