eli5: How do car engines last so long?

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A car engine basically has thousands of mini explosions happening inside of it, is has parts moving very fast and generating tons of heat, and experiences extreme temperature fluctuations on a daily basis. Yet it is the part that usually dies last in a car.

How do they make them last so long and why are we unable to make other parts of the car as long lasting, such as tires and brakes?

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21 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

You can just imagine the stress tires and brakes go through as you drive. Quick acceleration, sudden stops (maybe with tire marks on the pavement)?

Engines have stress, but it’s not close to the stress of breaking and actually making contact with the road.

If you’re thinking of the pistons, the things going up and down, they are machined to perfection sliding up and down an oiled chamber with relatively little stress.

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