Four Stroke Engine

A four stroke cycle engine is an internal combustion engine that utilizes four strokes to
complete its one cycle. The strokes are inlet, compression, power and exhaust strokes. The piston
makes two complete passes in the cylinder to make four complete strokes. An operating cycle
requires two revolutions i.e. 720° to the crankshaft. It is the most common type of engine.[1]

Types of 4-stroke engine:

The two types of four stroke engine are

 Petrol engine
 Diesel engine

Petrol engine:

A petrol engine is an internal combustion engine also known as gasoline engine

with spark ignition designed to run on petrol or similar volatile fuels. When the inlet valve open
fuel mix with air enter in cylinder and in the next stroke a small spark is fired which ignite the
fuel and power delivered and the engine starts working.[2]

Fig 1:4 stroke petrol engine

Diesel engine:

The diesel engine also known as compression ignition engine is an internal

combustion engine in which ignition of the fuel is caused by the elevated temperature of the air
in the cylinder due to compression. Diesel engine work only by compressing the air, this increase
the temperature of the air inside the cylinder to such a high degree that atomized diesel fuel
inject into the combustion chamber ignite spontaneously. This contrasts with the petrol engine in
which spark is used to ignite the fuel.[3]

Fig 2: 4 stroke diesel engine

Components of four stroke petrol engine:

The various parts of four stroke petrol engine are

 Inlet and exhaust valve

 Piston
 Piston ring
 Cylinder
 Connecting rod
 Crankshaft
 Crank pin
 Crankcase
 Spark plug
 Carburetor

Inlet and exhaust valve:

Inlet valve:

Its function is to inlet the fresh air fuel mixture into the cylinder.

Exhaust valve:
 Its function is to exhaust the burnt gases by the force of piston[4]

Fig 3: inlet and exhaust valve

Piston:

Piston is connected to crankshaft through the connecting rod. When piston moves
downward sucks fresh air and fuel mixture in suction stroke and ignited inside the cylinder due
to the temperature and pressure generated thus the expand force down the piston.[4]

Fig 4: Piston

Piston rings:

A piston ring is an open ended ring that fits into grove out of outer diameter of
cylinder. It has three major functions which are seal the expansion chamber, support heat transfer
and finally circulate engine oil.[4]
 Fig 5: Piston rings

Connecting rod:

A small end of connecting rod is connecting rod is connected to piston and the
other end is connected to crankshaft. Its function is to transferring reciprocating motion of piston
into rotary motion of crankshaft. Gudgeon pin is used to connect the piston and connecting
rod.[4]

Fig 6: Connecting rod

Crank pin:

In reciprocating engine the crankpins are the journals of the big end bearings at the end
of the connecting rods opposite to the piston.[4]
 Fig 7:crank pin

Crank case:

In an internal combustion engine of the reciprocating type the crank case is the
housing of crank case.[4]

Fig 8:crank case

Carburetor:

It is a device that blends air and fuel for internal combustion engine.[4]
 Fig 9: carburetor

Spark plug:

Spark plug is used in petrol engine only which is help to ignite the air fuel mixture
for combustion.[4]

Fig 10: spark plug

Advantages of 4 stroke engine:

 Less fuel combustion

 Thermal efficiency is more
 More volumetric efficiency
 Less wear and tear of parts
 Cause less pollution i.e. noise and air pollution[2]

Disadvantages of 4 stroke engine:

 More components is required in manufacturing process

 Separate valve mechanism is required.
 More cost
 More complicated design is required.[2]
 Difference between four stroke and two stroke engine

Four stroke engine:

 One cycle completed in every two revolutions of crankshaft

 More moving parts
 More maintenance
 Heavy in weight
 More expensive
 Long engine life
 Complex design[4]

Two stroke engine:

 One cycle completed in every revolution of crankshaft

 Less moving parts
 Less maintenance
 Light in weight
 Less expensive
 Short engine life
 Simpler design[4]

REFERENCES

[1] http://courses.washington.edu

[2] http://apsacwestridge.edu.pk

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org

[4] https://www.slideshare.net