The fuel has to be injected, the injected fuel has to be ignited and air has to be drawn in for combustion. After combustion, the products of combustion have to be expelled.
When each of these processes occurs is known as the Timing of the engine. The Timing of the engine is denoted in degrees with reference to the TDC or BDC of the engine.
A general timing of an IC Engine is as follows.
Inlet valve opening 30 degrees before TDC
Inlet valve closure 50 degrees after BDC
Exhaust valve opening 45 degrees before BDC
Exhaust valve closure 30 degrees after TDC
Injection of the Fuel 15 degrees before TDC