Lecture # 4

Working Principle of
2-stroke and 4-stroke Petrol and
Diesel Engine.

Engine:
Engine is the assemble form of
different parts which converts the
chemical energy of fuel into
mechanical energy
The internal combustion engine may
be a 4-stroke or 2-stroke.

4- stroke engine:
A four stroke engine makes two
revolutions of crank shaft to develop
1 power impulse.
The type of engine which
completes its 4 operations( Suction,
compression, power, and exhaust) in
two revolutions of crank shaft or
during four stroke of piston.

Working principle of 4-stroke

engine
The cycle of 4-stroke engine consists
of 4 strokes that are;
Suction/intake/induction stroke
Compression stroke
Power stroke
Exhaust stroke

Suction Stroke:
This stroke is also called as
intake or induction stroke.
In this stroke,
Piston moves from TDC to BDC.
The exhaust valve is closed and
inlet valve is opened
Fuel mixture (in case of petrol
engine) or air (in case of diesel
engine) enters into the cylinder
and fill the partial vacuum created
by movement of piston.

Compression Stroke:
In this stroke,
Both inlet and exhaust valves
are closed.
The piston moves from BDC
to TDC and
Compresses the fuel mixture
or air into clearance volume
thereby raising the temperature
and pressure of the intake charge.

Power stroke:
In this stroke,
Both valves are closed.
When the piston reaches TDC
(in compression stroke) a spark
plug burns the fuel mixture (in
petrol engine) whereas in case
of diesel engine, the diesel fuel
is injected into the cylinder in
the form of mist with the help
of fuel injection pump.

The ignited fuel and expanding gases push down the

piston downward to the BDC and hence power is
produced

Exhaust stroke:
In this stroke,
Inlet valve is closed and
exhaust valve is opened.
The piston moves from
BDC to TDC and
Sweeps out the burnt
gases through exhaust valve.

2- stroke engine:
The type of engine in which one power impulse is
produced during one revolution of crank shaft is termed
as two stoke engine.
The type of engine in which complete cycle takes
place only 1 up stroke and 1 down stroke of piston.
There is no definite intake and exhaust valves but
there are ports or opening in the cylinder walls which
are opened or closed by piston.

Working principle of 2 stroke engine

2-stroke engine completes its four operation(suction ,
compression, power, exhaust ) in 2 strokes of piston that
are:
Up stroke
Down stroke

Upstroke(induction & compression):

In this stroke,
Piston moves from bottom dead center to top dead center.
Both ports are covered.
Compresses the fuel mixture or air into clearance volume
thereby raising the temperature and pressure of the intake
charge.

fresh air fuel mixture/air enters in crankcase in

order to fill the vacuum developed in crankcase.
Spark plug ignites the fuel in combustion chamber in
case of petrol engine and in case of diesel engine
injector injects the fuel at the top of the piston.

Down stroke (power and exhaust):

Ignited fuel and expanding gasses push down the
Piston towards bottom dead center and hence the
power is produced.
Both inlet and exhaust ports are uncovered
Exhaust gasses are released from exhaust port.
Pre compressed air fuel mixture/air in crankcase is
pumped due to pressure to inlet port to combustion
chamber

Difference between 4- stroke Petrol and

Diesel engine
4-stroke diesel engine

4-stroke petrol engine

Diesel is used as a fuel in this type of Petrol is used as a fuel in this type of
engine
engine
No need of carburetor

Carburetor is present for fuel mixing

Ignition takes place due to

compression.
Presence of fuel injection pump and
fuel injector.
No spark plug

Ignition requires spark initially

Fresh and fuel are supplied directly

to combustion chamber
Air fuel mixture enter through inlet
valve

Fresh and fuel is supplied after

mixing
Only air enters through enter through
inlet valve

No fuel injection pump and injector

Spark plug is present

4- stroke diesel engine

4-stroke petrol engine

More compression ratio

14:1-21:1

Less compression ratio

7:1-10:1

High temperature

Less temperature

Heavy weight

Light weight

More power production for same

quantity of fuel, hence more efficient

Less power production

Easy Repair and maintenance

Complicated repair and maintenance

High efficiency

Low efficiency

Speeds up slowly due to its heavy

weight

Speeds up rapidly due to its lighter

weight

Difference between 2-stroke and 4stroke engine:

2- stroke engine

4-strroke engine

A 2-stroke engine makes one

revolution of crank shaft to develop
1 power impulse.

A four stroke engine makes two

revolutions of crank shaft to develop
1 power impulse.

The type of engine in which

complete cycle takes place in only 1
up stroke and 1 down stroke of
piston

The type of engine which completes

its 4 operations( Suction,
compression, power, and exhaust) in
two revolutions of crank shaft or
during four stroke of piston.

It gives more power as it fires after

every 360o or in every revolution of
crankshaft

It gives less power because it fires

after 720o or after 2 revolution of
crankshaft

More power in 1 revolution

Less power in 1 revolution

2- stroke engine

4-stroke engine

Higher weight to power ratio as it is

much lighter

Less weight to power ratio due to being

heavy

There is no definite intake and exhaust

valves but there are ports or opening in
the cylinder walls which are opened or
closed by piston in 2-stroke engine.

There is definite intake and exhaust

system in 4-stroke engine

Construction is simple

Construction is complex

light weight, compact, more power e.g.

Ships to maintain balance
It is cheaper as compare to 4-stroke
engine

Heavy weight e.g. in busses, cars

Poor lubrication system is present

Efficient lubrication system is present

More exhaust gases

Less exhaust gases

High speed 2-stroke less efficient.

More efficient

It is more costly

2- stroke engine

4-stroke engine

Less fuel efficiency in 2- stroke engine

More fuel efficiency

Fuel mixture can escape

Fuel mixture can not escape

Faster wear and tear and less engine life More durability
More pollution

Less pollution

More noisy

Less noisy

More fuel consumption

Less fuel consumption

Consumes more lubrication oil as some

of oil is burns with fuel

Consumes less lubrication oil

Cheaper repair and maintenance

Costly repair and maintenance

More balanced

Less balanced