2 stroke cars

paras211 · 3rd February 2008, 01:02

why didnt 2 stroke cars become popular as perfomance machines?
a Saab in the 50s had a 2stroke engine and i think the old mini but i am not sure on this one.
are there any 2stroke cars in india?

sgiitk · 3rd February 2008, 16:02

2-strokes have lube oil mixed with fuel, and are hence too polluting!

paras211 · 3rd February 2008, 16:09

yes i know but we did have 2 stroke bikes in the past.

supercars · 3rd February 2008, 17:40

They would also be underpowered most of the time and would be very nosiy and their average would be pretty bad.

Mpower · 3rd February 2008, 19:06

Thank god there werent. Otherwise we would have any petroleum reserves left today.

Trabant was the only 2 stroke car that sold in moderate numbers...that too behind the iron curtain. In India, we had the Bajaj RE which although was missing 1 wheel, but used to carry as many as four adults just like a car.

supercars · 3rd February 2008, 20:25

I am not too fond of the Trabant.

islero · 3rd February 2008, 20:27

I think the Auto Union 1000S had a two-stroke engine, and a few DKW cars. Im not sure though.

Alfa_Kilo · 4th February 2008, 09:52

The contribution of the engine to the total weight of a vehicle is greater in a bike than a car. So, it was advantageous to develop performance 2stroke bikes. This did not work for cars as the disadvantages of two stroke outweighed the advantages, namely very narrow powerband and high specific fuel consumption.

Alfa_Kilo · 4th February 2008, 09:56

Two stroke have been used with relative success in some trucks in the 50s, when their reliability and relative simplicity was favored over fuel efficiency.

And 2stroke opposed piston diesel engines were quite succesful in aviation in WWII, look up Junkers Jumo diesels. 2stroke diesels are still quite popular as marine engines. Diesels do not suffer from the problems of traditional gasoline engines.

3rd February 2008, 01:02	#1
paras211 BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: mumbai Posts: 660 Thanked: 176 Times View My Garage	2 stroke cars why didnt 2 stroke cars become popular as perfomance machines? a Saab in the 50s had a 2stroke engine and i think the old mini but i am not sure on this one. are there any 2stroke cars in india?
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3rd February 2008, 16:02	#2
sgiitk Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gurugram Posts: 7,971 Thanked: 4,808 Times	2-strokes have lube oil mixed with fuel, and are hence too polluting!
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3rd February 2008, 16:09	#3
paras211 BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: mumbai Posts: 660 Thanked: 176 Times View My Garage	yes i know but we did have 2 stroke bikes in the past.
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3rd February 2008, 17:40	#4
supercars BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bombay Posts: 495 Thanked: 42 Times	They would also be underpowered most of the time and would be very nosiy and their average would be pretty bad.
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3rd February 2008, 19:06	#5
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,399 Thanked: 1,735 Times View My Garage	Thank god there werent. Otherwise we would have any petroleum reserves left today. Trabant was the only 2 stroke car that sold in moderate numbers...that too behind the iron curtain. In India, we had the Bajaj RE which although was missing 1 wheel, but used to carry as many as four adults just like a car.
	() Thanks

3rd February 2008, 20:25	#6
supercars BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bombay Posts: 495 Thanked: 42 Times	I am not too fond of the Trabant.
	() Thanks

3rd February 2008, 20:27	#7
islero Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,574 Thanked: 13 Times View My Garage	I think the Auto Union 1000S had a two-stroke engine, and a few DKW cars. Im not sure though.
	() Thanks

4th February 2008, 09:52	#8
Alfa_Kilo BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Jaipur Posts: 328 Thanked: 13 Times	The contribution of the engine to the total weight of a vehicle is greater in a bike than a car. So, it was advantageous to develop performance 2stroke bikes. This did not work for cars as the disadvantages of two stroke outweighed the advantages, namely very narrow powerband and high specific fuel consumption.
	() Thanks

4th February 2008, 09:56	#9
Alfa_Kilo BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Jaipur Posts: 328 Thanked: 13 Times	Two stroke have been used with relative success in some trucks in the 50s, when their reliability and relative simplicity was favored over fuel efficiency. And 2stroke opposed piston diesel engines were quite succesful in aviation in WWII, look up Junkers Jumo diesels. 2stroke diesels are still quite popular as marine engines. Diesels do not suffer from the problems of traditional gasoline engines.
	() Thanks