Engineers have a lot to think about when designing new engines, and one of the biggest considerations is the shape of the pistons in the cylinders.

Heat is a byproduct of combustion. Both air-cooled and water-cooled engines need to dissipate that heat to keep the engine from running too hot. Can piston rings play a role in managing that heat?

Just about every piston engine is defined by two basic measurements: bore and stroke. Bore is the diameter of the cylinder. Stroke is the distance the piston travels from bottom dead center to top ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. There's more to piston shapes than you might think. Whether it's domed, flat, or dished, all pistons have their fair share of pros ...