Malwa Institute of Science &

Technology, Indore
Experiment No.1
Aim: Study of 4 stroke Petrol & diesel engine.

Apparatus Required: Model of cross-section of 4 stroke petrol & diesel engine.

Working:
(1) Suction stroke:
Petrol Engine: Suction valve opens, exhaust valve remain closed. The piston moves from
TDC to BDC, the charge is drawn in to the cylinder.

Diesel Engine: Suction valve opens exhaust valve remain closed, only air is drawn in to
cylinder, as piston moves from TDC to BDC. This stroke ends as piston approaches the
BDC.

(2) Compression stroke:

Petrol Engine: When piston moves from BDC to TDC, & suction valve is closed; the
trapped charge in cylinder is compressed by upward moving piston. As piston approaches
TDC the compression stroke completes.

Diesel Engine: As piston moves from BDC to TDC, the inlet valve is closed, exhaust valve
is remaining closed. The air trapped in to the cylinder till the piston approaches TDC. The
air temperature reaches to about 8000C by compression. At the end of compression stroke,
the fuel is injected at very high pressure in to compressed hot air. The temperature of hot
compressed air is sufficient to ignite the injected fuel.

(3) Expansion stroke:

Petrol Engine: At the end of compression stroke, the compressed charge is ignited by very
high intensity spark created by spark plug & combustion starts & the high pressure burning
gases force the piston downward. The gas pressure performs work; therefore it is also called
working stroke or power stroke. When piston approaches BDC in its downward stroke, then
this stroke is completed. Here both valves remain closed.

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 Malwa Institute of Science &
Technology, Indore

Four Stroke Petrol Engine Cycle

Diesel Engine: During this stroke both valves remains closed. The piston at TDC is pushed
by expansion of burning gases. Actual work is obtaining during this stroke due to force
obtained by high pressure burning gases, therefore this stroke is called as power stroke.

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 Malwa Institute of Science &
Technology, Indore

(4) Exhaust stroke:

Petrol Engine: When piston moves from BDC to TDC, only exhaust valve opens & burnt
gases are expelled to surrounding by upward movement of piston. This stroke is completed
when piston approaches TDC. Thus one cycle of 4 strokes is completed.
Diesel Engine: During this stroke, piston moves from BDC to TDC, exhaust valve opens &
inlet valve remain closed & burnt gases of previous strokes are expelled out from cylinder
by upward movement of piston.

Application:
a) Used in automobiles i.e. bikes, cars, buses etc.Small pumping sets for agriculture.
b) Construction & machining.
c) Diesel electric locomotive.
d) Boats & ships.