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Section A: Basic Engine Knowledge (Questions 1–40) 222 555 7777

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Objective: Understand the fundamental principles of engine operation and internal
combustion as applied to vehicles used in Kenya (e.g., Toyota Probox, Nissan, Isuzu m
matatus, motorbikes, tuk-tuks).

1. What does the engine do in a car?

2. What is an internal combustion engine?
3. Name two common engine types found in Kenyan vehicles.
4. What are the four strokes in a 4-stroke engine?
5. What happens during the compression stroke?
6. What does the crankshaft do?
7. What is the job of the camshaft?
8. What part moves up and down inside the engine?
9. What are piston rings used for?
10. What is the cylinder head?
11. What materials are commonly used to make engine blocks in local vehicles?
12. What does a spark plug do in a petrol engine?
13. What part keeps the engine timing correct?
14. What is meant by engine displacement?
15. What is torque and how is it useful in uphill driving?
16. What is horsepower?
17. How does a 2-stroke engine (like in boda bodas) work?
18. What is valve timing?
19. What do SOHC and DOHC stand for?
20. What is the bore and stroke of a cylinder?
21. What is a V-engine?
22. What is an inline engine?
23. What is a boxer engine?
24. What is the function of the flywheel in a manual car?
25. What is the oil sump for?
26. How does engine oil protect the engine?
27. What does the oil filter remove?
28. Why does an engine need cooling in Kenyan climates?
29. What does the water pump do?
30. How does the radiator cool the engine?
31. What is a thermostat?
32. What are engine mounts?
33. What is a head gasket?
34. What causes engine knocking (common with poor fuel)?
35. What damage can result from overheating in Kenyan vehicles?
36. What is an engine misfire?
37. Name three engine configurations used in Kenya.
38. What is a good compression ratio for petrol engines?
39. What is a turbocharger?
40. What’s the difference between a turbo and a supercharger?

Section B: Engine Components and Functions (Questions 41–100)

Objective: Identify and explain the function of key engine parts commonly serviced in
Kenyan garages and vocational schools.

41. Name five major components of a vehicle engine.

42. What is the function of the crankcase?
43. What does the cylinder liner do?
44. What is the role of the timing belt?
45. How does the camshaft operate the valves?
46. Why is the rocker arm important?
47. Define the purpose of the pushrod in an engine.
48. How does the piston connect to the crankshaft?
49. What is the gudgeon pin?
50. What type of bearing is used in crankshafts?
51. What does the oil pump do?
52. What is a wet sump system?
53. What is a dry sump system?
54. What material is commonly used for engine pistons?
55. How do intake valves differ from exhaust valves?
56. What does a valve lifter do?
57. Explain the purpose of the engine block.
58. What is the combustion chamber?
59. What is the intake manifold?
60. What is the exhaust manifold?
61. How does the air filter protect the engine?
62. What does the fuel injector do?
63. What is a carburetor and where is it still used in Kenya?
64. Explain how a distributor works.
65. What does the ignition coil do?
66. What type of spark plug is ideal for high-performance engines?
67. What is a glow plug and where is it used?
68. What is the PCV valve?
69. What does the EGR valve do?
70. What is the function of the throttle body?
71. How does an intercooler help a turbocharged engine?
72. What is an engine control unit (ECU)?
73. How does the ECU control fuel injection?
74. What is a knock sensor?
75. What role does the oxygen sensor play?
76. What does a mass airflow sensor measure?
77. What is the function of the camshaft position sensor?
78. Why is the crankshaft position sensor important?
79. What is the MAP sensor?
80. What is engine timing?
81. What causes a timing belt to fail?
82. How often should the oil filter be changed in matatus?
83. What is the main purpose of the dipstick?
84. What is meant by engine balance?
85. What are balance shafts?
86. What is a harmonic balancer?
87. What does the serpentine belt drive?
88. How does a fan belt differ from a timing belt?
89. What is a tensioner pulley?
90. What is an idler pulley?
91. How does the alternator connect to the engine?
92. What is the starter motor?
93. What does a solenoid do in the starting system?
94. How does a battery support engine ignition?
95. What is an immobilizer system?
96. What is the function of the engine splash guard?
97. What causes sludge build-up in engines?
98. Why should the oil pan be drained regularly?
99. What is the function of the breather system?
100. What happens if an engine runs without oil?
Section C: Engine Maintenance and Troubleshooting (Questions 101–150)

Objective: Apply practical skills in diagnosing and maintaining engines under Kenyan
road and climate conditions.

101. How do you check engine oil level?

102. What tools are needed for an engine tune-up?
103. What signs indicate low engine oil?
104. What causes black smoke from the exhaust?
105. What causes white smoke from the exhaust?
106. What causes blue smoke from the exhaust?
107. How do you diagnose engine overheating?
108. What causes engine overheating in hot Kenyan climates?
109. What is a compression test?
110. How is a leak-down test different from a compression test?
111. What causes engine knocking?
112. What are signs of a blown head gasket?
113. How do you know if a timing belt is worn?
114. What causes loss of engine power?
115. What steps are involved in changing engine oil?
116. What are symptoms of a failing spark plug?
117. What causes a rough idle?
118. What tools are needed to check spark plugs?
119. What causes engine stalling?
120. How do you test for a faulty ignition coil?
121. What is the role of a scan tool in diagnostics?
122. How do you reset engine error codes?
123. What is a diagnostic trouble code (DTC)?
124. What causes oil leaks?
125. What are signs of worn piston rings?
126. What does milky oil indicate?
127. What is engine flushing?
128. When should coolant be changed?
129. What is a radiator pressure test?
130. What causes poor fuel economy?
131. What is throttle body cleaning?
132. What is the correct spark plug gap?
133. How do you adjust engine idle speed?
134. What is engine vibration a sign of?
135. What tools are required to check valve clearance?
136. What are symptoms of a failing fuel injector?
137. How do you test fuel pressure?
138. What causes a no-start condition?
139. How do you test the alternator?
140. What is the role of battery voltage in engine starting?
141. How do you detect vacuum leaks?
142. What is a vacuum gauge used for?
143. What causes timing chain noise?
144. What causes excessive engine wear?
145. How is coolant tested?
146. What is a freeze plug?
147. How does altitude affect engine performance in Kenya?
148. Why is regular maintenance important for matatu engines?
149. What is a misfire monitor?
150. What does "check engine" light mean?