What is the difference between a 16-Valve engine and a 24-Valve engine? In which case, a 24 one is better?

Question

I am trying to compare V6/3.2L/240hp/16Valve of Chevrolet Captiva against V6/2.7L/185hp/24valve of Suzuki Grand Vitara. Any advice?

Answer 1

It's NOT the valves that matter, but the number of cylinders AND the number of valves.

Generally speaking, the more valves (up to 4, max of 5) per cylinder, the more air you can pump into the cylinder faster (and get exhaust out faster), and the more power you can get from it. However, there's a limit, and most engines only use 2 or 3, with later engines using 4 per cylinder.

For example, my Ford V6 Duratec has 4 valves for each cylinder, for 24 valves total.

However, you can't compare number of valves directly. A 4-cylinder engine with 4 valves per cylinder has 16-valves. However, an I-4 can rev higher, and with right amount of tuning, can match or even exceed the 4-valve per cylinder V6 in terms of horsepower (albeit at a higher RPM).

Answer 2

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RE:
What is the difference between a 16-Valve engine and a 24-Valve engine? In which case, a 24 one is better?

Answer 3

24 Valve

Answer 4

a 24 is going to have twice the number of valves in an effort to improve airflow. All an engine is is an airpump, the more air it flows, the more efficient it will work.

Take a v6 for example. Conventionally a v6 would have 12 valves, or 1 intake and 1 exhaust per cylinder. Today many v6s have 24. 2 intakes and 2 exhaust. better airflow, better efficiency.

Answer 5

I assume you mean in the same size engine, because 16v and 24v could be a 4 cyl. and a 6 cyl., but if its the same size engine, it will generally be a higher performance model if it has more valves due to increased flow capability. Think of your engine as a pump, and the more efficiently you can pump air thru it, the more power it will produce. a 16v 4 cyl. engine has 2 intake and 2 exhaust valves and used to be the standard for high performance from those engine types, but not anymore. I have seen some models with 2 intake and 3 exhaust, and other combinations, so that is the answer in general, but if you have a specific engine in mind, please edit.

Answer 6

.It all has to do with the fuel and air mixture and how fast they can get that combustible mixture out of the cylinders. Valves are put on certain angles to swirl the fuel and air mixtures so they can get them mixed as fine as possible. The finer and faster the mixtures are, the more power and less emissions are produced. this is in layman's terms . there's more to it than that. But for the average buyer that's all they really have to know. Also you get better gas mileage the better the fuel and air mixture is. Although some companies go over board with there 24 valve system that you really don't need if your a normal driver.

Sincerely yours,
Fred M. Hunter

Answer 7

typically you can only fit 4 valves to a cylinder. if the engine has 16 valves then you have a 4 cylinder engine. if you have 24 valves then you have a 6 cylinder engine.

24 valves means you have a bigger engine.