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Two-stroke versus four-stroke engines: how they work, pros and cons

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Hello, and Welcome to Racext’s Moto Magazine column, the column aimed exclusively at the world of 2-wheeled vehicles with news, insights and guides, available every day here ru racext.com, today in this article we will talk about “Two-stroke versus four-stroke engines: how they work, pros and cons”

 

Two-stroke versus four-stroke engines: how they work, pros and cons

My friends who have made the switch talk about differences in traction, engine braking, power delivery, sound and overall feel. So let’s take a closer look to answer some basic questions, like what’s the difference between a four-stroke and a two-stroke engine? How do four-stroke and two-stroke engines work? What are the pros and cons of each? And which one is best for you?

Four strokes against two strokes: how they work

Few street bikes have two-stroke engines these days, so this is primarily a question for off-road riders. To make things easier for this article, we’ll stick to modern single-cylinder motocross engines in two- and four-stroke formats. Let’s take a look at the similarities and differences.

Both two-stroke and four-stroke are internal combustion engines that use the energy created by the combustion of a mixture of air and fuel to push a piston down. A connecting rod and crankshaft transfer the up and down motion of the piston into a rotational motion, which makes its way towards the rear wheel of the motorcycle, pushing it forward.

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When we say “stroke”, we are referring to the piston traveling up or down inside the cylinder. In a four-stroke engine, the first hit is the intake, the second is the compression, the third is the combustion, and the fourth is the exhaust. High school teachers trying to get teenagers’ attention with hormones sometimes use the more memorable terms suck, squeeze, pop, blow to describe the four strokes. Here’s what happens with each shot.

Intake : The intake valve in the head opens as the piston moves down, drawing in a charge of fuel. The engine is inspiring here.

Compression : The intake and exhaust valves are closed as the piston moves upward, compressing the fuel and air mixture.

Combustion : the intake and exhaust valves remain closed while the ignition system ignites the spark plug, igniting the mixture of fuel and air and pushing the piston back, providing power to the rear wheel.

Exhaust : The exhaust valve (s) open as the piston moves up again, expelling the burnt fuel and air mixture through the exhaust system. Then the series starts all over again.

Notice that this is all happening over the top of the piston. This is why four-stroke cylinder heads are much larger than two-stroke cylinder heads. The head must house the camshafts, valves, intake and exhaust ducts and the spark plug. Below all of this, the crankshaft is in an oil bath inside the crankcase. As the crank turns, it slings the oil onto the cylinder walls, crank, and rod bearings to keep everything sufficiently lubricated. Most motorcycles also have pressurized oil systems that spray oil where it is needed for lubrication and cooling.

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A two-stroke engine follows the same suck-squish-bang-hit steps, but combines the intake and compression times, then combines the combustion and exhaust strokes, so the whole process is completed in two strokes instead of four. This means that a two-stroke engine produces power every time the piston goes down, while a four-stroke engine produces power every time the piston goes down. That’s how.

Two-stroke uses the crankcase as part of the intake tract, using the volume above and below the piston. This being the case, the crankshaft cannot stay in an oil bath like a four-stroke. Instead, the two-stroke has oil mixed with the fuel, and that residual oil lubricates the cylinder walls, crank, and rod bearings.

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Also, the cylinder head of a two-stroke engine is basically just a cap on the top of the cylinder used to hold the spark plug. There are no valves or openings in the cylinder head. Instead, there are openings in the cylinder, called ports, which direct the flow of the intake charge and are covered and uncovered as the piston rises and falls into the cylinder. If you think of valves as inlet and outlet ports for the fuel-air mixture and exhaust, the piston in a two-stroke acts as a vertically sliding door to open and close the lights. The magic of a two-stroke is how it uses the movement of the piston, as well as the space above and below the piston, to create the suck-squish-bang-blow sequence. That’s how.

Intake and compression : when the piston moves up, a vacuum is created under the piston and the air-fuel mixture is drawn into the crankcase. The compression stroke also occurs simultaneously above the piston as it travels upward. There is a reed valve within the intake tract between the crankcase and the fuel source in a two-stroke engine. It is a vacuum operated one-way valve that allows two strokes to draw fuel and air through them as the piston moves up but closes as the piston moves down, preventing the fuel / air mixture from traveling in. ‘back, away from the combustion chamber.

