In a conventional four-stroke engine, what are the four main strokes?

In a conventional four-stroke engine, the four main strokes are intake, compression, power, and exhaust.

During the intake stroke, the engine draws in a mixture of air and fuel as the piston moves down in the cylinder. This is crucial because it prepares the engine for the combustion process that follows.

The compression stroke occurs when the piston moves back up the cylinder, compressing the air-fuel mixture. This compression is essential for achieving the high temperatures needed to ignite the mixture effectively when the spark plug fires.

The power stroke is where the ignition occurs, and the combustion of the compressed air-fuel mixture takes place. This explosion pushes the piston down, generating the power necessary to turn the engine's crankshaft and ultimately drive the vehicle.

Finally, during the exhaust stroke, the piston moves back up to expel the burnt gases from the combustion process out of the cylinder, preparing the engine to start the cycle all over again.

This sequence is key to the function of a four-stroke engine, as it outlines the process of converting the chemical energy from the fuel into mechanical energy that powers the vehicle.