2-Stroke Engine

An internal combustion engine that completes a power cycle with two strokes (up and down movements) of the piston during one crankshaft revolution.

4-Stroke Engine

An internal combustion engine that completes a power cycle with four strokes (two up and two down movements) of the piston during two crankshaft revolutions.

Air Filter

A device used to prevent dust, dirt, and other particles from entering the engine intake system, thus protecting the engine from damage.

Carburetor

A device that mixes air and fuel for internal combustion engines. In RC engines, it's often used in two-stroke engines to regulate the air-fuel mixture.

Crankshaft

A shaft driven by a motor, often connected to a piston in an engine, which converts reciprocating motion into rotational motion.

Compression Ratio

The ratio of the volume of the combustion chamber in an internal combustion engine from its largest capacity to its smallest capacity. Higher compression ratios generally result in more power but require higher-octane fuel.

Engine Displacement

The total volume of all the cylinders in an engine, typically measured in cubic centimeters (cc) or cubic inches (ci).

Exhaust System

The system of pipes and components through which exhaust gases are expelled from the engine after combustion.

Fuel Tank

A container used to store fuel for the engine. It usually has a fuel line connected to the carburetor for fuel delivery.

Glow Plug

A small device used in some internal combustion engines to ignite the fuel-air mixture. It's heated by an electric current, usually from a battery, and remains hot during engine operation.

Ignition System

The system responsible for igniting the air-fuel mixture in the engine's combustion chamber. In glow engines, this is often accomplished by a glow plug. In gasoline engines, it's typically done by a spark plug.

Muffler/Silencer

A device used to reduce the noise produced by the engine's exhaust gases.

Piston

A component that moves up and down inside the cylinder, compressing the air-fuel mixture or expelling exhaust gases.

Propeller

A rotating blade or set of blades that generates thrust to propel an aircraft or vehicle forward. It's connected to the engine's crankshaft.

Throttle

A mechanism used to control the amount of air and fuel entering the engine, thus regulating its speed and power output.

Tuned Pipe/Exhaust

A specially designed exhaust system used to optimize engine performance by improving exhaust scavenging and tuning the engine's powerband.

Turbocharger

A device that increases the efficiency and power output of an engine by compressing the incoming air before it enters the combustion chamber.

Supercharger

Similar to a turbocharger, a supercharger compresses air before it enters the engine to increase power output. However, unlike a turbocharger, it's typically mechanically driven by the engine's crankshaft.

Water Cooling System

A system used to dissipate heat from the engine by circulating water through passages in the engine block and cylinder head.

Nitro Fuel

A specialized fuel used in glow engines, consisting of methanol, nitromethane, and oil. It's formulated specifically for model engines and provides both fuel and lubrication.

Jet Turbine

An engine that operates by compressing incoming air and mixing it with fuel, igniting the mixture, and expelling the resulting exhaust gases to generate thrust. Jet turbines are commonly used in radio-controlled airplanes for propulsion.