Third Coast Auto Group Official Blog
The Simplest Explanation Of The Combustion Engine
By Product Expert | Posted in Uncategorized on Thursday, January 26th, 2017 at 7:07 pm
What Is A Four Stroke Engine?
Throughout history, there have been many attempts at passenger transportation, but none have been as successful as the four-stroke combustion engine. The electric car may be the future, but the combustion engine is our past. Not only is it important to understand how your car is getting you to work everyday, it is also thought provoking and downright amazing.
If you are an automotive enthusiast of any kind, you may have heard of the saying “suck, bang, blow”. Did you know that is not just a derogatory euphemism? Each cylinder in any four-stroke combustion engine goes through four stages over and over again to make power. Professionally, these are known as intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust.
Intake
First, the engine sucks in air and fuel. While this is happening, the piston moves away from the spark plug, and bounces off the other side of the cylinder.
Compression
On its way back to the spark plug, the air and gas that was sucked into the cylinder gets compressed, building pressure in anticipation for a chemical reaction when the spark plug ignites.
Combustion
When the piston hits the top of the cylinder, the spark plug ignites, creating an explosion that would blow your head off if you weren’t protected by the engine block.
Exhaust
The explosion from the combustion stage pushes the piston back down the cylinder, simultaneously starting the intake stage for another round.
Of course, if you find this interesting, it only makes more questions. Feel free to ask them in the comment section below!
