Page "Internal combustion engine" Paragraph 34

All internal combustion engines depend on combustion of a chemical fuel, typically with oxygen from the air ( though it is possible to inject nitrous oxide to do more of the same thing and gain a power boost ).

The combustion process typically results in the production of a great quantity of heat, as well as the production of steam and carbon dioxide and other chemicals at very high temperature ; the temperature reached is determined by the chemical make up of the fuel and oxidisers ( see stoichiometry ), as well as by the compression and other factors.