Six-cylinder engines are a common choice for people who want a vehicle with a balance of power and fuel efficiency. There are two common engine layouts for six-cylinder engines, which are inline and V. What makes an inline-6 engine different from the V6 engine? Are there any parts or performance factors shared between the two engine types?
One look is all you need to tell if the engine is an inline-6 or a V6. The two types have distinct appearances.
An inline-6 engine has six cylinders arranged in a single line, which is why it’s also called a straight-6 engine. The name is also written as “inline-six engine.”
A V6 engine has two banks of cylinders slanted to form a V-shape. Each bank has three cylinders. But there are different types of V6 engines as shown in the illustration:
Aside from the obvious difference in cylinder arrangement, V6 and inline-6 engines have other differences. Let’s take a look at them here:
The center of gravity affects the vehicle’s stability. The higher it is, the less stable the vehicle, making it harder to control and making its handle worse on the road.
Vehicles with an inline-6 engine have a higher center of gravity. The inline-6 sits higher in the engine bay because certain components force an unwieldy arrangement.
In contrast, the center of gravity of vehicles powered by a V6 engine is usually lower. The V6’s shape lends it to lower locations in the engine bay. The low center of gravity makes the vehicle feel more solid, leading to better handling on the road.
Inline-6 engines follow an uncomplicated design that spreads out the cylinders. The spacing between each cylinder makes viewing and working on the engine easier.
Furthermore, inline engines follow a longitudinal arrangement. That leaves more space on either side of the engine to accommodate turbochargers and other performance-boosting parts.
Additionally, the inline engine has fewer parts overall. It has only a single cylinder head, engine block, and valve cover. It also needs only half the number of camshafts as a V6.
V6 engines are more complex than inline-6 engines. Their design is tightly packed, forcing you to put more effort into finding, accessing, and working on a specific part. V6 engines also have more camshafts and valves. They also include parts like balancing shafts and counterweights that you won’t find in their inline counterparts.
V6 engines are roughly squarish. Their compact shape enables them to easily fit in most engine bays. V6 engines usually leave enough room to install a turbocharger.
While a V6 engine costs more to build than an inline-6 engine, the V6’s versatility makes it more popular. In comparison, inline-6 engines fell out of favor years ago, although the design is coming back in some vehicles.
Bigger doesn’t always mean better. While narrower than V6 engines, inline-6 engines are also longer. Their extensive length bars them from transverse mounting–that is to say, you cannot mount an inline-6 perpendicular to the driveshaft and the vehicle. Instead, they require lengthwise mounting in the engine bay, so the vehicle’s front end must have sufficient length.
Many sports cars happen to have the prerequisite long front end, so they can take advantage of straight-6 engines.
However, most vehicles lack the room to fit the lengthy inline-6 engine in their front ends. They would also have to find space for other parts and systems, including safety systems.
Another length-related drawback of the inline-6 engine involves unintended flex in the camshaft and crankshaft. The inline-6 is so long that its camshafts and crankshafts undergo flexing during rotation. While modern engines can compensate for this wobbling, older models are less capable.
The opposite is true for V6 engines. They split their six cylinders between two rows, making them roughly half as long as inline-6 engines. Their compact length lets them fit in vehicles with shorter front ends. Their greater width prevents their installation in narrow-bodied vehicles.
The engine isn’t the only thing that affects the vehicle’s acoustic profile. The exhaust and muffler also alter the exhaust note. However, the engine’s layout can affect the sounds it makes.
An inline-six makes unique sounds because of its arrangement.
When combustion happens in an engine cylinder, it generates vibrations that travel through the engine and the rest of the vehicle. The more cylinders in the engine, the more vibrations they produce.
Inline-6 engines generate fewer vibrations than their V6 counterparts. They possess an even number of cylinders that can fire off in a pattern where an active cylinder’s vibrations cancel out the ones produced by another.
The approach lets straight-6 engines reduce unpleasant vibrations. As a bonus, their long configuration improves their balance.
V6 engines generate more vibration. Their two rows each have three cylinders, which means the cylinders can’t work in tandem and fire off at the right time to cancel vibrations.
V6 engines remedy this drawback by attaching weights to the balancing shaft. However, the addition of more weights and parts drives manufacturing costs up.
Inline-6 and V6 engines deliver roughly the same performance. However, each layout has advantages and disadvantages that might appeal to you. Make your decision based on your needs.
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