A car engine converts chemical energy from fuel into mechanical force to propel the vehicle.Main Function
Energy Conversion: It burns an air-fuel mixture inside cylinders to transform chemical energy into heat, pressure, and kinetic energy.
• Motion Generation: It changes the up-and-down (reciprocating) motion of pistons into rotational motion at the crankshaft, which then turns the car's wheels via the transmission.
How the Four-Stroke Cycle Works
Most car engines operate on a four-step (Otto) cycle:
1. Intake: The intake valve opens as the piston moves down, drawing an air-fuel mixture into the cylinder.
2. Compression: The valves close and the piston moves up, compressing the air-fuel mixture into a high-pressure state.
3. Power (Combustion): A spark plug ignites the compressed mixture (or heat and compression ignite.