The expansion of fuel in a four stroke cycle diesel engine

[A]. starts at 15° before top dead centre and ends at 30° after top dead centre
[B]. starts at top dead centre and ends at 30° after top dead centre
[C]. starts at 15° after top dead centre and ends at 30° before bottom dead centre
[D]. may start and end anywhere
✅ The correct answer is option C.

Pre-ignition is caused by the spontantaneous combustion of the mixture before the end of the compression stroke, and is due to

cylinder walls being too hot
overheated spark plug points
red hot carbon deposits on cylinder walls
any one of these
✅ The correct answer is option D.