Is it possible to get information about how the engine works by listening to the sound it makes?

Yes, you can get such information. A fully functional engine filled with high-quality oil emits a very characteristic sound during operation. In the presence of a malfunction, the sound changes, because some parts inside the engine begin to move wrong, or the combustion of the combustible mixture in the cylinders is not so. By the nature of the change in sound, one can judge a specific malfunction. Some masters even use a stethoscope for this – they “listen” to the engine in the same way that a doctor “listens” to a person at an appointment.