What does it take to make power in just 7 cubic centimeters? Less than half a tablespoon of displacement, yet a miniature engine like this runs the same thermodynamic cycle as the engine in a car. The Core Mechanics - Displacement is the volume the piston sweeps: bore area times stroke. 7cc means every stroke draws in about 7 milliliters of air and fuel. - Four-stroke operation: intake, compression, power, exhaust. The crankshaft turns twice for every power stroke. - A camshaft running at half crank speed opens and closes the valves in time with the piston. Ignition Without Spark Plugs - Most engines this small use a glow plug instead of a spark plug. It has a platinum-alloy coil that a battery heats to start the engine. - Once the engine is running, the heat of combustion keeps the coil hot. The catalytic reaction of methanol on platinum sustains ignition with no electrical system at all. - The fuel is typically methanol with nitromethane and castor or synthetic oil. The oil lubrica...