An 80's 4x4 adventure: not like that tho... Part 2

Well, I finally made a plan for getting back over to my buddies old work truck. I loaded up my main tools with my diagnostic basket containing the compression tester, vacuum pump with attachments, spark tester, timing light, my electrical boxes (just in case), some spare extraneous parts from inventory and all the toothbrushes, rags, solvents and small parts washing containers I thought I would need.

An 80's 4x4 adventure- not like that tho... Part 1

Another adventure begins. A long-time friend and client called me up to check out his old work truck and give him a diagnosis and likely cost of repair to get it running again. He said it should be no big deal, should be quick and easy he said. I believed him...  Little did I know...

I,C,P,E or Suck, Squish, Bang, Blow... an engine operates HOW?

A friend asked me the other day to diagnose the misfire on his little car and recommend how to fix it when we got onto a sidetracked into a discussion about how the engine actually functions and makes power.  I have answered this question so many times over the years for so many people that I figured I should just get it down in writing.  So here goes- Caution though, there be Physics ahead!
    This explanation needs to be fairly basic to accomplish the goal of assisting folk with no real physics background to get the ideas here.  I will not bore anyone with the math behind it, just the concepts and functional ideas.