1. Gasoline engines burn gasoline through spark ignition, while diesel engines burn diesel oil through compression ignition without a spark plug.
2. The ideal air-fuel ratio for complete combustion is around 14.7:1 by weight. A leaner mixture improves fuel economy and reduces emissions while a richer mixture improves power and cold starting but hurts fuel efficiency and increases emissions.
3. Brake power is the engine's power measured at the crankshaft and indicates net output, while indicated power includes all engine work but not mechanical losses like friction. Mechanical efficiency is the ratio of brake to indicated power.