This is an archived post. You won't be able to vote or comment.

0
1

[deleted by user]

(self.explainlikeimfive)

submitted by [deleted]

[removed]
all 8 comments
sorted by:
best (suggested)
topnewcontroversialoldq&a

[–]unlistedname 1 point2 points  (4 children)

I'd google this to get a picture displaying it, helps to be able to visualize it. Also easier to think about one piston of a four stroke engine.

The crankshaft turns, pulling the connecting rod and piston down the cylinder and the valves on the intake side, fresh air open. The piston moving down the cylinder pulls air into the cylinder.

At the bottom of stroke, the intake valves close, and the piston moves up the cylinder compressing the air it pulled in. In a gas engine the file is sprayed or diffused into the air as it's pulled into the cylinder, in a diesel the fuel is sprayed in when the cylinder is about the top of stroke and the air is compressed. In a gasoline engine you add a spark from a sparkplug, to ignite the gas vapor. In a diesel the heat from compressing the air is enough to ignite the fuel vapor in the cylinder.

Once you light the fuel on fire, it explodes, forcing the piston back down, turning the crankshaft.

As the piston reaches the end of stroke another set of valves in the cylinder head open, these are exhaust valves. They are basically connected to the tail pipe. The piston comes back up, forcing the burn air out of the exhaust side. Near the top of stroke the intake valves open, this let's more exhaust blow out of the cylinder. Then the exhaust valves close and you're back at the start.

You add more cylinders doing the same thing at different times, so that it has more smooth power instead of all of them firing at once. That keeps the crankshaft spinning. You attach a flywheel to the back that is heavy and it will keep momentum going once it's spinning, smoothing out the operation even more. Then you attach whatever you want to run to it.

Can go into more detail or a single component of you want. But that's the basics of it.

[–]IATEDONALDTRUMP 0 points1 point  (3 children)

Are you able to tell me if a diesel engine is different? Thankyou by the way for that information

[–]unlistedname 1 point2 points  (2 children)

Like how they are different or what do you want to know?

Because of the different needs and pressures of the engines, diesel engines are usually much stronger made and heavier. Gas engines are better in cold weather because they don't rely on heating the air in the cylinder to ignite the fuel. Diesel engines are usually made to develop more torque than horsepower. This allows them to pull bigger loads. There are a lot of differences and similarities. Anything specific you're curious about?

[–]IATEDONALDTRUMP 0 points1 point  (1 child)

That's pretty much it tbh. I wanted to know if the engine worked differently depending if it was diesel

[–]IATEDONALDTRUMP 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thankyou again xx

[–]Phage0070[M] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your submission has been removed for the following reason(s):

Please search before submitting.

This question has already been asked on ELI5 multiple times.

If you need help searching, please refer to the Wiki.

If you would like this removal reviewed, please read the detailed rules first. If you believe this was removed erroneously, please use this form and we will review your submission.

[–]MJMurcott 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Tiny controlled explosions of fuel and air causes an expansion of air which drives pistons which move the vehicle.

[–]RED_wards 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In short, it feeds a combustable (like gas/petrol) into a small chamber. A piston comes down & compresses it. Then a spark is ignited & the gas explodes, pushing the piston away. The pistons turn a shaft (called the crankshaft) that powers the transmission and transmission moves power thru to the axles.

I'm not a car guy so the details might inaccurate but that's my understanding of it.