Looking Inside the Combustion Chamber

by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" on 4/8/2008

Inside a BMW engine

BMW wanted to make a video showing the inside of an engine cylinder during one revolution, including the actual ignition and combustion. 3 engines, a bit of sawing and drilling plus some high speed cameras and this is what you get. No special effects other than a very high frame rate to slow everything down. I like it.

Video below:

via Instapundit

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{ 8 comments }

Colin April 8, 2008 at 9:57 pm: This is a better (ie, non bullshit version) that shows the actual operation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec0tczrYuYc
Alex April 8, 2008 at 10:24 pm: Sorry, I cannot agree that this is an unmodified video. Might even be rendered 100%.

We had an “open” engine for laser measurements at university, such picture quality was unobtainable.
GenWaylaid April 8, 2008 at 10:35 pm: Obviously they switched the fuel feed from gasoline to Liquid Hollywood.
Bazuzeus April 9, 2008 at 3:20 am: I must agree this is probably 100% rendered.
Amazing video anyway
kneeslider April 9, 2008 at 5:00 am: Are you saying that what you see in commercials is not true? I’m crushed!!

Although this doesn’t look like what you might imagine it would, most of us are not used to looking at slow motion photos inside a running engine. What do the fuel droplets, spark and flame front really look like? That video link in the first comment is interesting, too, but needs to be slowed down more to compare with this one.

Once again, since we have some of the most technically knowledgeable readers visiting The Kneeslider, do any of you have photos or videos to compare with this one?
StrokerDave April 9, 2008 at 3:28 pm: Obvious BS. When the flame front starts, the view is from the BOTTOM of the cylinder – where’s the piston?
Nick B April 9, 2008 at 10:01 pm: I don’t think it’s rendered… however it is not an actual revolution from an engine, merely shots from the 3 seperate hacked up engines, and then the film is edited together to give the impression you are inside a cylinder.

Faked, but not CGI in my opinion. Just editing.
Bazuzeus April 10, 2008 at 9:37 am: For anybody thinking this is not “fake”, take a look at this “true” video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec0tczrYuYc