Automotive Engine

Have you ever wondered about how an automobile works or what goes inside your vehicle that provides it with the thrust? Well, in this brief discussion you would get to know all about that and much more.

Automotive Engine

An automotive engine is a component of an automobile that converts the chemical energy of fuel into mechanical energy through a combustion process. The automotive engine also facilitates the functioning of the generator and various other accessories such as the power-steering pump and the air-conditioning compressor.
Though two types of automotive engines have been discovered till date, namely the Internal Combustion Engine (ignition process takes place inside the vehicle) and the External Combustion Engine (ignition process takes place outside the vehicle), the one kind that is popularly used the world over is the former one.

Types of automobile Engines

Two Stroke Engine: As is indicated by its name, a two-stroke engine functions on two strokes as opposed to the more popular four-stroke engines. Very rudimentary in its design, the two-stroke engines are often used in mopeds, snowmobiles, lawnmowers and a few motorcycles. They are noisier, less fuel efficient and cause greater pollution in comparison to four-stroke engines. Interestingly, the largest compression-ignition engines are two-stroke and it finds its applications in various large vessels and locomotives.

Four Stroke Engine: Invented by Nicolaus Otto, the four-stroke engine finds its use in cars, light aircrafts and large boats. Compared with the two-stroke engines, the four-stroke engines are less noisy, more efficient and larger in size.

Bourke Engine: A refined version of the two-stroke engine, the strokes in a Bourke Engine occur without the mixing of burnt gas and fresh incoming air and due to less friction between piston and cylinder walls, the fuel efficiency is also more. Also, the expansion ratio of a Bourke Engine is greater, which translates to optimum usage of the heat produced during combustion.