Engine Fundamentals

• The engine is the source of power for the

vehicle.
• It converts energy stored in fuel, into
motion.
 Engine Operation
• Fuel is burned inside the engine’s
combustion chamber to produce heat.
• Heat causes expansion of gases in the
engine.
• Expansion in the combustion chamber
produces pressure.
• Engine components convert pressure
into rotating motion.
Engine Operation
 Piston Travel
(TDC, BDC)

• Top dead center (TDC)

– piston is at its highest point
in the cylinder
• Bottom dead center (BDC)
– piston is at its lowest point in
the cylinder
• Piston stroke
– distance the piston slides up
or down from TDC to BDC
 Four-Stroke Cycle
• Requires four piston strokes to complete
one cycle.
• Every four strokes, the engine produces
one power stroke.
• Two complete crankshaft rotations are
required to complete the four-stroke-cycle.
• Almost all automobiles use four-stroke-
cycle engines.
 Intake Stroke
• Draws fuel and air into the
engine.
• Intake valve is open.
• Exhaust valve is closed.
• Piston slides down and forms a
low pressure area in the cylinder.
• Atmospheric pressure pushes the
air-fuel mixture into the engine.
 Compression Stroke

• Compresses the air-fuel

mixture, making it more
combustible.
• Piston slides upward.
• Both valves are closed.
 Power Stroke
• Burns the air-fuel mixture and
pushes the piston down with
tremendous force.
• Both valves are closed.
• Spark plug fires, igniting the air-
fuel mixture.
• Pressure forms on the top of the
piston.
• Piston is forced down, rotating
the crankshaft.
 Exhaust Stroke
• Removes the burned gases
from the cylinder.
• Piston moves upward.
• Intake valve is closed.
• Exhaust valve is open.
• Burned gases are pushed
out the exhaust port.
Four-Stroke Cycle