Automobile Engineering Interview Questions

The meaning of an automobile is a four-wheeled vehicle, carries a small number of passengers, driven by an engine or motor and independent of rails or tracks.

The subject of automobile engineering is the study of engineering aspects and technical details of cars. There are hundreds and thousands of different types of cars that are available today. During the past century, tremendous development in this field has taken place such as Electric Cars by Tesla.

Apart from cars, vehicles for different usage have been developed. These range from commercial vehicles of different types – to public utility transport systems such as buses and coaches – to the carriers of different types to tractors and similar machines meant to be used for specific purposes which are propelled by an engine or motor that is part of these machines. Though this study is meant for automobiles only but in the present scenario it can not be strictly confined to cars, and therefore, wherever felt necessary and relevant the other forms of automobiles meant for allied purposes will also be included.

1. Give the meaning of an automobile.
2. Explain the contribution of automobiles in the development of mankind.
3. What are different components of an automobile?
4. Explain the functions of chassis.
5. What is the purpose of engine in an automobile?
6. Explain briefly different components of Transmission System.
7. Explain front wheel and rear wheel drive.
8. Explain the difference between front wheel, rear wheel and four wheel drive.
9. What do you understand by ‘‘Auxiliaries’’ ?
10. What are conventional fuels used in internal combustion engines?
11. Explain briefly a cylinder block.
12. Explain the functions of a piston.
13. Explain the function of crankshaft.
14. Explain different crankshaft materials.
15. What are the benefits of overhead crankshaft?
16. What are the advantages of multivalve engines?
17. What are different process in the cycle of an internal combustion engine?
18. What is a p–v diagram? Explain.
19. What is the importance of valve timings?
20. Explain ‘valve overlap’.
21. What is the difference between Single Spray and Dual Spray Injector?
22. What are the functions of ‘electronic control module’?
23. Explain the following sensors (a) Oxygen sensor (b) Throttle position sensor (c) Manifold absolute pressure sensor.
24. With the help of diagram explain port fuel injection system.
25. Explain throttle body fuel injection system.
26. What is CRDI? Explain.
27. What are advantages of CRDI system?
28. What is ‘mechanical balance’ and ‘power balance’?
29. How the vibrations are dampened? Explain.
30. What is a viscous damper? Explain.
31. Explain what is firing order.
32. Explain the problem experienced while power balancing a 4-cylinder engine.
33. Explain the phenomenon of ‘power overlap’.
34. Draw power overlap chart for a 6-cylinder engine.
35. Explain the working of V-8 engine.
36. Explain balancing of 3 cylinder inline engine.
37. Explain the advantage of 5 cylinder in line engine.
38. Explain the unbalanced forces in the 5 cylinder in line engine.
39. Explain ‘bore’ and ‘stroke’.
40. What is compression ratio?
41. Write the expression for engine efficiency and explain it.
42. What are performance curves?
43. Explain the ‘brake power’ ‘indicated power’ and ‘friction power’.
44. Why brake power is less than indicated power?
45. What is specific fuel consumption? Explain.
46. What is the effect of supercharging on brake power.
47. Explain the necessity of engine cooling.
48. What are different cooling systems employed in an engine? Explain briefly.
49. What is radiator? On which factor the efficiency of radiator depends?
50. Explain the functions of pressure cap.
51. Explain the function of thermostat.
52. What are the functions of water jacket?
53. What are the advantages of air cooling system?
54. Explain the importance of engine lubrication.
55. What are the functions of oil filter? Explain.
56. Why an oil cooler is needed in lubricating system? Explain.
57. Explain briefly the properties of the lubricating oils.
58. How are properties in the lubricating oils achieved?
59. Explain briefly the evolution of petroleum in nature.
60. Name the main oil regions.
61. How the availability of crude oil below the surface of the earth is estimated in present times?
62. What is crude petroleum? Explain.
63. Explain the process of conversion of crude oil into petroleum products.
64. What is octane rating?
65. What are characteristics of petrol? Explain briefly.
66. Explain the blending of petrol with other organic compounds.
67. Explain briefly the alternate fuels being explored.
68. What is transmission system? Explain briefly.
69. What are requirements of transmitting motion to road wheels ?
70. Name and explain briefly the device in transmission system providing leverage between engine and the road wheels.
71. What are the functions of differential?
72. Explain the live axle. What are its functions ?
73. Explain the principle of friction clutch.
74. Explain the constructional details and working of single plate clutch.
75. What is a centrifugal clutch? How does it work ?
76. Explain the working of electro-magnetic clutch.
77. Explain the principle of fluid flywheel.
78. Explain how the leakage is prevented in a fluid fly wheel.
79. What is slip ? Explain the effect of percentage slip on the speed of driving shaft.
80. Explain different resistances experienced by a moving automobile.
81. What is tractive effort ? Explain.
82. Explain why gear box is essential in an automobile.
83. Explain a sliding Mesh Gear Box.
84. Explain a Constant Mesh Gear Box.
85. What is a Synchromesh device ? Explain.
86. Explain a Torque Converter.
87. Explain the characteristics of torque converter.
88. How the torque converter can be used efficiently for higher output speeds.
89. Write short note on automatic transmission.
90. What are the functions of a propeller shaft? Explain.
91. What is a constant velocity joint? What are the shortcomings of the constant velocity joints?
92. What are requirements as the vehicle moves on a curved path?
93. Explain the constructional details and working of differential.
94. Explain the function of clutch plates provided in the differential.
95. What are the functions of live axle?
96. Explain semi-floating, three quarter and fully floating axles.
97. What are the functions of wheel?
98. What are the requirements of wheels?
99. Explain different components of wheel with the help of a figure.
100. Explain the constructional details of tyre with tube.
101. Explain the classification of tyres on the basis of carcass.
102. What are different tread patterns in tyres? Explain.
103. Explain the importance of inflation pressure.
104. Explain the phenomenon of tyre rotation.
105. Explain the different requirements of brakes in automobiles.
