Why aren't there two stroke cars? - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

EA S · 02-17-2002, 18:54

Having spent a day stuffing around with the Victa recently, I wondered why 2 strokes aren't suitable for modern cars, although there used to be a little Suzuki or Daihatsu, maybe both, some years back that I think were 2 strokes. Why aren't they used?

Falchoon · 02-17-2002, 19:05

My Dad used to have a Suzuki 4WD with the awesome bigblock 540cc 2-stroke! Top speed was only about 110km/h downhill with a tailwind. It wasn't a bad car, underpowered but went everywhere being the lightweight small thing it was. Use to use nearly as much oil as an LS1 though...

COuldn't tell you why you don't see 2-Strokes in cars these days, maybe they aren't torquey enough?

MrPlow2 · 02-17-2002, 19:08

if you ever heard a 2 stroke Warburg or Trabant, you would understand why 2 stroke engines are not used in cars! haha those things sounded awfull! i'm not sure about other reasons.

just a page with some basic info.

http://home.clara.net/peterfrost/ifaclub.html

XR_Strider_GuY · 02-17-2002, 19:17

Ok I'll relate two stroke cars to motor bikes. Those who remember the Kawasaki H3 750cc two stroke bike will no doubt know that it went like the clappers but needed ear plugs to ride teh damn thing.

These days the 4 stroke bike has much more power than the H3 but with a very wide band making it nice to ride.

Why no 2 stroke, well oil and smoke for one and as the cc's increases teh efficiency of 2 stroke deminish's.

But on little engines two strokes are the go, like model aeroplane engines etc.

Bluey · 02-17-2002, 20:00

What happend to the Orbital 2 stroke program?

Didn't they test years ago with a festiva or something?

They have been using it for years now on marine outboards with huge gains (reduced noise - 40% better fuel economy).

Surely theres an application for a car?

XR_Strider_GuY · 02-17-2002, 20:17

Quote:

Originally posted by Bluey
What happend to the Orbital 2 stroke program?

Didn't they test years ago with a festiva or something?

They have been using it for years now on marine outboards with huge gains (reduced noise - 40% better fuel economy).

Surely theres an application for a car?

The Orbital engine was invented by Ralph Sarik (sorry dunno the spelling) i believe GM bought the patent and never ever used it on a production car. :dead:

Jimbo · 02-17-2002, 21:11

Orbital Engine Corporation still exists, though Ralph Sarich hasn't had any involvement for years. They no longer use an orbital engine as such but apply their injection technology (Orbital combustion process) to a piston engine.

http://www.orbeng.com.au

02-17-2002, 22:16

2 Stroke engines in a car wouldn't be pratical it has less power is more noisier and gives out more pollution.
Besides a lot of people would have a hard time figuring out the Fuel/oil ratio unless the fuel companies have it premixed.

HO HO HO! · 02-17-2002, 22:51

Less power? Don't think so, a two stroke will always make more power than an equivalent 4 stroke cause it has twice as many power strokes. Dont forget that the new 4 stroke GP bikes need 990cc to compete with 500cc 2strokes. The problem with twostrokes is that while they can be developed to give good torque, this occurs at the expense of power. When tuned to give good power, bottom end torque is non existent and the power is developed in a savage on-off rush. Also, they chew petrol and are filthy in terms of emsissions. Premix should be a problem, most two stroke bikes since the early 70s have a seperate oil resovoir which mixes itself with the incomming charge. Stops the engine blowing up when you ride down a hill on a closed throttle

AlbertM · 02-17-2002, 22:56

Also you get the occassional person that forgets to put the oil in.