The camshaft is linked to the crankshaft through a timing belt and regulates the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves in each cylinder in time with the motion of the piston. An engine designated OverHead Camshaft (OHC) locates the camshaft in the cylinder head. An engine with Double OverHead Camshaft (DOHC) has two camshafts, one to regulate the intake valves and one to regulate the exhaust valves.

A head gasket is a gasket that sits between the engine block and cylinder heads to seal the cylinders to ensure maximum compression and avoid leakage of coolant or engine oil into the cylinders.

Opposed cylinder designs place cylinders flat in two rows 180° opposite each other with a single crankshaft running between them.

The purpose of an automobile engine's cooling system is to circulate coolant around the engine so it can absorb and dissipate heat. The water pump pumps coolant through the various components in the system and the radiator cools down coolant after it has heated up after passing through the engine. The thermostat controls the flow of coolant based on engine temperature while the cooling fan draws air through the radiator when the car isn't moving fast enough for unforced air to cool things down on its own.

The steering linkage is a system of pivots and connecting parts between the steering gear and the control arms. The steering linkage transfers the motion of the steering gear output shaft to the steering arms that turn the wheels.