Mgbanaka piston nwere ọkwa ma ọ bụghị mgbanaka okirikiri na steeti efu. Akụkụ mpụta ya dị ukwuu karịa dayameta dị n'ime nke cylinder. Ya mere, mgbe etinyere ya na cylinder ya na piston, ọ na-emepụta ike na-agbanwe ma na-arapara na mgbidi cylinder.

A na-agbanye mgbanaka piston na njedebe ala nke mgbanaka mgbanaka n'okpuru ọrụ nke nrụgide gas, ya mere gas na-agba gburugburu na azụ nke mgbanaka ahụ ma gbasaa, na nrụgide ya na-adaba. N'otu oge ahụ, ike nke nrụgide gas na mgbanaka azụ na-eme ka mgbanaka piston na-ejikọta na mgbidi cylinder ahụ. Mgbe gas nke agbadala nrụgide na-esi na mbepụ nke mgbanaka gas nke mbụ gaa na elu elu nke mgbanaka gas nke abụọ, a na-agbanye mgbanaka gas ahụ na njedebe ala nke mgbanaka nke abụọ. Ọ na-agbagharị na azụ nke mgbanaka ahụ wee gbasaa ọzọ, na nrụgide ya na-ebelata.

Ọ bụrụ na nke a na-aga n'ihu, nrụgide na ntinye nke gas na-esi na mgbanaka gas ikpeazụ na-ebelata nke ukwuu, ya mere ọnụ ọgụgụ nke ikuku gas dị ntakịrị. Ya mere, ngwaọrụ akara nke "labyrinth" nke nwere mgbanaka gas ole na ole nke nwere mbelata nke ọma zuru oke iji mechie gas dị elu na cylinder ahụ nke ọma.