Unit 14 worksheet: Engine Fundamentals

Competency unit: AURTTE004 Inspect and Service Engines

Activity summary:
This worksheet will be used as evidence regarding your work within the following competencies:
1. Describe automotive two- and four-stroke petrol and diesel engine fundamentals and operating cycles.
2. Identify engine configurations and classifications.
Reference material:
Automotive Mechanics: 10e, Chapters 15, 16, 17 and 21.
Safety precautions:
1. Personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn.
2. Follow all standard operating procedures (SOP) when using workshop tools and equipment.
3. Carry out a risk assessment prior to completing workshop activity tasks.

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Unit 14 Worksheet
To accompany May & Simpson Automotive Mechanics 10e
© McGraw-Hill Education Australia 2018
Additional Student Comments

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Unit 14 Worksheet
To accompany May & Simpson Automotive Mechanics 10e
© McGraw-Hill Education Australia 2018
 Competency unit: AURTTE004 Inspect and Service Engines

1. Identify the engine strokes as shown below:

A) Suction B) Compression C) Power D) Exhaust

2. Four-stroke petrol engines

(a) Complete the following table regarding the operation of a four-stroke petrol engine.

Combustion
Exhaust Pressure
Piston Travel Inlet Valve Cylinder volume
Stroke Valve above atmospheric/
Up/Down Open/Closed increasing/decreasing
Open/Closed low/very high/
below atmospheric
Below
Suction Down Open Close Increasing
Atmospheric

Compression Up Close Close Very High Decreasing

Power Down Close Close Very High Increasing

Above
Exhaust Up Close Open Decreasing
Atmospheric

(b) In a petrol four-stroke engine, what is drawn into the engine on the intake stroke?
Air and Fuel Mixture
(c) Why does air need to be drawn into the engine?
Oxygen in the air is one of the necessary ingredients for the engine combustion process.

Unit 14 Worksheet
To accompany May & Simpson Automotive Mechanics 10e
© McGraw-Hill Education Australia 2018
(d) In a four-stroke petrol engine, apart from an air–fuel mixture, what else is required for combustion
to take place?
Spark plug is required to produce spark for combustion of fuel.

3.
(a) Complete the following table regarding the operation of a four-stroke diesel engine:

Cylinder Combustion
Content Exhaust Pressure
Inlet Valve Cylinder volume
Stroke Air–fuel/ Valve above atmospheric/
Open/Closed increasing/decreasing
air–fuel mixture/ Open/Closed low/very high/
burnt gases below atmospheric
Below
Suction Air Open Close Increasing
Atmospheric

Compression Air Close Close Very High Decreasing

Power Air Fuel Close Close Very High Increasing

Above
Exhaust Burnt Gases Close Open Decreasing
Atmospheric

(b) Explain the main difference between the operating principles of a four-stroke diesel engine as
compared with a four-stroke petrol engine:
Petrol engine require spark plug but in diesel engine there is no requirement of spark plug because fuel
injectors are used instead

(c) What is the purpose of a blower in a diesel two-stroke engine?

When the piston falls during the power stroke, it compresses the charge in the crankcase, forcing it up into
the cylinder when the intake port opens. In a two stroke diesel engine, the crankcase is not used to provide
pressure for the incoming air. So a blower must be used to push air into the cylinder.

4. Define the following terms related to valve timing:

(a) Lead: The amount in crankshaft degrees the valves open before TDC or BDC.
(b) Lag: The amount in crankshaft degrees the valves close after TDC or BDC.
(c) Overlap: alve overlap is the time, at the end of the exhaust stroke that the exhaust valve is not quite
closed, and the intake valve is slightly open.

Unit 14 Worksheet
To accompany May & Simpson Automotive Mechanics 10e
© McGraw-Hill Education Australia 2018
5. With reference to the valve timing diagram below, answer the following questions:

(a) What is the total valve overlap?

59 Degrees

(b) What is the advantage of having a larger overlap period.

Generally, the torque at higher engine speeds and loads can benefit from increasedoverlap due to pressure
waves in the exhaust manifold aiding the intake of fresh charge. Large amounts of overlap tend to result in
poor emissions at lower speeds as fuel from the intake charge can flow directly into the exhaust.

(c) In relation to degrees of crankshaft rotation, what is the total degrees that the exhaust valve remains
open?
47 Degrees

6. Referring to the diagram below:

a) Name the numbered engine components/features:

1 Outlet Channel 2 Inlet Channel

3 Crank Shaft 4 Cylinder Head
5 Transfer Port

Unit 14 Worksheet
To accompany May & Simpson Automotive Mechanics 10e
© McGraw-Hill Education Australia 2018
b) What is the purpose of a reed valve in a two-stroke engine?
Reed valves are commonly used in high-performance versions of the two-stroke engine, where they
control the fuel-air mixture admitted to the cylinder. As the piston rises in the cylinder a vacuum is created
in the crankcase beneath the piston.

c) Explain the term scavenging as related to a two-stroke engine:

Scavenging is the process of pushing exhausted gas-charge out of the cylinder and drawing in a fresh
draught of air or fuel/air mixture for the next cycle. This process is essential in having a smooth-running
internal combustion engine.

7. Look carefully at the diagram below and complete the following table:

a) Name the events happning in each stroke:

Stroke Name Of Stroke

1 Suction
2 Power
3 Exhaust
4 Compression

Unit 14 Worksheet
To accompany May & Simpson Automotive Mechanics 10e
© McGraw-Hill Education Australia 2018