Combustion and exhaust : the spark plug ignites the air-fuel mixture and pushes the piston down, producing power, while the mixture of fuel and air under the piston is forced through the transfer port from the bottom to the top of the motor. As the piston moves down towards the bottom of its combustion stroke, the piston reveals the exhaust port in the cylinder wall. All of this is perfectly positioned to allow the pressure underneath the piston inside the crankcase to expel the burnt exhaust gases while simultaneously replacing them with a mixture of fuel and fresh, unburned air through the transfer ports.

You’re probably thinking “OK, whatever, nerd! Both motors spin a wheel, so what the hell is wrong with going with each other?

The pros and cons of four-stroke and two-stroke engines

There are pros and cons to both types of engines and they provide different driving experiences which is why some of my friends have passed.

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Pro four-stroke : The four-stroke produces power only a quarter of the time compared to half the time as the two-stroke, but a longer power stroke provides much more torque, so the four strokes produce better power at lower revs and more linear and predictable thrust across the rev range. To complete the four stages, the four strokes require a heavier flywheel to give the crank the necessary inertia to keep it spinning between combustion strokes. The combination of less frequent power pulses to the rear wheel and the heavier flywheel provides better four-stroke traction in certain off-road conditions. In addition, four-strokes typically offer much more engine braking, which many motorcyclists prefer. Notably, the four-strokes have no oil mixed with their gas, so they have cleaner exhaust emissions.

Four-stroke cons : Historically, four-strokes were heavier than two-strokes, simply because there are only more parts needed to make them work, even if the difference it is fading as the four strokes become lighter. Heavier flywheels can cause a motorcycle to handle differently and make it more resistant to changes in direction. The four strokes are also more difficult to repair as they are more complex. This is a wash, in my book, because while the two tempos are much easier to rebuild, they need assistance more frequently.

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Professionals of the two strokes : As mentioned above, the two strokes are historically lighter and simpler. There are fewer moving parts to wear out, and high-end rebuilds can be done in a morning before an afternoon ride. Two-strokes tend to have mind-boggling power delivery as the revs increase. Modern two-strokes are more controllable and perform better at low revs thanks to improvements in power valves, which are essentially small valves that can open or close the size of the exhaust port depending on the speed of the engine.

Two-stroke cons : premixing oil and gas is a minor hassle that begins to wear out due to the mess it entails. This scam will soon be history due to the popularity of transfer port injected (TPI) motorcycles. Undoubtedly it’s a bit of a pain to take the oil with me on long enduros to measure and add to my fuel tank at gas stops. This is strictly based on the one time my oil bottle leaked onto my snacks in my hydration pack.

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Since two-stroke relies on poorer lubrication to keep running, their pistons, rings, cylinders and cranks wear out more quickly, so you should plan for parts replacement more frequently on a two-stroke than a four-stroke. . The two-stroke also has a very unique exhaust design, with large, thin-walled pipes that are susceptible to dents and damage quite easily from off-road obstacles. Finally, two shots are dirty. Their exhaust is smoky and contains a fair amount of unburned gas, which is quite harmful to the environment.

What is beautiful in both two and four

Either way, your engine fires thousands of times per minute as you drive, combining perfect ignition timing, refueling and scavenging to produce incredible power from a small and light package. They are generating their own electricity to recharge their batteries and / or power their own ignition coils. They are turning the water pumps, ensuring that everything stays at ideal operating temperatures via the thermostats. I’ve been making fun of internal combustion engines since I was about five. I’m 41 now and I’m still fascinated by how they work.

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And the sound? If you’ve got this far this far, you know that the four times go braaap and the two times go ring-a-ding-ding . I personally love the sound of the two strokes. The sound and smell make my hair stand on end and make my eyes water. For me, there’s no more of a gripping feeling than when a two-stroke is “on the pipe”.

The four strokes sound great too, except when it comes to a double A hooking the limiter behind me in a hare run, which usually makes me pee a little bit, as it’s very scary .

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Either way, two-stroke or four-stroke, the bikes are great. Drive the one that suits you best or just drive the one you can get your hands on and enjoy.

 

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Two-stroke versus four-stroke engines: how they work, pros and cons

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