Where is the car flywheel located?
2 Answers
The car flywheel is located at the tail end of the engine crankshaft. The steel disc that connects with the clutch is called the flywheel. Below is relevant information about the car flywheel: Definition: A disc-shaped component with a large moment of inertia, functioning as an energy storage device. For a four-stroke engine, power is generated once every four piston strokes, meaning only the power stroke produces work, while the exhaust, intake, and compression strokes consume work. Function: The flywheel has a significant moment of inertia. Since the power strokes of each cylinder in the engine are not continuous, the engine speed also fluctuates. When the engine speed increases, the kinetic energy of the flywheel rises, storing energy; when the engine speed decreases, the flywheel's kinetic energy reduces, releasing the stored energy. The flywheel can be used to reduce speed fluctuations during engine operation.
Last time I had my car repaired, the technician pointed out that the flywheel is located at the rear end of the engine, specifically on the large metal disc at the end of the crankshaft, which is directly connected to the clutch of the transmission. It's positioned at the rear of the engine bay, near the firewall of the cabin. If you crouch down to look under the chassis, you might vaguely see a bit of it. It's not just a connection point; it also acts like an energy storage box, absorbing vibrations and buffering when the engine speed fluctuates, making starting, driving, and gear shifting smoother. My old car's flywheel once got rusted, causing a rattling noise during startup, but it became much quieter after replacement. Actually, its position has been fixed there for decades. During maintenance, you should turn off the engine and disconnect the power to avoid accidents, as this big guy can be quite dangerous when spinning. Most people won't find it or need to touch it themselves; it's safer and more reliable to let professional shops handle it.
