Component Inspection & Quality Control Flashcards
7 cards from real AERA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Component Inspection & Quality Control flashcards as text
What is the purpose of checking valve margin (head thickness) during a valve inspection?
Answer: To ensure the valve can withstand heat without burning or mushrooming
Insufficient valve margin (thin head edge) means the valve cannot absorb and dissipate combustion heat adequately, leading to burning and failure.
Which condition would cause a connecting rod to fail a 'stretch' measurement?
Answer: The rod has been subjected to overload, causing permanent elongation
A rod that has been overstressed will be permanently stretched beyond its original center-to-center length, making it unfit for reuse.
Before assembling bearings, the oil clearance is measured by which method that uses a compressible plastic strip?
Answer: Plastigage method
Plastigage is a crushable plastic strip placed between the bearing and journal; the width of the crushed strip corresponds to the oil clearance on the included scale.
When a valve spring is tested for squareness, the maximum allowable lean from perpendicular is typically:
Answer: 1/16 in (1.6 mm)
Most specifications allow a maximum of 1/16 in (1.6 mm) lean from perpendicular; a spring leaning more than this produces uneven side loads on the valve stem.
A fluorescent dye penetrant inspection requires what final step before the part is examined under UV light?
Answer: Application of developer powder or spray
Developer draws the penetrant out of defects and provides a contrasting background, making cracks visible as bright fluorescent indications under UV (black) light.
When inspecting a used timing chain, the maximum allowable stretch before replacement is typically measured as:
Answer: Elongation that causes timing to be retarded more than 3–5 degrees
If chain stretch causes camshaft timing to retard more than 3–5 degrees from specification, valve timing and engine performance are compromised enough to require replacement.
Which of the following is the FIRST step when establishing a quality control inspection sequence for rebuilt engines?
Answer: Verifying all component part numbers match the build sheet
Confirming every component matches the build sheet before assembly prevents incorrect parts from being installed, which is a foundational QC step.