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ASVAB · Engine Basics and the Four-Stroke Cycle

What does engine displacement measure?

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

The total volume swept by all the pistons in the cylinders

  1. A The total volume swept by all the pistons in the cylinders
  2. B The weight of the engine
  3. C The oil capacity
  4. D The number of spark plugs

Why this is the answer

Engine displacement is the total volume swept by all the pistons moving inside the cylinders during one stroke, usually expressed in liters or cubic centimeters (cc). It is a basic measure of an engine's size and a rough indicator of its potential power and air-fuel intake — a larger displacement generally means more power but often lower fuel economy. For example, a '2.0-liter' engine has cylinders whose combined swept volume is two liters. Displacement is determined by the bore (cylinder diameter), stroke (piston travel), and number of cylinders, and it is a standard engine specification.
Source: ASVAB Auto Information — Engine Displacement

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About this topic: Engine Basics and the Four-Stroke Cycle

Engine basics cover the four-stroke cycle (intake, compression, power, exhaust), the parts that make it happen — pistons, valves, crankshaft, camshaft — and the terms used to describe engines, such as displacement and compression ratio. This is one of 21 Auto Information questions on engine basics and the four-stroke cycle, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our ASVAB exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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