Cylinder Head and Gasket Description
The cylinder head is made of an aluminum alloy. The cylinder head uses cross-flow intake and exhaust ports. A spark plug is located in the center of each combustion chamber. The cylinder head houses the dual camshafts.
Crankshaft Description
The crankshaft has eight integral weights which are cast with it for balancing. Oil holes run through the center of the crankshaft to supply oil to the connecting rods, the bearings, the pistons, and the other components. The end thrust load is taken by the thrust washers installed at the center journal.
Timing Belt Description
The timing belt coordinates the crankshaft and the dual overhead camshafts and keeps them synchronized. The timing belt also turns the coolant pump. The timing belt and the pulleys are toothed so that there is no slippage between them. There are two idler pulleys. An automatic tensioner pulley maintains the timing belt's correct tension. The timing belt is made of a tough reinforced rubber similar to that used on the serpentine drive belt. The timing belt requires no lubrication.
Intake Manifold Description
The intake manifold has four independent long ports and utilizes an inertial supercharging effect to improve engine torque at low and moderate speeds.
Camshafts Description
This engine is a Dual Overhead Camshaft (DOHC) type, which means there are two camshafts. One camshaft operates the intake valves, and the other camshaft operates the exhaust valves. The camshafts sit in journals on the top of the engine (in the cylinder head) and are held in place by camshaft caps. The camshaft journals of the cylinder head are drilled for oil passages. Engine oil travels to the camshafts under pressure where it lubricates each camshaft journal. The oil returns to the oil pan through drain holes in the cylinder head. The camshaft lobes are machined into the solid camshaft to precisely open and close the intake and the exhaust valves the correct amount at the correct time. The camshaft lobes are oiled by splash action from pressurized oil escaping from the camshaft journals.
