Spark-ignition: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article

Spark-ignition

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	Topics Spark-ignition Topic Home The term spark-ignition engine is normally used to refer to internal combustion engineInternal combustion engine The internal combustion engine is a heat engine in which the burning of a fuel occurs in a confined space called a combustio... s where the fuel-air mixture is ignited with a spark. The term contrasts with compression-ignitionDiesel engine The diesel engine is a type of internal combustion engine; more specifically, it is a compression ignition engine, in ... engines, where the heat from compression alone ignites the mixture. Spark-ignition engines can be either two-strokeTwo-stroke cycle The two-stroke cycle of an internal combustion engine differs from the more common four-stroke cycle by having only two stro... or four-strokeFour-stroke cycle The four-stroke cycle of an internal combustion engine is the cycle most commonly used for automotive and industrial purpose... , and are commonly referred to as "gasoline engines" in America and "petrol engines" in Britain. However, these terms are not preferred, since spark-ignition engines can (and increasingly are) run on fuels other than gasolineGasoline Summary Gasoline, also called petrol, is a petroleum-derived liquid mixture consisting primarily of hydrocarbons and enhanced ... , such as autogasAutogas Autogas is the common name for liquified petroleum gas when it is used as a fuel in internal combustion engines in vehicles... (LPG), methanolMethanol Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol or wood alcohol, is a chemical compound with chemical formula CH3OH.... , ethanolEthanol This article is about the chemical compound.... , compressed natural gasCompressed natural gas Compressed Natural Gas is a substitute for gasoline or diesel fuel.... (CNG), hydrogenHydrogen \|-\| Triple point \|\| 13.8033 K, 7.042 kPa... , and (in drag racing) nitromethaneNitromethane Nitromethane is an organic compound with the chemical formula CH3NO2.... . A four-stroke spark-ignition engine is an Otto cycle engine. Until recently, a major distinction between spark-ignition and compression-ignition engines has been where the fuel is mixed - spark-ignition engines mix fuel outside the cylinders and compression-ignition engines mix fuel inside the cylinders. However, both two-stroke and four-stroke spark-ignition engines are increasingly being designed with gasoline direct injectionGasoline direct injection Gasoline direct injection or GDI is a variant of fuel injection employed in modern four stroke petrol engines.... (GDi), eliminating this distinction between the two systems.