2006-06-23 09:53:30 · 5 answers · asked by jose 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
That is referring to the engine displacement.
Engine displacement is defined as the total volume of air/fuel mixture an engine can draw in during one complete engine cycle; it is normally stated in cubic centimeters, liters or cubic inches. In a piston engine, this is the volume that is swept as the pistons are moved from top dead center to bottom dead center.
2006-06-23 09:56:31 · answer #1 · answered by davidmi711 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is the size of the area inside the engine where the gasoline and air explode making power to move the car.
If you have a 4 liter, 4 cylinder engine each cylinder will displace 1 liter, if you have an 8 cylinder motor (IE a V8) then each cylinder will displace 1/2 liter.
A liter is almost the same as a quart, or about 60 cubic inches. American car engines are often sized by cubic inches. A Ford 302 V8 displaces 302 cubic inches or the same as a 5 liter engine.
2006-06-23 17:11:58 · answer #2 · answered by Gregory B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
4 liter refers to the size of the engine. Used to be cubic inches, but the metric system has taken over and now referred to as liters. 1 liter is roughly 61 cubic inches so 4 liters is equal to a little more than 240 cubic inches
2006-06-23 16:58:34 · answer #3 · answered by mailbox1024 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The cylinders have a capacity of 4 liters, if they were filled with a liquid such as water that was at 1 degree celcius.
2006-06-23 16:57:44 · answer #4 · answered by mister_e79 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is the displacement....Piston size, and crank shaft stroke.
Early model american cars were measured in cubic inches (350-454-426 etc...) , now most are labeled in liters.
http://www.21cgt.com/FMWebCatalog/frmConversion2.aspx
2006-06-23 16:59:05 · answer #5 · answered by dik 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