The automotive engines have evolved tremendously over the years, and we see new innovations almost every year. However, the basic layout of an engine remains more or less the same. They have the same components arranged in a different layout. The inline vs V engine debate is about two of the most common engine configurations you can find.
Each engine layout has its own advantages and understanding the key aspects of inline vs V engine can help you with your car buying decision. Let’s start with an overview of the common piston and crankshaft movement that powers both inline and V engines.
Piston and Crankshaft Movement
The engine layout is all about balancing the movement of piston and crankshaft rotation. Since the piston movement is dependent on rotation of the crankshaft, it travels a lot faster for the top half of the stroke than the bottom half.
Additionally, the mean speed of piston and the effect of inertia result in engine vibration.
Understanding Inline Engine
In the inline engine layout, all the cylinders are located in a row. This makes the engine inherently balanced. For instance, to balance out the vibrations in an 6-cylinder inline engine, pistons are designed to mirror one another as a pair.
The first and the last piston mimic each other’s movement and so do the second and fifth and third and fourth. When one pair of piston is on the top end, the second pair is in downward motion and the third pair in upward motion. This cancels out the resistive forces, resulting in a smoother operation with less sound generation.
Popular cars with an inline engine:
Understanding V Engine
The V engine tends to be a bit complex as it consists of cylinders located opposite to each other at an angle. This angle forms a V layout; hence, the angle between cylinder banks is termed as the angle of the V.
A common V-6 engine is basically a combination of two inline 3-cylinder engines, located next to each other and sharing a crankshaft. The cylinders are located at an angle from each other in between 60 to 90 degrees.
This configuration does not cancel out the resistive forces, so a V engine itself may not run as smoothly as an inline engine. Counterweights are used to make the engine balance out the unwanted vibrations and deliver a smoother performance.
Popular cars with a V engine:
Inline Engine vs V Engine
Inline engines have a simple layout as all cylinders are aligned in a row. From a production point of view, inline engines cost less and are easier to maintain. However, they tend to be taller.
Mounting a larger inline engine can become a problem due to lack of space. This is the reason six cylinders are most common in inline engines, going up to a maximum of just eight cylinders. This is one of the prime limitations of an inline engine.
The V engine brings in complexity due to the addition of counterweights that balance the performance. However, since it takes less longitudinal space, more cylinders can be added.
Although the V engine is shorter, wider size means less space for accessories on the side like turbo mods. Since the V engine is based on two banks of cylinders, it requires more production parts including a longer timing belt. This means higher manufacturing and maintenance cost.
The complex nature of V engines has not deterred its popular demand. Compact size means the engine can be easily mounted in smaller cars while maximising the interior space. In fact, V engines allow manufacturers to easily use them in various car platforms regardless of vehicle size.
To sum up the inline vs V engine comparison, an inline engine is usually quieter, smoother and churns relatively more power for a similar number of cylinders. On the other hand, a V engine can be boosted by adding more cylinders.
While V car engines have become a more popular choice, various car manufacturers like Mercedes Benz and Lexus still use inline car engines since they can be easily mounted in long hood vehicles. Check out our listings of used cars for sale in Dubai available in various engine configurations to suit your needs.
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