2007-02-27 06:15:45 · 7 answers · asked by raizs_s 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
the number is number of cylinders
the letter is the layout of the engine.
I4 = Inline 4 - all four cylinders are in one row
I6 = Inline 6 - all six cylinders are in one row
Engines starting with a V are shaped like a V. Every large engines can also have a W shape - like the W12 engine.
2007-02-27 06:20:27 · answer #1 · answered by lepninja 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's the number of cylinders a vehicles engine has and design.
The term "V" goes back a bunch of years to about 1949 I believe.
Originally this design allowed engine builders to pack more cylinders inside a smaller sized engine compartment by having half of the cylinders on one side, and half on the other side.
Back in the 'ole days, engines were mostly "straight" or "in-line"-- (both terms coming from when someone is standing in a straight line).
Then in the late 1940's Ford introduced a "V" design with 8 cylinders.
It had 4 cylinders on one side and 4 on the other side.
Back then it was called a "flat-head V-8", and later just a "V-8".
The flat-head V8 was a kick-*** engine, that hot rodders loved and wanted. Somehow your dad or you became "someone" if you or the family had one.
To compete with Ford, General Motors (GM) and Chrysler changed their "straight" designs to "V's" mostly because Ford had it---, and they didn't.
Other engine builders followed--- and soon the big horse power race war of the 50's and 60's was on using V-8's.
Soon other straight 6's, became V's also, (3 cyclinders on one side, 3 on the other).
Today, Ford even has a V-10 (10 cylinders--5 and 5).
So--What does all this mean?
Virtually nothing to the average driver. Today even some 4 cylinder turbo's (turbo-charged) engines can out perform a V-6 or V-8.
It does however show that you know a little something about automotive history when b.s.'ing with the boys (or girls)..
Hey. Have some fun out there! Life is short.
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2007-02-27 07:06:46 · answer #2 · answered by FL inventor 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in a standard car when you stand infront of it and look at the engine, if you had x-ray specs on you would see 4 pistons in a straight line going vertically up and down within the engine block. In a V4 engine the pistons do not travel up and down. You would see 2 lean to the left, and 2 lean to the right so it looks like a 'V' the idea behind it is the engine runs smoother and is more powerful. A V6 just has more pistions. There is a very different engine altogether made by Mazda called the Rotary Engine which is completly different again. 'V' engines are commonly used on racing cars, formula 1, indy etc but some performance road cars have them too
2007-02-27 08:44:12 · answer #3 · answered by fast eddie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
V6 and V8 reffers to the cylinders in an engine. The V is just the shape of them and the higher number means its a bigger engine and therfore more power!!!!
2007-03-03 01:11:41 · answer #4 · answered by Talbot 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its how many cylinders a car has usually 6 or 8 or sometimes 4
2007-02-27 06:19:22 · answer #5 · answered by Macgyver with Crosby 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
v6 means it's a six cylinder car and it has 3 cylinders on each side of the "V" formation.
there are also I6 and I4 and I8 engines.
2007-02-27 06:23:11 · answer #6 · answered by Halls of Colours 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, more cylenders more pet sorol and faster it runs so life is V100 rship and we need to worship Allah to win paradise,
2013-09-20 08:45:48 · answer #7 · answered by Aboud 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