What Does V8 Mean? A Quick Guide to V8 Engines

There’s no denying that V8 engines are one of the most prominent engine types in the industry, but what exactly does V8 mean? Let’s break it down:

• “V” refers to the V-formation the cylinders follow in the engine. The format keeps the engine compact, helping it take up less space under the hood and fit in a wider range of vehicle types.
• “8” refers to the eight cylinders in the engine.

If you’re keen on learning more about V8 engines, how they work, and their strengths and weaknesses, read on.

What Does Having A V8 Engine Mean for a Vehicle?

The more cylinders there are, the more power the engine creates. V8 engines have eight cylinders, meaning they’re capable of putting out a lot of power for your vehicle. It’s why these engines are common in sports cars and larger vehicles like SUVs and pickup trucks.

To understand how a V8 engine impacts your ride’s performance, you must know the basics of engines.

To begin with, the more cylinders an engine has, the smoother the power and torque. Since a four stroke cycle requires two full turns of the crankshaft for each piston to produce a power stroke, you can divide the 720 degrees of crankshaft rotation by the number of cylinders and get the degrees of crankshaft rotation between combustion events.

That means a 4-cylinder engine has a combustion event every 180 degrees, a 6-cylinder has one every 120 degrees, and an 8-cylinder has a combustion event every 90 degrees. A 10-cylinder has an event every 72 degrees.

A 4-cylinder engine has a combustion event every 180 degrees, a 6-cylinder has one every 120 degrees, and an 8-cylinder has a combustion event every 90 degrees. A 10-cylinder has an event every 72 degrees.

–Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician

Pro Tips are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.

Pro Tip: Many early 8-cylinder engines were “straight 8” engines that had the cylinders in line like a straight 6 (non-V) engine today. For example, Buick used a straight 8 engine from 1931 to 1953 and Pontiac used one from 1933 to 1954. But those engines required a very long engine compartment and V engines became the order of things before very long.

How Does A V8 Engine Work?

V8 engines have eight cylinders, and most follow a specific firing order that varies from one platform to another. Cylinders typically follow this order to sync with the crankshaft’s rotation, firing every time it rotates 90 degrees.

All in all, V8 engines work the same as other engine types. The only difference is the increased number of cylinders it has, sacrificing a better fuel economy for raw power.

More About How Engines Work

Fundamentally, all engines function the same way: the cylinders create a low pressure area above the piston on the intake stroke (piston being pulled down by the spinning of the crankshaft), and with the intake valve open, the low pressure causes atmosphere to rush past the open throttle plate into the plenum and then into the cylinder because of the pressure differential created during that intake stroke. 

Fuel is either drawn in with the air or injected into the air that is trapped above the piston when the intake valve closes. When the spark is delivered right before the piston reaches the top of its stroke, the combustion event super-heats the inert nitrogen that forms 78 percent of the air, and the expanding nitrogen forces the piston and its connecting rod down, turning the crankshaft and creating torque.

The piston diameter is the bore size and the distance it travels up and down is the stroke. When both of these are the same, the engine is said to be “square.” When the stroke length is greater than the piston diameter, the engine is said to be “undersquare.” These engines produce a lot of torque but take longer to build rpm. If, however, the stroke length is less than the diameter of the bore, the engine is said to be “oversquare,” and the engine will rev very quickly but won’t have as much torque as an undersquare engine.

What Are the Advantages of V8 Engines?

Driving a vehicle with a V8 engine comes with a lot of benefits, including higher top speeds, greater towing capacity, better endurance, and quicker acceleration. Let’s take a closer look at its pros.

High Engine Displacement

V8 engines offer high engine displacement, which is invaluable for high-performance vehicles since they have higher power capability. Unfortunately, this means V8 engines aren’t as fuel-efficient as other engines, sacrificing their fuel economy to reach greater levels of speed and power.

More Horsepower and Torque

One of the biggest strengths of the V8 engine is its sheer power output, producing high amounts of torque and horsepower compared to other engine types. Having an engine with eight cylinders means your vehicle can get away with driving with heavier hauls, and its towing capacity is also far higher than most non-V8 engines.

Small and Compact

V8 engines are small and compact, so they’re compatible with various vehicle types because they can fit in the hood easily. If you want to upgrade your ride with a V8 engine, you might not have much trouble finding a suitable performance engine.

What Are the Disadvantages of V8 Engines?

Besides decreased fuel economy, V8 engines come with other drawbacks — many of which may not be obvious.

Bulky and Heavy

V8 engines are heavy relative to their size, making them incredibly difficult to transport or remove from your vehicle. Heavy engines are not inherently bad, but they could put too much weight on the front. This makes for an uncomfortable driving experience if there isn’t enough load in the back.

High Center of Gravity

Though V8 engines are small, they are heavy for their size and this can affect the overall weight distribution of your vehicle. This becomes a problem when you make quick turns. The sheer weight can throw your vehicle off-balance, making it difficult to handle.

More Moving Parts

A lot of the parts of a V8 engine rotate and move on their own. The increased rotational inertia and friction mean the V8 engine can overheat easily if it doesn’t have enough coolant and oil.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Difference Between a V6 and a V8 Engine?

V6 engines have six cylinders, whereas V8 engines have eight. Because V6 engines have fewer cylinders, they’re generally more fuel-efficient but produce less power. On the other hand, a V8 engine is the opposite, using more fuel to create even greater power levels.

What Does Naturally Aspirated V8 Mean?

A naturally aspirated engine doesn’t use a turbocharger or a supercharger. Instead, these engines “breathe” with atmospheric pressure instead of forced induction devices, hence the term “naturally aspirated.”

With this in mind, a naturally aspirated V8 refers to V8 engines that don’t use forced induction devices. Though turbochargers are useful, some advantages come with going without them.

For example, naturally aspirated vehicles are cheaper to buy and easier to maintain. They also recover quickly, making your vehicle feel more reactive and responsive to the accelerator.

What Does i-FORCE V8 Mean?

The i-FORCE is a specially-made V8 engine designed by Toyota that utilizes VVT-i technology, which stands for “Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence.”

i-FORCE V8 engines differ from other engines in how it delivers maximum power output despite consuming less fuel. Most Toyota vehicles are i-FORCE engines with variants available for different engine types, like V10 V8, V6, and I4.