Engine parts
Engine parts are the internal rotating and reciprocating components that convert combustion into drive: pistons, crankshafts, camshafts, cylinder heads and the timing components that keep them synchronised.
Engine work is where the labour cost dwarfs the parts cost, which changes the buying decision. A piston kit that saves a few hundred rand is a poor trade if it means stripping the engine twice.
Most engine components are supplied to an engine code rather than a model name. A 1.6 Gamma and a 1.6 of another family share a capacity and nothing else. The engine code is stamped on the block and is what the counter needs.
Parts-Mall supplies both private-brand and OEM engine components. For a rebuild that has to last, discuss the application with the branch rather than ordering on capacity alone.
Engine parts we supply
- GasketsEngine gaskets seal the mating surfaces between engine components, retaining oil, coolant, air and combustion pressure where each system needs to stay contained.
- CamshaftsThe camshaft is the rotating shaft whose lobes open the engine’s valves in the correct sequence and for the correct duration, timed to the crankshaft.
- CrankshaftsThe crankshaft converts the up-and-down movement of the pistons into the rotation that drives the vehicle. It runs in main bearings within the engine block and carries counterweights to balance the load.
- Cylinder HeadsThe cylinder head sits on top of the engine block and contains the valves, valve seats and usually the camshafts. It forms the top of the combustion chamber and carries the inlet and exhaust ports, sealed by the head gasket below it.
- PistonsPistons are the cylindrical components that move up and down inside the engine bores, transferring the force of combustion to the crankshaft through the connecting rods.
- Timing ChainsA timing chain synchronises the crankshaft with the camshafts so the valves open and close in the correct relationship to piston position. It runs in engine oil and is tensioned hydraulically.
Engine questions
What information does the branch need to supply engine parts?
The engine code stamped on the block, not just the model and capacity. Manufacturers use several engine families at the same capacity, and the internals are not interchangeable between them.
Should engine internals be OEM or private brand?
Anything that requires stripping the engine to access favours the strongest available line. The labour cost of doing the job twice is far higher than the difference in parts price.