What is the working principle of a gasoline engine?

[CatherineFitz]

The working principle of a gasoline engine is: by burning fuel in the cylinder to generate kinetic energy, it drives the piston inside the engine cylinder to move back and forth, thereby driving the connecting rod attached to the piston and the crank connected to the connecting rod to perform reciprocating circular motion around the center of the crankshaft, outputting power. Due to the low viscosity and rapid evaporation of gasoline, a gasoline injection system can be used to inject gasoline into the cylinder. After compression reaches a certain temperature and pressure, it is ignited by the spark plug, causing the gas to expand and perform work. The characteristics of a gasoline engine include high rotational speed, simple structure, light weight, low cost, smooth operation, and convenient maintenance. Gasoline engines are widely used in automobiles, especially in small cars.

[Liam]

The principle of a gasoline engine might sound technical, but to put it simply in everyday terms, it's like our heartbeat, working in cycles. Specifically, it has four steps: intake, compression, explosion, and exhaust. When the car starts, the engine's intake valve opens, and a mixture of air and gasoline is sucked into the cylinder. Then, the piston compresses this mixture tightly. The spark plug discharges, igniting the mixture and causing an explosion. The force of the explosion pushes the piston downward, turning the crankshaft and generating power. Finally, the exhaust valve opens, expelling the burned exhaust gases. This repetitive cycle keeps the car moving. I've driven my gasoline car for many years and feel it's efficient but requires frequent maintenance of the spark plugs and fuel tank. If the air-fuel mixture ratio is off, it can easily stall or emit black smoke, affecting fuel consumption. Don't ignore the engine RPM—it determines the car's speed. Too high, and it consumes more fuel; too low, and problems may arise. So, when driving, control the throttle properly to maintain smooth and safe driving, which is also more fuel-efficient and worry-free.

[LeAdelyn]

The operation of a gasoline engine is a series of ingenious engineering steps, with the core being the four-stroke cycle process. The first stage is called intake, where the valves open, and the piston pulls downward to draw in a mixture of air and gasoline. The second stage is compression, where the piston pushes upward to compress the mixture, increasing its density. The third stage is power, where the spark plug discharges at the precise moment to ignite the mixture, causing a small explosion that pushes the piston downward, generating power. The final stage is exhaust, where the valves open to allow the exhaust gases to exit. The key to this design is precise timing—ignition too early or too late by the spark plug reduces efficiency and power. When I worked on modifying cars, I tested this. Modern engines use an ECU to control ignition timing, improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions. In daily driving, it's important to use high-quality gasoline to avoid knocking, which can extend the engine's lifespan. Compared to diesel engines, gasoline engines are slightly more fuel-efficient but have higher maintenance costs, such as requiring regular air filter replacements to keep the intake clean.

[DiJordan]

How does a gasoline engine work? Simply put, it's intake, compression, ignition, and exhaust. The first step involves the intake valve allowing a mixture of air and gasoline to be drawn into the cylinder. The second step sees the piston compressing this mixture in preparation. The third step is when the spark plug discharges, igniting the explosion that pushes the piston into motion. The fourth step expels the waste gases, restarting the cycle. Each step connects to propel the car forward. Remember, the spark plug is a core component; not replacing it on time may cause the engine to stall. During daily driving, the engine's sound can indicate its condition—a light hum is normal, but loud knocking sounds mean it's time for a check-up. Regular maintenance can prevent major overhauls.

[LaNathan]

The principle of gasoline engines originates from old-fashioned internal combustion engine designs, and after a century of improvements, they remain highly reliable. The working process follows the classic four-stroke cycle: first, the intake stroke where the piston moves downward to draw in the air-fuel mixture; then the compression stroke where the piston rises to compress the mixture; next, the combustion stroke where the spark plug ignites the mixture, causing an explosion that drives the piston downward for power output; finally, the exhaust stroke expels the waste gases to complete one cycle. This mechanism evolved from the 19th-century Otto cycle and has now been optimized with electronic systems to improve the air-fuel ratio and ignition precision, enhancing efficiency. While driving, I've noticed that engine noise has significantly reduced, showcasing modern advancements. Don’t underestimate maintenance—regularly cleaning the fuel injectors can reduce carbon emissions, benefiting the environment, and easily extend the engine’s lifespan by a decade. New car owners are advised to learn more to avoid damaging the engine with low-quality gasoline.