A reciprocating internal combustion engine is a type of combustion engine equipped with a piston, the task of which is to mediate the conversion of thermal energy generated by a chemical reaction into the mechanical work of the engine.

Under the term piston combustion engine, we can imagine a classic engine with reciprocating motion of the piston or a less used engine with a rotary piston and thus the Wankel engine.

A two-stroke engine, also referred to as a two-stroke cycle, is a piston combustion engine working in two strokes.

This means that the working cycle of the engine will take place during two strokes of the piston and one revolution of the crankshaft.

The lubrication system is an integral part of every piston combustion engine and is absolutely necessary for engine lubrication and, thus, smooth engine operation.

Without lubricating the engine with oil, the engine would not be able to function, or it could, but only for a short time.

A four-stroke engine, or colloquially four-stroke, is a piston combustion engine working in four strokes. This means that the working cycle of the engine will take place during four strokes of the piston and two revolutions of the crankshaft.

The work cycles are slightly different for spark and diesel engines depending on how the mixture is ignited. So let's look at how a gasoline four-stroke engine and a diesel four-stroke engine work.

A diesel engine is a piston combustion engine that often burns diesel fuel and converts thermal energy into mechanical work. Thermal energy is obtained in the engine by converting fuel into heat through combustion.

When fuel is burned, the temperature and pressure in the engine increase. The increased pressure of the working substance acts on the pistons of the engine, which convert this energy into mechanical work.

A petrol engine is a piston combustion engine that burns gasoline and converts thermal energy into mechanical work.

This article will shed light on the petrol engine and its function and advantages over the diesel engine.