The Combustion Engine

A combustion engine is a machine that produces energy by burning fuel. This process is called combustion — a chemical reaction between a fuel (such as gasoline or diesel) and oxygen that releases heat energy.

• In an internal combustion engine (ICE), fuel burns inside the engine’s cylinders. The heat from combustion expands gases, pushing pistons that turn a crankshaft to create motion.
• Common examples: car engines, motorcycles, and airplanes.
• The byproducts of combustion include carbon dioxide (CO₂), water vapor, and sometimes other gases like nitrogen oxides (NOₓ).

• Combustion releases carbon that was stored in Fossil Fuels back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
• This contributes to the greenhouse effect and global climate change.