It's a four cylinder
Each of the cylinders is about the size of a largish can of beer.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 9:47, 1 reply, 16 years ago)

Do they fill up with petrol each time they go up and down?

( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 9:53, Reply)

air and diesel vapour

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 10:01, Reply)

In a four stroke diesel engine
some diesel is injected as the piston is coming up the cylinder, then it ignites by compression, forcing the piston down again. The next time it comes up, it pushes the exhaust gases out, then on the way down draws fresh air in. There's a system of valves which controls air in and out.

So every second stroke, fuel is introduced into the cylinder. But only a little bit.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 10:04, Reply)

Oh, ok.
Wouldn't a 1l be faster than 3l then, as it's the same amount of fuel, except it takes more energy to push up a 3l piston than a 1l piston, 'cus the energy is disipitated more?

I know that ain't true, but not sure why.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 10:14, Reply)

the 3l ones takes in more fuel and air
so the resulting explosion is bigger producing more power.

as I understand it anyway
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 10:15, Reply)

Indeed
More space for the fuel-air mixture, so a bigger explosion, as Vipros says.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 10:16, Reply)