This is one cylinder of a 4-stroke diesel engine. This model uses what is called direct injection. It is an internal combustion engine, with the five events common to all internal combustion engines. Let’s see how they happen in diesel engines.
Unlike the gasoline engine, air alone enters the cylinder on the intake stroke.
Compression, forcing the air into a small volume. This compression heats the air. At the end of this stroke, diesel engine fuel is injected into the combustion chamber.
Ignition, burning the mixture. It is just the heat of the compressed air that ignites the fuel. That’s why diesels are called compression ignition engines.
Power, where energy released from combustion generates the force to turn the crankshaft.
And Exhaust, removing leftover gases.
This brings the system back to where it began, ready for another cycle.
