An independent suspension allows the wheels on either side of an axle to move independently from each other. The fact that the left front wheel didn't move up in response to the right front wheel moving down is evidence of this.

The primary difference between internal and external combustion engines lies in where the power is developed. In an internal combustion engine fuel is ignited and burned inside the same container where the power is developed while in an external combustion engine the fuel is ignited outside the engine and the resulting power sent to it.

Ignition timing defines the point in time at the end of the compression stroke that the spark plug fires. Measured in number of degrees before top dead center (BTDC), the exact point that the spark plugs initiate combustion varies depending on the speed of the engine. The timing is advanced (the spark plugs fire a few more degrees BTDC) when the engine is running faster and retarded when it's running slower.

In engine lubrication, oil remains in the oil pan until the engine is turned on. It then gets sucked up the pickup tube by the oil pump and pressurized. This pressure is moderated by the pressure relief valve and the oil is fed through the oil filter into the engine to lubricate it.

Cylinders act as a guide for the pistons that translate the heat energy of combustion into the mechanical energy necessary to move a vehicle. Piston rings seal the piston to the cylinder to contain combustion gases and also regulate the oil distribution between the piston and cylinder wall. A cylinder head closes in the top of the cylinder forming the combustion chamber which is sealed by a head gasket (head). The head provides space for air and fuel intake valves, exhaust valves, and mounts for spark plugs and fuel injectors.