What is the working principle of a gasoline engine?
2 Answers
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.
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.