106. Describe briefly different components of stopping distance.
107. What are different factors that affect the application of brakes? Describe briefly.
108. Explain the constructional details and working of master cylinder in hydraulic brakes.
109. What is dual braking system? What are its advantages?
110. What is Tandem master cylinder? Explain its constructional details and working.
111. Explain the functions of different valves used in brake system.
112. Explain hydraulic brake booster. What is the advantage of hydraulic brake booster?
113. Explain Leading-trailing drum brakes with the help of a figure.
114. Explain different calipers used in disc brakes.
115. Describe the necessity of parking brakes.
116. Explain the necessity of antilock brake system.
117. What are different components of antilock brake system?
118. Explain the functions of accumulator, booster pump and solenoid valve.
119. Explain in details non-integral two wheel system.
120. Explain a four wheel integral antilock system.
121. Explain the necessity of traction control.
122. How does automatic traction control function in an automobile?
123. What is the function of steering system in an automobile?
124. Why middle portion of front axle is provided with I-section?
125. Explain Lamoine type stub axle.
126. Explain the terms camber, king pin inclination, castor, and included angle.
127. What is toe-in and toe-out? What is the initial toe-in that is provided and why?
128. What is cornering force and self-righting torque?
129. Explain what is correct steering and how it is achieved.
130. Explain Rack and Pinion Steering Linkage system.
131. Give details of various components of parallelogram steering linkage system.
132. What is the necessity of power steering system?
133. Explain non-integral piston system with the help of a diagram.
134. What is four wheel steering system? How is it different from ordinary steering system?
135. Explain an electronically controlled four wheel steering system.
136. What is the relevance of steering ratio? Explain.
137. What is ‘sprung mass’ and ‘un-sprung mass’?
138. What is the function of damper in suspension system?
139. Describe different methods to reduce the weight of the leaf spring without affecting its strength.
140. Explain with the help of a diagram a variable rate spring.
141. Explain the constructional details and working of double tube damper.
142. Describe a gas charged damper.
143. Describe briefly different components of a double wishbone suspension system.
144. Explain a semi-independent rear suspension system.
145. What is electronic suspension system? How is it better than conventional suspension system?
146. Explain briefly different components of electronic suspension system.
147. What are the functions of ignition system?
148. Explain briefly different types of ignition systems.
149. Describe the ignition switch with the help of a diagram.
150. Explain the constructional details and working of spark plug.
151. What is centrifugal advance mechanism? Explain.
152. Explain Half-effect sensor.
153. Explain the benefits of electronic ignition system over ignition system with distributor.
154. Explain the importance of electrical systems in an automobile.
155. Draw a neat diagram of terminal and explain its necessity.
156. What is a circuit protection device?
157. Explain the working of fusible link with the help of suitable diagram.
158. Explain the importance of circuit diagram.
159. What is the difference between series and parallel circuits?
160. How the trouble is in the electric circuit is diagnosed?
161. What are the instruments used in trouble shooting of electric circuits? Explain the use of test lights and electric meters.
162. Explain the constructional details of battery with the help of diagram.
163. What are different tests carried on a battery?
164. Explain battery load test.
165. Explain the procedure of jump starting.
166. Explain the constructional details and working of alternator.
167. What are the effects of under-charged and over-charged battery?
168. Explain different charging system tests.
169. What is starting system?
170. What are starting and control circuits? Explain.
171. What are the requirements of starter motor? Explain.
172. Draw a neat diagram of starting system and explain its components.
173. What is overrunning clutch? Explain the functions of overrunning clutch.
174. Give a brief account of troubles in starting system.
175. What is the function of head lights? Explain.
176. Explain different types of headlights briefly.
177. Why interior light assemblies are required in a car? Explain briefly any two such assemblies.
178. What are the functions of turn, stop and hazard warning lights?
179. How does a flasher work? Explain with the help of a diagram.
180. What are different electrical instruments provided in an automobile?
181. Explain the working of magnetic gauges.
182. What is the necessity of speedometer and odometer in an automobile?
183. How does an oil pressure gauge work?
184. What are different accessories provided in the car? Name them.
185. How does a power window work?
186. What is the function of defroster? Where it is located?
187. What is the relevance of different warning indicators in an automobile?
188. Explain any three warning systems used in an automobile.
189. Explain the functions of frame in automobile.
190. What is sub-frame? Explain briefly.
191. Explain integrated construction and its benefits.
192. Explain the measures taken to create comfort conditions for passengers in an automobile.
193. What are different components of air-conditioning system? Explain compressor used in airconditioning system.
194. What are the functions of a condenser?
195. How does an expansion valve work?
196. What is evaporator? Explain with the help of a diagram.
197. Explain the utility of air-conditioning and temperature control systems.
198. Explain briefly different components of heating system.
199. Explain the importance of security of passengers in an automobile.
200. What are means to provide safety to passengers in the car?
201. How air bags operate in a car? Explain.
202. What are different components of air bag system? Explain briefly.
203. What is keyless entry? Explain.
204. What is vehicle tracking system? What purposes it serves?
205. What are different pollutants in automobile emission?
206. What are different standards of emission adopted in the world? Describe the brief history.
207. What is the status of emission standards in India?
208. How the pollutants are controlled in emission? Describe briefly.
209. Explain the constructional details and working of catalytic converter.
210. Give brief history of hybrid cars.
211. What are the common hybrid terms? Explain briefly.
212. What are the main components of hybrid system?
213. Explain different types of hybrid systems used in cars.

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