Internal Combustion Engines MCQs 2026
78 questions with detailed answers · 27 from past papers · 8 quiz batches available
Choose a Quiz Batch. Each batch has 10 questions from this topic, in order. Take them one by one to work through all 78 MCQs. Login to save your scores and see your best per batch.
Read each question, think about the answer, then click Show Answer to reveal the correct option and explanation. Load 10 at a time so it stays manageable — perfect for one-topic study sessions on the bus or during a break.
- Q1medium
Wankel rotary engine uses
💡 Explanation:Rotor completes intake, compression, combustion and exhaust in chambers.
- Q2hard
Dual fuel engine runs on
💡 Explanation:Gas main fuel ignited by small diesel pilot spray in CI-type engine.
- Q3hard
Miller cycle uses
💡 Explanation:Lower effective CR with turbo boost maintains power while improving efficiency.
- Q4Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTShard
Atkinson cycle achieves higher efficiency by
💡 Explanation:Late intake valve closing or linkage gives longer expansion than compression stroke.
- Q5Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTShard
Uniflow scavenging uses
💡 Explanation:Fresh charge enters lower ports and pushes exhaust upward through head valve.
- Q6hard
Loop scavenging in two-stroke uses
💡 Explanation:Charge enters and flows in loop pattern displacing exhaust before compression.
- Q7medium
Scavenging in two-stroke engine means
💡 Explanation:Ports or loop/uniflow design sweep burnt gas out and induct fresh mixture.
- Q8Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTSmedium
NOx formation increases with
💡 Explanation:Thermal NOx forms when N2 and O2 react at high T in flame.
- Q9easy
CO in exhaust indicates
💡 Explanation:Rich or misfiring conditions produce carbon monoxide.
- Q10easy
HC emissions in exhaust are primarily
💡 Explanation:Incomplete combustion and wall quenching produce hydrocarbon emissions.
- Q11Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTSmedium
Lambda sensor measures
💡 Explanation:O2 sensor feedback enables closed-loop fuel trim for emissions and economy.
- Q12medium
Catalytic converter reduces
💡 Explanation:Three-way catalyst promotes oxidation and reduction when lambda near stoichiometric.
- Q13medium
Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) reduces
💡 Explanation:Inert exhaust dilutes oxygen and reduces flame temperature limiting thermal NOx.
- Q14Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTSeasy
Piston rings primary functions include
💡 Explanation:Compression rings seal; oil control rings scrape excess oil from liner.
- Q15easy
Oil pump in engine typically provides
💡 Explanation:Gear or rotor pump maintains gallery pressure for hydrodynamic bearings.
- Q16easy
SAE viscosity grade 20W-40 indicates
💡 Explanation:W = winter low-temp viscosity; second number high-temp kinematic viscosity class.
- Q17Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTSeasy
Engine lubrication oil reduces
💡 Explanation:Oil film separates surfaces; also cleans and inhibits corrosion.
- Q18medium
Radiator pressure cap raises boiling point by
💡 Explanation:Higher pressure raises saturation temperature preventing coolant boil-over.
- Q19medium
Thermosyphon cooling relies on
💡 Explanation:Hot water rises to radiator; cooled water sinks by density difference.
- Q20Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTSeasy
Engine cooling system primary purpose is to
💡 Explanation:Jacket water or air flow removes heat; too cold increases wear and emissions.
- Q21medium
Intercooler after compressor reduces
💡 Explanation:Cooler charge allows more air mass and reduces knock tendency in SI.
- Q22easy
Supercharger differs from turbocharger because it is
💡 Explanation:Supercharger draws engine power directly; turbo uses waste exhaust energy.
- Q23Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTSeasy
Turbocharger on IC engine increases power by
💡 Explanation:Turbo is exhaust-driven; increases air mass and thus power density.
- Q24easy
Glow plugs in diesel aid
💡 Explanation:Pre-heating reduces ignition delay when engine and air are cold.
