ELI5: How are V12 engines built and how do they work?

Imagine you have two teams of super strong friends, each team has six people. That's like a V12 engine! It's basically two six-cylinder engines stuck together in a "V" shape.

How are they built?

• First, they make the engine block. Think of it as the sturdy playground for our super strong friends. It has twelve holes, called cylinders, where they'll work.
• Next, they put in the pistons. These are like the friends themselves, moving up and down inside the cylinders.
• They connect the pistons to the crankshaft with connecting rods. The crankshaft is like a spinning merry-go-round.
• Then, they add valves that open and close to let air and fuel in and let the exhaust out. Think of these as doors controlled by a timekeeper.
• Finally, they add the spark plugs, which are like tiny firecrackers that start the action!

1. Intake: The valves open, and air and fuel rush into the cylinder.
2. Compression: The piston moves up, squeezing the air and fuel.
3. Combustion: The spark plug fires, igniting the mixture and causing a mini-explosion. This pushes the piston down really hard.
4. Exhaust: The piston moves back up, pushing the burnt gases out through another valve.