What is the working principle of a car engine?
2 Answers
Working principle of a car engine: It generates kinetic energy by burning fuel inside the cylinder, driving the piston in the engine cylinder to reciprocate. This movement drives the connecting rod attached to the piston and the crank connected to the connecting rod, performing a reciprocating circular motion around the crankshaft center, thereby outputting power. Intake stroke: The piston moves downward in the cylinder, the valve opens, and air and fuel are drawn in; Compression stroke: The piston moves upward, compressing the mixture of air and fuel, which is then ignited by the spark plug; Power stroke: The compressed air-fuel mixture ignites and expands, pushing the piston downward, and the piston rod drives the connecting rod to rotate; Exhaust stroke: The piston is pushed downward by the expanding gas, and after reaching the bottom, the movement of the piston in another cylinder drives the piston upward, while the exhaust valve opens to expel the exhaust gas.
The working principle of a car engine is quite fascinating, like a precision machine dancing. It typically uses an internal combustion engine operating on a four-stroke cycle: first, it draws an air-fuel mixture into the cylinder, then the piston moves upward to compress it into an extremely dense state. At this point, the spark plug ignites the mixture, and the resulting explosion forces the piston downward, turning the crankshaft to generate power. Finally, the exhaust gases are expelled, and the process repeats. This continuous cycle of intake, compression, power, and exhaust converts thermal energy into mechanical energy, making the wheels move. Gasoline and diesel engines differ slightly; gasoline engines rely on spark plugs, while diesel engines use compression ignition. For efficient and fuel-saving engine operation during normal driving, maintaining a stable RPM and avoiding frequent sudden acceleration is key, which also extends the engine's lifespan. If the engine makes strange noises or loses power, it might be due to worn spark plugs or valve issues, requiring prompt inspection.
