What is a 2-cycle engine?

Question

What does that mean? How does it differ from a regular engine? Or a "4 stroke" engine? Is "4 stroke" considered regular?

Answer 1

The main difference to a user is that for a 2 cycle, you need to mix the gas and oil together.....It doesn't have a separate oil reservoir.

For a 4 cycle (regular, like a car) the engine has an oil reservoir and pump, and the gas is just pure gas.

Answer 2

Both 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines are normal, just in different places. In a 2-stroke engine, there is an intake/exhaust stroke where a exhaust from the previous stroke is vented and a new fuel/air mixture is brought in which ends when the piston reaches the top of its stroke and the spark plug ignites. The secon stroke is a power stroke where the ignited fuel/air burns and provides power and the piston is pushed down, and as the piston goes down the whole cycle starts again. In a 2-stroke engine the cycle takes place in one rotation.

In a 4-stroke engine the cycle takes two rotations. On the first rotation the upstroke starts with a chamber filled with a fuel/air mixture and the piston compresses it on the upstroke. At the top of the stroke the mixture is ignited and that makes the power stroke as the piston goes down. On the second rotation the upstroke is when the burnt exhuast gases are pushed out of the cylinder and on the downstroke a fresh fuel/air mixture is pulled in and the cycle begins anew.

The 2-stroke cycle is simpler and usually seen on small engines like those for lawnmowers. However, although a 4-stroke engine is generally more complicated it's also more powerful and efficient since the compression and separate exhaust and intake strokes means that the fuel/air mixture is burnt more completely and efficiently. That's why you see it in larger machines and vehicles.

Answer 3

I love the answers you can get for questions.. Here's the truth of the matter.. A two stroke engine only requires two strokes to operate (after the engine has fired and on the down stroke exhaust is released at the bottom of the cylinder on the downward stroke as fresh air and fuel is drawn in at the top. The piston heads back up the cylinder compressing the new air and fuel mixture and at the top it is ignited by a spark and the process starts all over again. (like a gas powered Weed eater). A four stroke (A regular engine) has 4 strokes Intake, (down) Compression (up) Ignition (down) Exhaust (up) and than it starts all over again. also for your information a motor is something operated by electrical power not gas.

Answer 4

A 4 stroke engine 1) pulls in air through the intake valve, 2) compresses the fuel/air, 3) spark goes off and the piston is forced down and finally 4) the piston comes backup pushing the exhaust out the exhaust valve. Suck, squeeze, bang (push), vent - 4 stroke.

The 2 cycle pulls in air/fuel from the crank case, compresses it and a glow plug or spark plug fires the fuel, and on the way down, it expels the gasses and at the bottom of the stroke air/fuel is forced in the cylinder area for the next compression.

Summary: 4 stroke has 4 cycles up/down/up/down for each power stroke where the 2 stroke has only two stokes for each power stroke.

This is why two strokes use oil in the fuel. The air/fuel is compressed in the crank so it lubricates the area.

Answer 5

A 2-cycle engine uses gasoline that is mixed with oil and has no oil inside the engine for lubrication. A 4 stroke engine has oil in the crank case and runs on pure gasoline. Yes, a 4 stroke engine is considered a regular engine.

Answer 6

A four stroke has 4 phases in power delivery....intake, compression, ignition, exhaust. ...in the cylinder..down, up, down up of the piston. A two cycle ignites the mixture every other stroke instead of every 4th stroke and is not in wide use any longer. Used to be in outboard motors and diesel buses.

Answer 7

Four stroke has intake and exhaust valves and are lubricated by engine oil, AND fire every other time the piston comes up.

Two stroke has NO valves, is lubricated by oil mixed with gas, AND fires every time the piston comes up.

Answer 8

the old tractors use a 2- cycle
they have only 2 rooms one where the fuel is and the other it gets injected to and burnt and goes out.that's why they gave out that nasty dark gas because that was burnt gasoline