gasoline engine: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As	petrol engine

Photos

Labeled cross-sectional diagram of a V-type gasoline engine for an automobile, showing internal components such as pistons, crankshaft, camshaft, intake and exhaust valves, connecting rods, spark plugs, and intake manifold.

Diagram showing four types of gasoline engines: an opposed-piston engine with pistons facing each other, a Wankel rotary engine with a triangular rotor, an in-line engine with pistons arranged vertically, and a V-type (V-8) engine with pistons set in a V shape. Arrows indicate the direction of motion in each engine.

Diagram of a gasoline engine showing a cross-section of a piston and cylinder. Key parts such as the spark plug, valves, camshaft, piston, connecting rod, and crankshaft are labeled.

internal-combustion engine: four-stroke cycle

blower-scavenged two-stroke-cycle engine

Diagram showing three stages in the operation of a Wankel rotary engine: intake of fuel-air mixture, ignition by spark plug, and exhaust release, with labeled parts and rotary motion indicated.

Diagram of a gasoline engine cooling system showing coolant flow from the radiator, through the engine cylinders, and back, with labeled components including the fan, thermostat, pump, and overflow pipe.

gasoline engine lubrication system

Close-up view of a cutaway automobile engine showing metal pistons moving within their cylinders, with visible valves and springs above.

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automobile: Development of the gasoline car

Key People

Karl Benz

Karl Benz

German engineer

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Siegfried Marcus

German inventor

Gottlieb Daimler

Gottlieb Daimler

German engineer and inventor