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Difference between two stroke and four stroke engine.

Two stroke engine:

1. One working stroke in each cylinder per revolution in crankshaft.

2. Light in weight.

3. Moving parts are few.

4. Mechanical efficiency is more.

5. Thermal efficiency is less because a part of air fuel mixture gas as waste with the exhaust gas.

6. Noise is more.

7. Wear and tear is more due to the smaller size of the same power.

8. Construction is simple and easy to manufacture.

Four stroke engine:

1. One working stroke in each cylinder per two revolution of crankshaft.

2.Size and weight of the engine is heavy and larger.

3. Moving parts are more in number.

4. Mechanical efficiency is less.

5. Thermal efficiency is more.

6. Produces less noise.

7.Wear and tear is less.

8. Construction is more complicated due to valve mechanism.


Difference Between 2 Stroke and 4 Stroke
Engines
S.No. Four stroke engine Two stroke engine
It has one power stroke for every It has one power stroke for each revolution
1. two revolutions of the crankshaft. of the crankshaft.
Heavy flywheel is required and
engine runs unbalanced because Lighter flywheel is required and engine
turning moment on the bcrankshaft runs balanced because turning
is not even due to one power stroke moment is more even due to one power
for every two revolutions of the stroke for each revolution of the
2. crankshaft. crankshaft.
3. Engine is heavy Engine is light
Engine design is complicated due Engine design is simple due to absence of
4. to valve mechanism. valve mechanism.
5. More cost. Less cost than 4 stroke.
Less mechanical efficiency due to More mechanical efficiency due to less
6. more friction on many parts. friction on a few parts.
More output due to full fresh
charge intake and full burnt gases Less output due to mixing of fresh charge
7. exhaust. with the hot burnt gases.
8. Engine runs cooler. Engine runs hotter.
9. Engine is water cooled. Engine is air cooled.
Less fuel consumption and More fuel consumption and fresh charge is
10. complete burning of fuel. mixed with exhaust gases.
11. Engine requires more space. Engine requires less space.
12. Complicated lubricating system. Simple lubricating system.
13. Less noise is created by engine. More noise is created by engine.
Engine consists of inlet and exhaust
14. valve. Engine consists of inlet and exhaust ports.
15. More thermal efficiency. Less thermal efficiency.
16. It consumes less lubricating oil. It consumes more lubricating oil.
17. Less wear and tear of moving parts. More wear and tear of moving parts.
18. Used in cars, buses, trucks etc. Used in mopeds, scooters, motorcycles etc.
Also Read:

 The petrol engine works on Otto cycle whereas diesel engine works on diesel cycle.
 In petrol engine the air and petrol are mixed in carburetor and it enters into the cylinder. In diesel engine the fuel is first
fed into the cylinder by a fuel injector and then gets mixed with air inside the cylinder.
 In petrol engine first the compression of air and petrol is done and then it is ignited by an electric spark. In diesel engine
only the charge of air is compressed and ignition is done by the heat of compressed air.
 The compression ratio in petrol engine is low as compared with the diesel engine.
 The power developed in petrol engine is low due to lower compression ratio. In diesel engine the power developed is
more due to higher compression ratio.
Also Read:
 How Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) Works
 Torque Converter Working, Principle, Main Parts and Application.
 What is Stirling Engine – Types, Main Parts, Working and Application?
 Petrol engine is fitted with spark plug whereas diesel engine is fitted with a fuel injector.
 In petrol engine the fuel that burns has high volatility. In diesel engine the fuel of less volatility is burnt.
 Petrol engines are used in light weight vehicles like car, motorcycles, scooters etc. Diesel engines are used in heavy
vehicles like buses, trucks, locomotives etc.
 Fuel consumption in petrol engine is higher than the diesel engine.
 Petrol engine is lighter whereas diesel engine is heavier.
 Frequent overhauling is required in petrol engine but overhauling of diesel engine is done after a long time.
 There is lesser starting problem in petrol engine as compared with diesel engine.
 Petrol engine has lowered initial and maintenance cost but the initial and maintenance cost of diesel engine is high.
Difference Between Petrol and Diesel Engine in Tabular Form

S.No Petrol Engine Diesel Engine

The diesel engine works on diesel cycle


The petrol engine works on Otto cycle i.e. on constant
1. volume. i.e. on constant pressure.

The fuel is fed into the cylinder by a


The air and petrol are mixed in the carburetor before
2. they enter into the cylinder. fuel injector and is mixed with air inside the cylinder.

The diesel engine compresses only a charge


The petrol engine compresses a mixture of air and
3. petrol which is ignited by an electric spark. of air and ignition is done by the heat of compression.

4. Compression ratio is low. Compression ratio is higher in diesel engine.

Due to higher compression ratio more


Less power is produced due to lower compression
5. ratio. power is produced.

6. Petrol engine is fitted with a spark plug It is fitted with a fuel injector.

7. Burns fuel that has high volatility. Burns fuel that has low volatility.

They are used in heavy vehicles


They are used in light vehicles which requires less
power. which require high power.

8. Eg: car, jeep, motorcycle, scooters etc. Eg: bushes, trucks, locomotive etc.

9. Fuel consumption in petrol engine is high. Fuel consumption in diesel engine is less.

10. Lighter Heavier

11. Petrol engine requires frequent overhauling. Overhauling of diesel engine is done after a long time.

12. Lesser starting problem. Greater starting problem.

13. Lower initial cost. Higher initial cost.

14. Lower maintenance cost. Higher maintenance cost.


Comparison between a petrol engine and diesel engine
S.no Petrol Engines Diesel Engines

1 A petrol engine draws a mixture of petrol and air during the A diesel engine draws only air during the suction stroke.
suction stroke.

The carburetor is installed in petrol engines to mix air and petrol in The injector or atomizer is installed in diesel engines
2 the required proportion and to supply it to the engine during the
suction stroke. to inject the fuel at the end of the compression stroke.

3 The pressure at the end of the compression is about 10 bar. The pressure at the end of the compression is about35 ba

The charge (i.e. petrol and air mixture) is ignited with the help of The fuel is injected in the form of a fine spray. The
4 spark plug. temperature of the compressed air is about 600° C at a
pressure of about 35 bars.

A diesel engine has compression ratio approximately


5 A petrol engine has compression ratio approximately from 6 to 10.
from 15 to 25.

The combustion of fuel takes place approximately at


6 The combustion of fuel takes place approximately at constant constant pressure. in other words, it works on
volume. In other words, it works on Otto cycle.
Diesel cycle.

7 The thermal efficiency is up to about 26%. The thermal efficiency is up to about 40%.

8 Overheating trouble is more in petrol engine due to low thermal Overheating trouble is less in diesel engine due to high
efficiency. thermal efficiency.

9 The starting of petrol engine is easy due to low compression ratio. The starting of the diesel engine is slightly difficult due to
higher compression ratio compared to a petrol engine.

10 As the compression ratio is low, the petrol engines are cheaper As the compression ratio is high, the diesel engines are
and lighter in weight. costlier and heavier in weight.

The running cost of the diesel engine is low because of


11 The running cost of petrol engine is high because of the higher
cost of petrol fuel.
the lower cost of diesel fuel.

12 The maintenance cost is less. The maintenance cost is more.

13 Petrol engines are high-speed engines. Diesel engines are relatively low-speed engines.
The diesel engines are are installed in heavy-duty vehicles
The petrol engines are are installed in light duty vehicles such as such as buses, trucks, tractors, earth moving
14 scooters, motorcycles, cars. These are also used in airplanes.
machines, etc.

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