- Q25Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTSmedium
Common rail diesel injection provides
💡 Explanation:ECU controls injection timing, duration and multiple pulses per cycle.
- Q26medium
Fuel injection in modern SI engines improves
💡 Explanation:Port or direct injection enables precise metering and stratified charge strategies.
- Q27easy
Carburetor function is to
💡 Explanation:Venturi draws fuel; jets meter flow for load and speed.
- Q28Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTSeasy
Specific fuel consumption (BSFC) is
💡 Explanation:BSFC = ṁf/BP typically g/kWh; lower is better economy.
- Q29medium
Brake thermal efficiency is
💡 Explanation:ηbth = BP / (mf × CV); overall fuel utilization at shaft.
- Q30easy
Mechanical efficiency of engine is
💡 Explanation:Frictional and pumping losses reduce brake output below indicated power.
- Q31Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTSmedium
Indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) is measured using
💡 Explanation:Area of PV diagram gives indicated work per cycle.
- Q32medium
Brake mean effective pressure (BMEP) is
💡 Explanation:BMEP = (2π × brake torque)/(displacement volume) for four-stroke equivalent.
- Q33medium
Lean mixture improves
💡 Explanation:Excess air completes combustion; very lean causes misfire and rough running.
- Q34Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTSmedium
Rich mixture in SI engine generally produces
💡 Explanation:Rich mixtures lack air for complete combustion; used for max power enrichment.
- Q35easy
Air-fuel ratio for petrol stoichiometric is approximately
💡 Explanation:Chemically correct mixture for C8H18-type gasoline combustion with air.
- Q36medium
Combustion in CI engine is primarily
💡 Explanation:Fuel spray evaporates and burns at diffusion flame around droplets.
- Q37Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTSeasy
Combustion in SI engine is ideally
💡 Explanation:Premixed charge burns as flame front moves through cylinder.
- Q38medium
Ignition delay in CI engine is time between
💡 Explanation:Long ignition delay causes rapid pressure rise and diesel knock.
- Q39easy
Cetane number indicates
💡 Explanation:Higher cetane gives shorter ignition delay and smoother diesel combustion.
- Q40Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTShard
Pre-ignition occurs when
💡 Explanation:Hot combustion chamber surfaces or deposits ignite mixture early causing damage.
- Q41hard
Detonation differs from surface ignition in that detonation is
💡 Explanation:Detonation produces shock waves audible as knock; distinct from pre-ignition.
- Q42medium
Low volumetric efficiency at high speed in SI engine is mainly due to
💡 Explanation:Short valve opening time and inertia limit air fill at high RPM.
- Q43Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTSmedium
Volumetric efficiency is defined as
💡 Explanation:ηv = ma actual / (ρstd × Vs); indicates breathing effectiveness.
- Q44easy
Two-stroke engine produces power stroke
💡 Explanation:Two-stroke combines intake and compression; power and exhaust in one revolution.
- Q45easy
Four-stroke engine completes one power stroke in
💡 Explanation:Four strokes: intake, compression, power, exhaust = 720° crank rotation per cycle.
- Q46Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTSeasy
Compression ignition engine relies on
💡 Explanation:CI engines compress air alone; fuel injected near TDC ignites from high air temperature.
- Q47Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTSeasy
Otto cycle consists of
💡 Explanation:Otto: 1-2 isentropic compression, 2-3 constant V heat add, 3-4 isentropic expansion, 4-1 constant V heat rejection.
- Q48easy
Diesel cycle differs from Otto cycle by having
💡 Explanation:Diesel: heat added at constant pressure during combustion; higher compression ratio typical.
- Q49easy
Compression ratio of SI engine is typically limited to about
💡 Explanation:High CR in SI causes knocking; CI engines use 14–22 due to higher auto-ignition temperature of diesel.
- Q50Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTSmedium
Thermal efficiency of Otto cycle increases with
💡 Explanation:η = 1 − 1/r^(γ−1); higher r gives higher ideal Otto efficiency.
