Dictionary of Automotive Terms Abbreviations

DICTIONARY OF AUTOMOTIVE TERMS - "Cy"

Cycle

A vehicle with one or more wheels (usually spoked) where the rider/driver straddles the vehicle as a bicycle, motorcycle, tricycle, etc. It also includes other vehicles adapted from a traditional cycle where the rider/driver no longer straddles the vehicle (recumbent cycle, four-wheel side-by-side pedal powered vehicle). Obviously the distinction blurs with automobiles -- are they a cycle?
A sequence of changes of state after which the system is in its original state again.
Series of events or operations which have tendency to repeat in the same order.
A type of pressure modulation during an ABS stop. Cycles include pressure hold, pressure release (decay) and pressure build

Also See
city cycle
diesel cycle
ece test cycle
four-stroke cycle engine
four-stroke power cycle
four cycle engine
four stroke power cycle
four stroke cycle engine
ftp test cycle
limit cycle control
miller cycle
otto cycle
refrigeration cycle
two-stroke cycle
two stroke cycle
urban test cycle
working cycle

Cycle car: A term used to describe the very light production automobile made prior to 1922. It was usually made from motorcycle parts and generally powered by single-cylinder or twin-cylinder engine. They disappeared when genuine light cars appeared.

Cycle control: See
limit cycle control

Cycle engine: See
four-stroke cycle engine
four cycle engine
four stroke cycle engine
two-stroke cycle engine
two stroke cycle engine

Cycling clutch orifice tube system: (CCOT) the GM system that utilizes an accumulator (instead of a receiver-drier). The system uses a fixed orifice tube located at the evaporator outlet, instead of an expansion valve. A thermostatic switch or a pressure sensing switch cycles compressor operation off and on in accordance with system status.

Cycling clutch system: Any system that controls compressor clutch operation as a means of temperature control

Cyclocomputer: Cyclocomputer

An instrument mounted on a bicycle to record speed, distance, and other functions. Often called just "computer."

Cyclo-cross bike: A bicycle designed specifically for cyclo-cross racing, an event where lightweight bicycles that resemble road bikes are raced on an off-road course that includes sections where the rider must dismount and run with the bike; features include specific geometry, drop handlebars, knobby tires, and cantilever brakes

Cyclo-cross racing: An event where lightweight bicycles that resemble road bikes are raced on an off-road course that includes sections where the rider must dismount and run with the bike

Cyl: Abbreviation for cylinder," as in 12-cyl. engine.

Cylinder

Cylinder

The round chamber or hole in the cylinder block that houses the pistons and where combustion takes place. Also called "bore" or "barrel."
Any tube-like device.
A device which converts fluid power into linear mechanical force and motion. This usually consists of movable elements such as a piston and piston rod, plunger or ram, operating within a cylindrical bore.
A closed container for fluids.

Also See
acetylene cylinder
brake cylinder
brake master cylinder
cylinder bore
cylinder head
cylinder sequence
cylinder sleeve
dual-piston master cylinder
inner cylinder
lock cylinder
master brake cylinder
master cylinder
oxygen cylinder
slave cylinder
split-system master cylinder
tandem master cylinder
wheel cylinder
working cylinder

Cylinder bank: One half of a V-6, V-8, V-12, and V-16 engines along one side.

Cylinder barrel: An external casing of a cylinder forming a separate unit, especially of an air-cooled engine

Cylinder block: Click image to supersize
Cylinder Block

The basic framework of the engine to which other engine parts are attached. It is usually a casting and includes the engine cylinders and the upper part of the crankcase.
Also See
engine block

Cylinder block heater: An electric heater element in the water jacket connected at the other end to house current. The element warms the coolant so that in very cold weather the block will not crack and the car will start easier. Often just called "block heater."

Cylinder bore: The cylinder holes.

Cylinder charge: A quantity of fresh mixture fed into the combustion chamber prior to combustion

Cylinder head: Cylinder Head

The detachable metal (aluminum or iron) plate or cap that is bolted to the top of the cylinder block. It is used to cover the tops of the cylinders, in many cases the cylinder head contains the valves, it also forms part of the combustion chamber. It has water and oil passages for cooling and lubrication. It also holds the spark plugs. On most engines a valve cover or rocker arm cover is located on top of the cylinder head. Some engines have just one cylinder head covering several cylinders, while others have separate heads for each cylinder. In some motorcycle engines and small engines, the cylinder head is not detachable—it is cast with the cylinder which forms a blind hole.

Also See
crossflow cylinder head
x-flow cylinder head

Cylinder head bolt: One of several bolts which hold the cylinder head in place

Cylinder head gasket: See
head gasket

Cylinder head nut: One of several nuts which hold the cylinder head in place.

Cylinder head tester: A device used to detect cylinder head leakages which cause combustion gases to appear in the cooling system

Cylinder hone

A tool that uses an abrasive to smooth out (hone) and bring to exact measurements such things as engine cylinders, wheel cylinders, bushings, etc.
A rotating instrument fitted with abrasive material used to remove roughness and deposits, and to polish the bores of wheel cylinders and master cylinders.

Cylinder housing: The working part of the master cylinder housing that contains the piston bore and pistons.

Cylinder liner

A cylinder sleeve.
A hard metal block forming the cylinder wall and in which the piston runs

Cylinder ports: Passages in the cylinder head, two for each cylinder--one to bring the air-fuel mix into the cylinder, the other to carry out burned exhaust gases

Cylinder, refrigerant: Cylinder in which refrigerant is stored and dispensed. Color code painted on cylinder indicates kind of refrigerant.

Cylinder sensor: A device which picks up signals regarding the crankshaft angle and sends them to the ECU to determine engine speed.

Cylinder sequence: The order in which the cylinders are located on a vehicle. It is important to locate the number one cylinder to check and adjust timing. In some cars it may be at the front of an engine on U.S. built cars and at the rear of some foreign cars.
Also See
firing order

Cylinder sleeve: A replaceable cylinder liner or tube, it is made of a pipe-like section that is either pressed or pushed into the block. If the cylinder cannot be re-bored to an oversize or if the liner has been damaged beyond repair, the cylinder may be re-sleeved.

Cylinder surfacing hone: Puts a cross-hatch pattern on the cylinder walls, after they have been bored, to help seat the new rings properly

Cylinder wall: The inner surface of a cylinder.

Cylindrical commutator: Commutator with contact surfaces parallel to the rotor shaft.