What problems would an 18th Century scientist suggest to someone describing the internal combustion engine?

Question

Would they think it was genius or reckless and stupid? If stupid, what would they anticipate would go wrong?

Answer 1

In my own opinion, it would be a genius to know how to harness the energy given off by combustion of a very flammable matter, but it would be reckless, since the setting is in the 18th century and the technology is ahead of its time, and recklessness can mean that somebody would be blown to smitherins!

Answer 2

It would not be as duifficult in the 18th century as some have supposed. A little research shows that - - -
Twenty years prior to the turn of that century, in 1680 , Dutch physicist, Christian Huygens had designed (but never built) an internal combustion engine that was to be fueled with gunpowder, the only "fuel" availabel. Then in 1698, British engineer Thomas Savery had designed a steam engine , but it was Thomas Newcomen in 1712 that demonstrated the first practical industrial steam engine. So the general understanding of the power piston steam engine was already well known in the 18th century. The previously proposed internal combustion engine was known and a real one would be coming, but it would take a while.
The major problems then would have been the processes involving the selection and metering of a fuel and air mixture (carburation) and its timed ignition . ( And we are still working on the same problems in the 21st century.)
In the 19th century , in 1824 - English engineer, Samuel Brown adapted an old Newcomen steam engine to burn gas, and he used it to briefly power a vehicle once a short distance. In 1858 - Belgian-born engineer, Jean Joseph Étienne Lenoir invented and patented electric spark-ignition internal combustion engine fueled by coal gas.
Going into the 20th century automobiles were being driven by both wood-fired steam engines and petrol liquid-fired internal combustion engines.
.

Answer 3

You'll never get it to work! It will wear out in a matter of minutes and send shrapnel flying in all directions. Not with my money, material, or laboratory space!

How would you keep it cool? What stops the metal parts from grinding each other down (lubricant)? Where's the smoke going to go (exaust)?........etc

Besides, I already have a steam engine.

-reckless

Answer 4

I think of Carot cycle and Clayton cycle, etc.
There were no problems for them to describe internal combustion engine.
They were smarter than we thought.

Answer 5

"That's blasphemy!!"