• An engine lift lets you to do jobs that require hoisting the engine block..Auto Engine image by Andrew Breeden from Fotolia.com
  
  An engine lift, also called a hoist, is a heavy-duty piece of equipment used to lift automobile engines out of the chassis so that mechanics can work on or replace them. Engine lifts are manufactured by numerous companies, but designs are generally the same with similar parts. A typical engine hoist is composed of a stand, a jack, (also called a hydraulic ram) and a boom with chains and hook attachments.
  
  

The Stand

• The engine lift stand, also called the legs or frame, is a foundation that stabilizes the lift and bears the weight of the engine when the lift is loaded. A good engine lift stand is made of steel or other sturdy, durable metal. Many engine lift stands are equipped with pivoting casters with locking brakes so that the entire lift can be easily and safely moved or repositioned.
  
  

The Jack or Hydraulic Ram

• The jack or hydraulic ram composes the vertical, central portion of an engine hoist, and is the part of the device that does the actual lifting. The hydraulic jack functions similarly to a car jack, and is equipped with a lever operated by manually pumping it to raise the engine incrementally. All hydraulic rams should be equipped with a safety device to control how quickly the lift lowers the engine, and to prevent it from slipping or dropping.
  
  

The Boom, Chains and Hooks

• The boom is a long, horizontal arm, usually equipped with chains and hooks, that is mounted onto the hydraulic jack. A boom is designed to balance load forces so that a loaded engine lift will not tip over. Once the hooks are attached to the engine, the boom rises incrementally as the hydraulic jack is pumped, lifting the engine free of the chassis. The chains allow the engine to dangle from the boom with some horizontal motion, which makes it easier to maneuver the engine.