In the current drive for cleaner energy use, the application of lightweight materials in internal combustion engines becomes imperative as it makes for greater fuel efficiency which results in pollution reduction. This chapter reviews the materials being developed in this direction and then discusses a particularly new lightweight hybrid composite material made of palm kernel shell (PKS) and periwinkle shell (PS) particles as reinforcements in commercially pure aluminium matrix. The fabricated composite had significantly improved properties over the commercially pure aluminium and was used to produce a lightweight engine block. Preliminary performance test results show that the hybrid aluminium composite may be suitable for some engine parts manufacture such as an engine block. Weight analysis carried out on an existing engine shows that the use of this new material in the manufacture of the engine block, cylinder head, piston and connecting rod could give a potential weight reduction of over 25% when used in place of conventional materials. Also, the results show that potential energy cost saving of over 62% could be achieved when this new material is used. However, further work is needed to properly ascertain its areas of specific application.

Lightweighting of automobiles of which the IC engine is a part has become very important due to stringent emission regulations being imposed on vehicle manufacturers, and the need to have more fuel-efficient vehicles. The use of light weight materials such as aluminum metal matrix composites (AMMCs) made up of aluminum alloy and nonmetal reinforcements such as alumina and silicon carbide is one strategy used for lightweighting. Recently, there has been active research in the use of biodegradable green materials such as agricultural wastes as reinforcements for AMMCs. In this chapter, work done on the use of biodegradable green materials as reinforcements for AMMCs is reviewed. The potential for their use as engine parts materials is analyzed. The results show that they have the potential to provide significant weight and cost savings when used as engine parts materials.