Let’s slow the bang inside your engine to see the split-second that moves your car.
Matt Mikka took a small 3-horsepower flathead engine…
…then hand built a glass head…
…and used a ultra high-speed camera to capture awesome footage.
Seeing the process at 4K (4,000 Frames per Second)
Is pure eye-candy.
Izismile Video Collection
So let’s fire this baby up and learn the basics.
Most people understand that gas lights and the explosion turns the tires.
Here’s what you’re looking at…
FOUR-stroke Engine
This simply means, 1 full cycle has 4 steps.
Step 1 Intake valve opens – letting air and fuel into the chamber while the piston is moving DOWN
Step 2 Piston moves UP – this compresses the fuel
Step 3 BOOM – fuel is ignited, forcing the piston DOWN
Step 4 Exhaust valve opens – finally the piston moves back UP which forces the exhaust out
Now let’s change up the fuel from Regular Gasoline to clear Rubbing Alcohol.
LESS BOOM
This shows combustion in a “Lean state”.
Too much Air too little flammable fuel.
Rubbing Alcohol – unburned gas leaving the port
Compare the GIF Above/Below
This shows combustion in a “Rich state”.
Why
Because this time Acetylene – colorless gas – is used for a big BOOM
Lean state = Less power but better Miles-per-gallon
Rich state = More power but a lot more pollution
Which one do you think Dragster engines use?
Obviously, more BANG.
Now for the car guys/gals???
Which one burns HOTTER???
For everyone else, just here for the basics;
I hope this gave you a basic once-over on how engine combustion works.
Check-out Matt Mikka’s full video ABOVE.
1 - air/fuel intake
2 - compression
3 - ignition/power
4 - exhaust
repeat many times.
Suck
Squeeze
Bang
Blow
And lean burns hotter...
What is depicted here is a 4 stroke (or cycle) engine which uses exhaust and intake valves, and a power (combustion) stroke occurs every other revolution of the crankshaft. Lubricating oil is not mixed with the fuel, the lubricating oil is in the crankcase.
2 stroke engines are less fuel efficient and pollute more, but have fewer parts and produce more power relative to the weight of the engine.