1. Intake Stroke:
* What happens: The piston moves down, creating a vacuum in the cylinder.
* Result: Air (and sometimes fuel) is drawn into the combustion chamber through the open intake valve.
2. Compression Stroke:
* What happens: The intake valve closes, and the piston moves back up, compressing the air-fuel mixture.
* Result: The air-fuel mixture is squeezed into a smaller space, increasing its temperature and pressure. This prepares the mixture for ignition.
3. Power Stroke:
* What happens: The spark plug ignites the compressed air-fuel mixture, causing a rapid explosion (combustion).
* Result: The expanding hot gases push the piston down, converting chemical energy into mechanical energy. This is the stroke that powers the engine.
4. Exhaust Stroke:
* What happens: The exhaust valve opens, and the piston moves back up, pushing the spent combustion gases out of the cylinder.
* Result: The cylinder is cleared of the burnt gases, preparing it for the next intake stroke.
In Summary:
The combustion chamber is the heart of a four-stroke engine. The four strokes (intake, compression, power, and exhaust) work together to transform fuel into energy that turns the crankshaft and ultimately powers the vehicle.
