Fuel consumption more in 2stroke?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the fuel efficiency of two-stroke versus four-stroke engines, exploring theoretical and practical aspects of their operation, performance characteristics, and efficiency in various contexts, including petrol and diesel applications.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that four-stroke engines are generally more fuel efficient due to their separation of the four engine cycles, while two-stroke engines combine these processes, potentially leading to inefficiencies.
  • Others argue that small two-stroke engines often exhibit poor fuel consumption due to unburnt fuel escaping during exhaust, but large two-stroke engines can be highly efficient under certain conditions.
  • A participant mentions advancements in two-stroke technology aimed at improving efficiency and reducing emissions, highlighting specific innovations like air-assisted direct injection.
  • It is noted that two-stroke engines can produce roughly twice the power for a given cylinder size compared to four-stroke engines, but this comparison may require qualification regarding displacement.
  • Some participants discuss the trade-offs between two-stroke and four-stroke engines, noting that while two-strokes may be lighter and cheaper, they are often less efficient and have different power characteristics across RPM ranges.
  • There is a claim that a four-stroke engine is thermodynamically less efficient, although this statement is not universally accepted within the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the efficiency of two-stroke versus four-stroke engines, with no consensus reached. Some agree on the general characteristics of each type, while others highlight exceptions and advancements that challenge traditional views.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge that comparisons between engine types may depend on specific applications, engine sizes, and technological advancements, which complicates direct efficiency assessments.

monty37
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is it true that fuel efficiency is better in a 4stroke engine ?
since the number of strokes are more in case of a 4stroke engine,the energy
required would be more ,right?
 
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monty37 said:
is it true that fuel efficiency is better in a 4stroke engine ?
since the number of strokes are more in case of a 4stroke engine,the energy
required would be more ,right?
If you read up on the diff between the 4 stroke and a 2 stroke, you will see why the 4 strokes are more efficient. In a nutshell, they separate out the 4 components: fuel intake, mixing/compression, ignition/expansion and exhaust. In a 2 stroke, those are crammed into only two steps.

2 strokes have their place. They are much smaller, simpler and more user-repairable.

http://www.deepscience.com/articles/engines.html
 
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the link was helpful,thankyou.

now does this vary for petrol and diesel engines,or can i say
every 4stroke engine(no matter petrol or diesel) has a better fuel efficiency.
 
Small 2-strokes tend to have pretty poor fuel consumption partly because a lot of unburnt fuel gets blown straight out of the exhaust during scavenging.

Large 2-strokes can be extremely efficient (far more efficient than any four stroke) because of their high volume to surface area ratio, high compression ratio, heavy forced induction, and careful combustion control.

So, no, you can't say that every 4 stroke has better fuel efficiency than any 2 stroke.
 
From what I have learned recently, two strokes have a bit of a stigma surrounding them as being dirty, noisy and inefficient. There are companies trying to change this by furthering the technology to improve cylinder scavenging and oil consumption, leading to much cleaner and efficient two strokes which still produce much more usable power than an equivalent four stroke. Orbital in Australia have developed their air assisted direct injection technology, which gets rid of the need for crankcase induction as the (compressed by means of a blower) air is injected into the cylinder directly, along with the fuel. This means that the crank can run a normal oil pan, no oil is mixed with the fuel, and the cylinder scavenging is much more efficient resulting in emissions-compliant engines that are fuel efficient and very powerful.

Can you tell I like two strokes?
 
Note, too, that in general a two-stroke engine provides roughly twice the power for a given cylinder size than a comparable four-stroke because it has 1 power stroke with 2 strokes per cycle while four-strokes only have 1 power stroke for every four strokes per cycle.
 
negitron said:
Note, too, that in general a two-stroke engine provides roughly twice the power for a given cylinder size than a comparable four-stroke because it has 1 power stroke with 2 strokes per cycle while four-strokes only have 1 power stroke for every four strokes per cycle.

Correct me if I'm wrong but, you need to qualify this with "pound for pound" since this is definitely not a fair comparison. It's kind of like comparing an SUV and a mini and saying the mini uses more gas (i.e. forgetting to mention that you are talking about per pound).
 
Erm, I did:

negitron said:
Note, too, that in general a two-stroke engine provides roughly twice the power for a given cylinder size...

Although, that should probably read "total displacement" which is what I actually meant.
 
2-strokes are lighter, cheaper, more powerful, louder, and less efficient. 4-strokes are heavy, quite, efficient, and have more torque in mid range rpm. 2-strokes are less efficient because they spray in fuel while the exhaust port is open, hence some fuel mixture goes straight through the engine. Also, 2-stroke's have very little hp at low and mid rpm, this is bad because they can't accelerate as fast as 4-strokes and there is not that "instant" power. 4-stroke's have good hp through out the entire rpm range and they have time in the unpowered stroke to cool off and get all the exhaust out without leaking fuel mixture. So 4-strokes can be more efficient per hp especially at mid range, but 2-strokes have insane power at high rpm while being super light and cheap. So they trade off on efficiency depending on the application.
 
  • #10
YupHio said:
2-strokes are lighter,cheaper, more powerful, louder, and less efficient... while being super light and cheap.
Not necessarily

http://people.bath.ac.uk/ccsshb/12cyl/rta96c.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #11
mgb_phys said:
Not necessarily

http://people.bath.ac.uk/ccsshb/12cyl/rta96c.jpg
[/URL]

Necessarily, a comparable 4-stroke would be more expensive, quieter, more efficient, and heavier.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #12
A four stroke is thermodynamically less efficent.
 

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