A vehicle component includes a surface that is configured to contact a fuel containing ethanol and zinc ions. A sacrificial carbon layer is disposed on the surface. The sacrificial carbon layer has a thickness of greater than or equal to about 250 nm to less than or equal to about 5 μm. The sacrificial carbon layer includes carbon that is configured to complex and solubilize ZnO deposited on the surface, wherein the ZnO forms from the zinc ions carried by the fuel.

A electromagnetic motor enhancement system includes an internal combustion engine that has a plurality of pistons, at least one cylinder head and an ignition control module. Each of the pistons is selectively urged in an upstroke and a downstroke. A plurality of magnets is provided and each of the magnets is coupled to an associated one of the pistons. An electromagnetic unit is coupled to the internal combustion engine. The electromagnetic unit is electrically charged in a first polarity when the pistons are urged in the upstroke. Thus, the magnet corresponding to each of the pistons is attracted to the electromagnet unit. The electromagnetic unit is electrically charged in a second polarity when the pistons are urged in the downstroke. Thus, the magnet corresponding to each of the pistons is repelled from the electromagnetic unit.

A piston for an internal combustion engine includes a piston head and a piston skirt, wherein the piston head has a piston base, a circumferential ring part and, in the region of the ring part, a circumferential closed cooling channel or sealed cavity. An inner side of the piston has two lower surfaces which transform continuously in the region of the piston central axis (M) to form an arched surface. The piston skirt has piston hubs provided with hub bores which are interconnected by means of running surfaces which have inner surfaces facing the inside of the piston. Starting from the free ends of the piston skirt, inside the piston on the pressure side (DS) and/or counter pressure side (GDS), an inner surface of a running surface continuously transforms into a guiding surface for a coolant which transforms continuously on the side thereof into a lower surface.

A piston capable of withstanding high temperatures and extreme conditions of a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine and manufactured with reduced costs is provided. The method of manufacturing the piston includes casting or forging the bulk of the piston as a single-piece with an open cooling gallery from an economical first material, such as steel, cast iron, or aluminum. The method further includes forming a portion of a combustion bowl surface, which is a small area of the piston directly exposed to the combustion chamber, from a second material by additive machining. The second material has a higher thermal conductivity and higher resistance to oxidation, erosion, and oil coking, compared to the first material. The additive machining process is efficient and creates little waste, which further reduces production costs.

In one aspect, a circlip includes a circlip body defining (i) a first end surface, (ii) a second end surface spaced circumferentially from the first end surface so as to define a gap between the first and second end surfaces, and (iii) an outer curved surface defining an outer perimeter of the circlip body. The outer curved surface extends from the first end surface to the second end surface. Further, the circlip includes at least one row of teeth defined at the outer curved surface, and extending from at least one of the first and second end surfaces circumferentially along a direction away from the gap. When installed in a circlip groove, the teeth engage the circlip groove to limit rotation of the circlip within the groove.

Exemplary pistons and methods of making the same are disclosed. An exemplary piston may include a crown defining a combustion bowl and a ring land extending circumferentially around the combustion bowl. Exemplary pistons may further include a skirt supporting the crown. The skirt may include a pair of pin bosses defining a pin bore configured to receive a piston pin, and two opposing skirt supports defining surfaces configured to slide along a cylinder bore surface. The skirt supports each define a different radial stiffness.

To provide a surface structure of an aluminum-based member which can further improve heat insulating properties and heat shielding properties of the aluminum-based member. In an aluminum-based member 1 containing at least a silicon composition, a porous oxide film 2 is provided on a surface of the aluminum-based member 1, and the oxide film 2 is constituted to have at least a pore 2a extending from the surface toward an inside in a thickness direction of the oxide film 2 and a void 3a present inside the silicon composition 3 extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the thickness direction of the oxide film 2.

A galleryless piston including a ring belt with three ring grooves is provided. Each ring groove is formed by an uppermost wall and a lower wall spaced from one another by a back wall. A pair of pin bosses depend from the upper wall, and pair of skirt panels depend from the ring belt and are coupled to the pin bosses by struts. An inner undercrown region is surrounded by the skirt panels and the struts and the pin bosses. A pair of outer pockets extend along the undercrown surface, and each outer pocket is surrounded by a portion of the ring belt and one of the pin bosses and the struts coupling the one pin boss to the skirt panels. The third ring groove includes an oil drain slot extending through the back wall to the outer pockets of the piston for conveying cooling oil.

A two-stroke internal combustion engine has an engine block having a cylinder block and a cylinder head. The cylinder block defines a cylinder, an exhaust passage, and an exhaust valve passage. The engine also has a piston, an exhaust valve actuator operatively connected to at least one of the cylinder block and the cylinder head, and a reciprocating exhaust valve disposed at least in part in the exhaust valve passage. The exhaust valve has a shaft operatively connected to a valve actuator, and a blade connected to the shaft. A channel is defined along a face of the blade. The channel and a wall of the exhaust valve passage together define at least in part a valve passage. The valve passage permits flow of exhaust gas along the face of the blade. A width of the valve passage is at least a third of a width of the blade.

A two-stroke internal combustion engine has an engine block having a cylinder block and a cylinder head. The cylinder block defines a cylinder, an exhaust passage, and an exhaust valve passage. The engine also has a piston, an exhaust valve actuator operatively connected to at least one of the cylinder block and the cylinder head, and a reciprocating exhaust valve disposed at least in part in the exhaust valve passage. The exhaust valve has a shaft operatively connected to a valve actuator, and a blade connected to the shaft. A channel is defined along a face of the blade. The channel and a wall of the exhaust valve passage together define at least in part a valve passage. The valve passage permits flow of exhaust gas along the face of the blade. A width of the valve passage is at least a third of a width of the blade.