In this post, we will look at some of the most common types of engines and explore the basic differences between them.
What is a Car Engine?
An engine in an automobile is a machine that transforms one or more forms of energy into mechanical energy. The car engine is a central component of any vehicle. Before hybrid and electric vehicles came to exist, an engine was a machine that burns fuel like diesel and petrol internally.
In modern cars, fuel is ignited inside the cylinders of the engine through internal combustion or controlled explosions. This process is known as a combustion cycle, which is also the name of this engine. Intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust are the four strokes of the combustion cycle.
Engine is the most important part of your car since it powers it and keeps it operating properly. Any problem or damage to the engine can have a significant impact on your car’s power and fuel efficiency.
There are many different types of engines available, each with its own set of features and capabilities. Certain engines are made for best performance, while others are made to use less gasoline.
Now, let’s look at the most common types of engines and their role.
Types of Engines
The combustion engine is categorized using a number of factors since it is available in multiple varieties. Following are the most common engine types.
Engine Types According to the Layout
The layout or arrangement of cylinder is the most popular way to classify an car engine. These are a few of the popular engines seen in modern cars.
#1 Straight or Inline Engine
It is the most common type of engine. An inline engine is simply an engine in which the cylinders are arranged in a straight line. Depending on the number of cylinders, it can be installed parallel or perpendicular in car.
An engine layout that runs parallel to a car is known as a Straight layout, and a layout that runs perpendicular to it is known as an Inline layout. In these types of engines, the pistons revolve 360 degrees.
Inline engines are typically found in vehicles with three or four cylinders. These engines are popular because they are affordable. Inline engines can be found in basic family vehicles such as hatchbacks. Straight engines power luxury automobiles like BMW and Mercedes.
#2 Flat Engine
A flat engine, as opposed to a straight engine, has its cylinders arranged horizontally. Because of the way the piston moves, which simulates fighters hitting their gloves before a match, it is sometimes referred to as the Boxer engine.
The piston movement created by the boxer engine results in low vibrations due to its balance. Flat engines are more expensive to build than straight engines.
Due to their wide form, are not desired by many vehicle manufacturers. The boxer engine is exclusively available in the lineups of Porsche and Subaru vehicles.
#3 V Engine
It is one of the most widely used engine layout. Nearly all high-performance cars use the V engine. It has two sets of cylinders that are angled in a “V” shape with respect to the crankshaft. These designs are available in three sizes: V6, V8, and V12.
This design allows for more cylinders to be housed in less space. V-shaped cylinder banks make the engine ideal for all vehicles and produce more power as pistons complete their power stroke faster.
The V engine is subjected to vibrations and is costly to fix. The V-engine arrangement is used by almost all manufacturers of high-performance cars, including Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, and Alfa Romeo.
#4 Rotary Engine
This engine layout is widespread in aircraft but uncommon in automobiles. In a rotary engine, the pistons move in a star pattern instead of the typical upward and downward motion, with a single crankshaft positioned at the center of the assembly.
They are long-lasting engines. If the engine fails, it is quite difficult to find experienced mechanics.
#5 W Engine
A W engine features three or four cylinder banks that share a common crankshaft. It is resembling a letter W when viewed from the front. Compared to V engines, W engines are less commonly used.
A W engine is usually wider and shorter than a V engine. The Volkswagen Phaeton, Audi A8, Bentley Continental GT, and Bugatti Veyron are among the vehicles with W engines.
Engine Types According to the Configuration
An engine in a car is classified according to its configuration simply by how many cylinders it has. Modern cars come with various configurations to choose from, which are described below.
#1 Twin-cylinder Engine
The twin-cylinder engine is no longer utilized in cars. It is best suited for two-wheeler vehicles because of its modest power output.
Twin-cylinder engines may feel slow when riding in cities since they have less torque at lower rev ranges.
#2 Three-cylinder Engine
Because it has an odd number of cylinders, the three-cylinder engine produces less power and is less efficient. Nowadays turbochargers have been developed, it is perfect for powering passenger cars.
#3 Four-cylinder Engine
It is one of the most popular engine configurations. Large cars and passenger cars are generally use the four-cylinder engine.
In comparison to three-cylinder engines, four-cylinder engines are more efficient and provide greater power. In comparison to a six-cylinder engine, a four-cylinder engine provides more fuel efficiency.
#4 Five-cylinder Engine
The five-cylinder engine is a piston engine with five cylinders arranged in a straight line with crankshaft. This is an uncommon engine type employed by vehicle manufacturers such as Volvo and Audi.
#5 Six-cylinder Engine
Six-cylinder engines are often seen in high-end vehicles or sports cars. It is strong and has turbochargers, which are typically installed in straight or V-shaped engines. A six-cylinder engine produces greater power, but it also consumes more fuel.
#6 Engine-cylinder and More
V8 engines have two banks of four cylinders that share a common crankshaft and are arranged in a V pattern. Supercars and vehicles requiring huge power will feature eight or more cylinders, which are often referred to as V8, V10, and V12 engines.
Engine Types According to the Fuel Usage
In modern cars, the most popular engines are gasoline and diesel. Still, engines running on alternate fuels are growing in popularity. The most popular vehicle engine types are determined by the fuel used to power the motor.
#1 Petrol Engine
Engines designed to run on petrol, or petrol engines, are the most widely used engine type. This Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) can be modified to utilize spark ignition.
Diesel engines have a higher thermodynamic efficiency of 50%, which is half that of Otto cycles and V engines. It has a lower compression ratio. They use either Otto or V cycles and have a lower compression ratio.
#2 Diesel Engine
Diesel engines function similarly to ICEs. Diesel engines run on diesel fuel, which is heavier and oilier than petrol. These engines can generate higher power and torque levels than their gasoline-powered rivals. They also usually emit higher emissions and are less efficient.
#3 Alternative Fuel Engines
In the auto industry, alternative fuel engines are likewise becoming more and more common. Some of which are described below.
1. Electric Engines
In recent years, electric engines have become increasingly popular because of their low emission levels and high efficiency. Additionally, they require less maintenance than internal combustion engines, which makes them the future of transportation.
2. Hybird Engine
The internal combustion engine is used for the majority of the driving in hybrid engines, while the electric motor provides additional power as needed. As a result, hybrid cars are more efficient than standard petrol-powered ones.
Wrapping It Up
Understanding your car should be rather simple now that you have a basic understandings of different types of engines.
Car engines come in a wide variety, each with special features and attributes of its own. Engine types are available to suit all needs, whether you need performance, efficiency, or a combination of both.
Subscribe to our newsletter to get notified when we upload new post.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Following are some of the most common questions that usually people ask about car engines.
Engines are classified into two types:
Internal combustion engine: An internal combustion engine is a engine that burns fuel within the engine. It is commonly used in cars.
External combustion engine: An external combustion engine is a engine that burns fuel outside of the engine. The perfect example of such engine is steam engine.
In spark-ignition engines, a spark plug facilitates the process of ignition. It ignites an air-fuel mixture that has been compressed in the combustion chamber.
A diesel engine, commonly known as a Compression Ignition (C.I) engine, operates on the Diesel cycle or the Constant pressure heat addition cycle.
The layout and cylinder design of an engine determine its economy and efficiency. Engines with four cylinders and three cylinders perform well because they have both power and efficiency.
2-stroke engines are simpler and more powerful, they use less fuel and emit more pollution. 4-stroke engines are more efficient and reliable, but they are more complicated and costly to maintain.