- Q51medium
Thermal efficiency of Diesel cycle for same compression ratio is
💡 Explanation:At same r, Diesel has lower efficiency because heat addition at constant p covers wider volume range.
- Q52easy
Spark ignition engine uses
💡 Explanation:SI engines compress pre-mixed charge; spark initiates controlled combustion.
- Q53Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTSmedium
Engine firing order affects
💡 Explanation:Evenly spaced power pulses balance reciprocating and rotating inertia forces.
- Q54easy
Flywheel on engine stores energy to
💡 Explanation:Rotational inertia carries crank through non-power strokes in single-cylinder engines.
- Q55easy
TDC means
💡 Explanation:TDC is reference for ignition and injection timing.
- Q56Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTSmedium
Valve overlap period allows
💡 Explanation:Both valves slightly open as piston approaches TDC between exhaust and intake.
- Q57easy
Compression stroke in four-stroke engine has
💡 Explanation:Trapped charge compressed from BDC to TDC raising pressure and temperature.
- Q58easy
Power stroke delivers work when
💡 Explanation:High pressure combustion gas expansion drives piston and crank.
- Q59Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTSeasy
Brake power is measured at
💡 Explanation:Dynamometer absorbs or measures torque × speed for brake power.
- Q60medium
Morris test or rope brake dynamometer measures
💡 Explanation:Friction brake on flywheel with spring balance gives torque at given RPM.
- Q61medium
Heat balance on IC engine shows largest loss typically as
💡 Explanation:Only about 30–40% becomes brake power; rest leaves as heat in exhaust and coolant.
- Q62Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTSmedium
Delay period in diesel combustion should be kept short to avoid
💡 Explanation:Long delay accumulates fuel that burns rapidly when ignition starts.
- Q63hard
Fumigation in CI engine means
💡 Explanation:Dual-fuel technique with gas fumigated into intake and diesel pilot.
- Q64easy
Engine bore is
💡 Explanation:Bore × stroke with number of cylinders defines displacement.
- Q65Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTSeasy
Engine stroke is
💡 Explanation:Stroke = 2 × crank radius; with bore defines swept volume.
- Q66easy
Swept volume per cylinder is
💡 Explanation:Geometric volume displaced by piston in one stroke.
- Q67easy
Clearance volume is volume at
💡 Explanation:Clearance volume with swept volume gives compression ratio r = (Vs+Vc)/Vc.
- Q68Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTSeasy
Compression ratio r is
💡 Explanation:Total volume at BDC divided by volume at TDC.
- Q69easy
Engine displacement is
💡 Explanation:Multi-cylinder displacement = n × (π/4)D²L for identical cylinders.
- Q70Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTSmedium
Indicated power from PV diagram is
💡 Explanation:Mean indicated pressure times displacement and speed gives indicated power.
- Q71medium
Friction power equals
💡 Explanation:Fp = IP − BP; represents mechanical losses in engine.
- Q72hard
Willans line in steam engine analogy for IC testing relates
💡 Explanation:Willans line extrapolates to find friction power at zero load.
- Q73Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTSmedium
Misfiring limit in SI engine occurs when mixture is
💡 Explanation:Extreme AFR or poor ignition causes cycle misfire and roughness.
- Q74medium
Ignition timing advance increases
💡 Explanation:Optimum spark timing gives maximum brake torque (MBT) without knock.
- Q75medium
Retarded spark timing generally
💡 Explanation:Late burn loses expansion work; used to control knock and catalyst light-off.
- Q76Past Paper · PPSC/FPSC/NTSmedium
Engine octane requirement increases with
💡 Explanation:Higher CR and hotter charge increase knock tendency requiring higher octane fuel.
- Q77hard
Automotive diesel injection pressure in common rail may exceed
💡 Explanation:High pressure improves atomization and mixing for lower emissions.
- Q78easy
White smoke from diesel at cold start is mainly
💡 Explanation:Incomplete vaporization and combustion during warm-up causes white exhaust.