Difference between 8V and 16V engine?

Question

Can someone please explain to me the difference betwen 1.6, 8V and 16V engines? and its affect on performance of the car.

I have just passed my test and so am looking for my first car. There is a difference of about £ 250 in insurance quotes that i get for 8V and 16V engine cars. So i want to weigh up my options and decide?

Cheers
Jaldhi

Answer 1

16 valve engines allow a more efficient inlet and exhaust cycle, allowing for faster revving and more power. Insurance premiums will reflect this.

If you want the performance, you pay the price, especially as a new driver. I would get a slower cheaper car for your first one and build up some no-claims.

Answer 2

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Well 8v and 16v mean 8 valve and 16 valve engines. I'd take it that the Astra is a 4 cylinder right? So the 8v would have only two valves per cylinder (one intake, one exhaust) with an Sohc (single-overhead cam) and the 16v might be a 4 valve per cylinder (2 intake, 2 exhaust) with a Dohc (double-overhead cam) The Dohc 16v engine would have better HP and Torque over the Sohc 8v. Fuel efficiency shouldn't be that different, however.This is because your getting oxygen and fuel in the cylinders through two intake valves faster than the sohc's one valve and better flow for the exhaust. May be confusing to you but you can look around on google too.

Answer 3

16 Valve Engine

Answer 4

1.6 would probably mean 1.6 Litres which is the displacement of the engine (difference between cylinders up and cylinders down, i.e. size of the combustion chambers) while 8V and 16V refers to the valves that let the air fuel mixture into the engine and allow the exhaust to get out of the engine and into the lungs of the people in your city. A 16 Valve engine (which for a 4 cylinder engine means 4 valves per cylinder) will typically be better but not always.

Depending on the size of the car it probably won't make all that much difference (and pretty much everything modern can easily handle freeway speeds).

The insurance quote difference is pretty big though.

Answer 5

Although 16V engines where originally developed for power nowdays is has a lot to do with effiency and emmisions so the difference in power may not be that much. Also some 8V engines develop more torque at lower revs. So do you own research and test drive a few different cars.

Answer 6

The major difference between the two is when peak torque is developed. On an 8v engine, it is lower down the rev range, making it a better car for towing, and carrying heavy weights, and commuting in heavy traffic. It makes for a smoother drive. 2nd gear is great as you accelerate away. The 16v engine develops peak torque much higher up the rev range, making it more suitable for long distance/ high speed driving. Making a 16v labour at low revs is a sure fire way of making it use more fuel. You have to boot these to make the cars go....

Answer 7

The way I would put it is that if you are going to do a lot of motorway driving then the 16v engine generates more power therefore will take less strain.

If however you are going to be a townie then there is no issue with an 8v car and this will be cheaper / cheaper to insure.

Its is a case of the difference between what you WANT and what you NEED (but isnt it always ;-)

Answer 8

Like bestonnet said,1.6 liter engine. 2 valves or 4 valves per cylinder.Either way,still 1.6 liters.No matter how many valves in the engine at its best will only move 1.6 liters of air per cycle.With 4 valves there is basically more of an opening for the air to get in and out,which equals the engine "breathes"easier and makes more power

Answer 9

Its the number of valves per cylinder, an 8v is a basic engine set-up with one inlet and one outlet port on each cylinder head. the 16v has two inlets and two outlets. This means that when you accelerate, the fuel air mix is fed in more quickly and exhaust gases are removed better thus enhancing overall performance and fuel efficiency.
depending on the car, I would usually favour a 16v engine simply because they run smoother and respond faster than standard engines.

Oh, and shop around a lot for your insurance, I'm sure you can find one that may save you some money, meaning you get the 16v without worrying about higher premiums.

Answer 10

8 or 16 valves is not always the whole answer. Compare the engine torque figures. The higher the torque the more 'grunt' or sheer pulling power, which is what matters in everyday driving. By comparison higher bhp and lower torque means using the gears more and keeping it revving.