All automobiles have different requirements of engine size and power. Different car body types have different types of engine requirement depending upon the size and weight.You must have heard of W6 or W12 engines. These are the W-engines which are arranged at some angles forming a W-shape and that is where the names come from.
Here is a complete guide on W-engines, their types, advantages and disadvantages to understand why the auto manufacturers use this type of engine.
WHAT IS A W ENGINE?
Anzani Motors created the first W engine in 1906 and its arrangement resembled a ‘W’ as the name suggests. Volkswagen group produced the first W engine to be used in cars. The W engines layout has seen advancements as it can now hold 16 or more than 16 cylinders.
Unlike V engines, the W engines can house three or four groups of cylinders connected to one or two crankshafts. W engines are used in heavy duty vehicles, luxury and exotic cars because they take less space and provide more power.
TYPES OF W ENGINE LAYOUTS
Here are some of the different W engine configurations:
W6 ENGINE
A W6 engine has two banks of paired cylinders connected to a common crankshaft. It is a six-cylinder engine and is rarely found in vehicles. In this engine, each pair has three cylinders making a W shape.
W8 ENGINE
W8 refers to those engines which comprise eight cylinders in a W layout. There are two banks each consisting of four cylinders that drive a common crankshaft.
The W8 engine consists of two VR4 engines mounted at a V-angle of 72 degrees. VR4 engines have a single V4 engine connected to an in-line 4-cylinder engine at a narrow angle of 15 degrees.
W12 ENGINE
The W12 engine is a 12-cylinder internal combustion engine. This engine is known for its compact size and powerful performance at the same time. This type of engine combines two V6 engines at the v-angle of 75 degrees and mounted at 15 degrees.
The main advantage that a W12 engine provides is its compact size which allows integration of other components in AWD cars. You can have a look at following cars with W12 engine:
There are also more types of W engines, for instance, W16 and W24. These types of engines are generally used in the heavy-duty vehicles because of their size and less weight.
PROS AND CONS OF W ENGINES
Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of W engines.
ADVANTAGES OF W ENGINE
SIZE
These engines are more compact than any other type of internal combustion engine. These allow other components to fit in especially in the case of AWD and 4WD cars. It is a better version of the V engines in terms of its compact size.
BALANCE
The W engines have less weight and therefore, easily maintain a balance. This less weight and compact size help to improve aerodynamics. Moreover, it increases the road performance of the vehicles.
ENGINE POWER
Although the engine is compact it incorporates more cylinders. In automobiles, more cylinders mean more engine power generation.
DISADVANTAGES OF W ENGINE
COMPLEX DESIGN
The engine is compact but uses lots of components to stay together. The more components make it complicated for the auto manufacturers to produce it at a mass scale. This is the reason why W-engines are very rare.
MAINTENANCE
Maintaining an engine with complex construction becomes a tough task. So, the W engine is relatively harder to work on than an inline engine.
This was all about the W engines and their layout. You can find vehicles with different engine configurations in the used cars for sale in the UAE. You can follow the tips and tricks to maintain your car and engine to prolong the lifespan of your vehicle.
Keep reading the UAE’s top auto blog for more information on different types of vehicles, engines, parts and repair.
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