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2 Stroke and 4 Stroke Engine
2 Stroke and 4 Stroke Engine
Clerk describes a Cambell engine as using his cycle, as follows: "It has two cylinders,
respectively pump and motor, driven from cranks placed at almost right angles to each other, the
pump crank leading. The pump takes in a charge of gas and air, and the motor piston overruns a
port in the side of the cylinder at the out-end of its stroke to discharge the exhaust gases. When
the pressure in the motor cylinder has fallen to atmosphere, the pump forces its charge into the
back cover of the motor cylinder through a check valve, displacing before it the products of
combustion through an exhaust port ; the motor piston then returns, compressing the contents of
the cylinder into the compression space. The charge is then fired and the piston performs its
working stroke. This is the Clerk cycle."
•Two stroke engines do not have valves which are easy to construct and lowers their weight
•Two stroke engines fire once every revolution while four stroke every other revolution,
•Two stroke engines can work in any position, since oil flow is not a concern with any valves to
worry about.
•Two stroke engines do not last as long as four stroke engines; there is no lubrication system in a
two stroke engine so parts wear out a lot faster.
•Two stroke oil is expensive; you would burn a gallon every 1000 miles if it were in a car
•Two stroke engines produce a lot of pollution, and the way the engine is designed that part of
the air/fuel leaks out of the chamber through the exhaust port, which is why you see a small thin
film, or sheen, of oil around any two stroke outboard motor, and this leaking oil is a real mess for
the environment. This is the reason why two stroke engines are used only in application where
the motor is not used very often and a fantastic power-to-weigh ratio is important.
Nickolaus Otto invented the 4 stroke cycle in 1862. More details of how the four stroke
spark ignition cycle works, together with pictures of Otto's first engines
In 1912 the first ocean going vessel to have diesel engines installed was the Selandia. The
engines were 8 cylinder 4 strokes. An idea of their size can be got from the man standing by the
engine controls half way down the engine.
The four stroke cycle is so called because it takes four strokes of the piston to complete the
processes needed to convert the energy in the fuel into work. Because the engine is reciprocating,
this means that the piston must move up and down the cylinder twice, and therefore the
crankshaft must revolve twice.
The four strokes of the piston are known as the induction stroke, the compression stroke, the
power stroke, and the exhaust stroke. Students sometimes remember this as "suck, squeeze,
bang, blow."
Compression: This stroke begins at B.D.C, or just at the end of the suction stroke, and ends at
T.D.C. In this stroke the piston compresses the air-fuel mixture in preparation for ignition during
the power stroke (below). Both the intake and exhaust valves are closed during this stage.
Combustion: This is the start of the second revolution of the four stroke cycle. At this point the
crankshaft has completed a full 360 degree revolution. While the piston is at T.D.C. (the end of
the compression stroke) the compressed air-fuel mixture is ignited by a spark plug (in a gasoline
engine) or by heat generated by high compression (diesel engines), forcefully returning the
piston to B.D.C. This stroke produces mechanical work from the engine to turn the crankshaft.
Exhaust: During the exhaust stroke, the piston once again returns from B.D.C. to T.D.C. while
the exhaust valve is open. This action expels the spent air-fuel mixture through the exhaust
valve.
Advantages
More torque
This is the most important reasons why people choose a 4-stroke engine. The two-stroke boasts
its speed and power, but the four-stroke shows extra torque. It is more reliable and quitter.
Last longer
Four stroke engines last longer and use much, much less oil. Compared to two-stroke engines,
the four stroke engine is durable for use. The more times an engine goes around, the quicker it
will wear out. As 2-strokes must rev to very high RPM to make any power, most applications
using them are geared toward maintaining that RPM. Thus, they can’t live as long as four-stroke
engine.
Disadvantages
Complicated
Two-stroke engines do not have valves, simplifying their construction. However, there are more
parts to worry about in a four-stroke engine which results in harder to troubleshoot.