Engineering explanation: advantages and disadvantages of different types of engines

There are many types of engines, including v- shaped engines, transverse engines, longitudinal engines, and boxer engines, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. Here is a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know about to help use each type of them.

Any more powerful engines, engine v6  capacity 4 – liter engine or -v 8 capacity of 4 liters? The answer to this question is not simple. When talking about different types of engines, the clearest explanation for them is the engine speed. With a little ingenuity (you know), a four-wheel drive engine can be just as powerful as a V12 . So what makes manufacturers choose different engine designs?
Below we show you the advantages and disadvantages of each design. 

 
1-Four-cylinder inline four . engine

Let’s start now with the most famous types of engines, longitudinal engines. The reason for its popularity is that it is the most simple engine in design: one cylinder body, one cover, one valve and one exhaust outlet.
Here is all the information available about it:
Features:

• Four-cylinder cylinders are small and compact (ie, suitable for any engine compartment).
• It is also characterized by its light weight, and one exhaust outlet, which leads to its light weight.
• With a single cylinder head, this means that the number of moving parts in the engine is less than in multi-cylinder engines. This results in less energy consumption and less potential for malfunctions.
• The main forces of the engine are balanced because the two outer pistons move in the opposite direction to the inner pistons (see picture above).
• Four-cylinder engines are easy to operate, easy to handle and repair, and the cylinder cover is the highest point in the motor, which makes the opportunity to work on repairing or dismantling the upper parts easy and simple.
• The cost of manufacturing four-cylinder engines is low.

Defects:

• Secondary forces are unbalanced, which ultimately limits the size of the engine.
• The four-wheel design rarely exceeds 2.5 liters to 3 liters due to the imbalance of secondary forces.
• Large engine cylinders often require balancing shafts to cancel out vibration caused by secondary power imbalances.
• Higher centers of gravity compared to some transverse designs (H4).
• Not as strong as some designs such as (V6, V8).

 
 
2- Horizontal Four-cylinder Boxer engine:
 

 

In terms of performance, there are no attractive options like the horizontal displacement engines. The boxer quad is not as common as other engine types, but from an engineering point of view it is a logical choice for a racing car. And the most famous cars used for this type are Japanese Subaru cars with all-wheel drive (four-wheel drive) in all its
distinctive cars

• A balance of primary and secondary forces, and a smooth-running engine.
• The engine allows for lighter weight on the crankshafts , resulting in less power loss.
• The lower center of gravity allows for better stability.

Defects:

• Large size motors packaging, wide motors.
• Formula used this type of engine due to its many advantages, but due to its wideness it impeded the flow of air and no longer used it.
• Installation complexity – two cylinder heads/valves.
• Vibration of the couple (surface imbalance) due to covering the pistons to allow the opportunity to connect the rods to connect with the crankshafts.
• It can be very difficult to maintain if the packaging is tight.

 
 
3- Engine 6 cylinders, longitudinal straight-six:

From the engineering point of view: The longitudinal six-cylinder engine is the result of the addition of two cylinders in the design of the four-wheel drive. The most popular brand for this design is BMW, and the most famous is the 2JZ version . So what is so special about the six-wheel drive?
 
Features:

• The 6 linear motors are naturally balanced.
• The engine design is linked to the power release system, which leads to smooth operation of the engines.
• Low Manufacturing Cost – Single cylinder block with all cylinders in one direction.
• Simple design and easy to adjust like a longitudinal 4 cylinder engine.

Defects:

• Difficulty packaging due to the length of the motor.
• Not good for front wheel drive systems.
• High center of gravity (vs. boxer engines)
• Less rigid and durable than V- shaped engines,  as it is long and narrow.

 
Engine V 6

 
Cut the six cylinders from the middle and connect them with a two-cylinder box to the common crank.
The V6 engine is one  of the most popular engines with six spark plugs. Also, this type of engine is for Formula 1. Why does he use it?
 
Features:

• Compact and easily used in FWD & RWD vehicles .
• It allows more volume than four-cylinder engines, which means more power.
• Outstanding design.
• Formula 1 chose the design of the V6 shape better than the I4

Defects:                                          

• Double cylinder cover means extra cost, more complexity and more weight.
• Additional shortcomings in rotation and friction (more moving parts).
• High centers of gravity versus flat motors.
• High cost for linear engines.
• Secondary imbalance leads to additional weight on the crankshafts.
• Additional weight due to the presence of two exhaust manifolds.

 
 
Engine on the shape of the V8 :

 
When you add a cylinder to each box of the V6 engine , you get a new unit.
You find it an icon in both American and Western models, which is ( V8 ). So what makes this design the perfect choice?
 
Features:

• Packing size (short length).
• Good balance, depends on the type of crankshaft and ignition system.
• Outstanding design.
• Allows for large cylinder size.

 
Defects:

• The high weight of the V8 engine , like the V6 engine .
• Additional failures in rotation and friction (more moving parts)
• More expensive and complicated.
• Higher center of gravity vs. flat motors
• Causes an increase in engine weight
• The packaging is great, usually limited to AWD & RWD vehicles .