What are type 4 cylinders?

The cylinder arrangement of a V-type engine symmetrically distributes two groups of cylinders at a specific angle, forming a V-shaped structure when viewed from the side. This design optimizes space utilization while maintaining power output. Taking the common V6 engine as an example, the two groups of cylinders are typically arranged at 60-degree or 90-degree angles, with each group containing 3 cylinders: cylinders 1, 3, and 5 on the left side, and cylinders 2, 4, and 6 on the right side. The specific numbering sequence may vary slightly by manufacturer (e.g., in Mercedes-Benz models, the cylinder nearest the belt end is designated as cylinder 1). Compared to inline engines, this layout significantly reduces longitudinal length, making it more suitable for front-wheel-drive vehicles. Additionally, displacement can be increased by enlarging the cylinder bore or adding more cylinders (such as in V8 or V12 configurations). The V-type configuration offers better balance and adaptability for multiple cylinders, though it requires dual cylinder heads, resulting in greater structural complexity and relatively higher maintenance costs. Most mainstream V-type engines currently use a 60-degree angle for optimal smoothness, while high-performance variants may employ wider angles (e.g., 90 degrees) to accommodate larger components.

There are four main types of cylinder arrangements in automobile engines: inline, V-type, horizontally opposed, and W-type. The inline cylinder structure is simple and compact, with low manufacturing costs and good fuel economy, commonly found in most passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, such as the L4 (inline four-cylinder) engine. V-type cylinders divide the cylinders into two groups arranged in a V-shape, which can reduce the engine width and improve the smoothness of power output, and are mostly used in high-performance cars and luxury models. Horizontally opposed cylinders have a 180-degree symmetrical layout, which can lower the engine's center of gravity and enhance the vehicle's handling stability, and are often seen in high-performance sports cars. The W-type cylinder is composed of two sets of V-type structures, which can accommodate more cylinders in a limited space and provide stronger power output, usually used in supercars or luxury models. Each cylinder layout has its own advantages: the inline type focuses on economy, the V-type and W-type lean towards power performance, and the horizontally opposed type emphasizes balance. The choice needs to be based on the vehicle's positioning and usage requirements.

The V24 engine is a type of 24-cylinder piston engine, typically structured with two sets of 12 cylinders arranged in a V configuration, sharing a single crankshaft or adopting a dual V12 parallel design. Due to its bulky size and high manufacturing costs, such engines are mainly used in special fields rather than ordinary passenger vehicles. For example, the V24 engine once developed by Bugatti featured an innovative design of 24 cylinders and 24 pistons, equipped with a twin-turbocharging system that could output over 1001 horsepower. Its lightweight aluminum cylinder block and intelligent management system made it an ideal choice for high-performance racing cars. There are also application cases in the industrial sector, such as the Jenbacher J624 turbocharged V24 engine, which is specifically designed for large-scale power generation equipment, with a power output of up to 4507 kilowatts, and boasts high thermal efficiency and low emission characteristics. Historically, the Fiat AS.6 aviation engine achieved a V24 layout by connecting two V12 engines in series, providing 3100 horsepower for racing aircraft. Although the V24 represents the pinnacle of mechanical engineering in terms of technology, its complex structure and high maintenance costs have limited its popularity. Currently, it only exists in a very small number of supercars, aircraft, and industrial equipment, and is regarded as a "ceiling-level" product in internal combustion engine technology.

A four-cylinder engine is an internal combustion engine structure composed of four cylinders arranged in a straight line or V-shape. Its pistons are connected to the crankshaft via connecting rods, generating power through the combustion of air-fuel mixture. This design dominates the Malaysian market. For example, the 1.5-liter 1NZ-FE and 1.3-liter 2NZ-FE engines equipped in the 2019 Toyota Yaris both adopt an inline four-cylinder layout, delivering approximately 107 horsepower. Mated with a CVT or 5-speed manual transmission, they balance the smoothness of urban driving and fuel economy. Compared with six-cylinder or eight-cylinder engines, four-cylinder engines are more compact in size and lighter in weight, reducing the overall vehicle manufacturing cost and daily maintenance expenses. They are particularly suitable for the durability requirements under the local hot climate. Technically, four-cylinder engines offset inertial vibration through the piston movement of two upward and two downward strokes. With precisely tuned crankshaft balance weights, they can achieve relatively stable power output, but may be slightly less refined than multi-cylinder engines at high speeds. Models like the Mazda CX-4 also adopt this type of design, highlighting its practicality in balancing performance and cost. Notably, the popularization of four-cylinder turbocharging technology has further narrowed the power gap with multi-cylinder engines. For instance, the 2.0-liter 4G93T turbocharged four-cylinder engine once planned for the Proton Putra could squeeze out 300 horsepower, confirming the potential of this structure. In daily use, regularly replacing spark plugs and ensuring the efficiency of the cooling system are key to maintaining the performance of four-cylinder engines.

Among the cylinder arrangement forms of engines, inline (L-type), V-type, horizontally opposed (H-type) and W-type are mainstream designs, while the rotary engine (R-type) does not belong to the basic cylinder arrangement. The inline structure is simple and low-cost, suitable for economical vehicles. The V-type improves smoothness through the angle design of two cylinder banks, and is commonly used in mid-to-high-end models. The horizontally opposed type achieves an ultra-low center of gravity with a 180-degree angle, but is only adopted by Porsche and Subaru. The W-type is Volkswagen's patented technology, which reduces overall dimensions through a composite V-type structure. The rotary engine uses a triangular rotor instead of piston movement. Although it can achieve high rotation speeds, it is not classified as a basic arrangement due to its unique structure and limited adoption by manufacturers (such as Mazda). In addition, niche designs such as the VR-type are not considered basic configurations due to their limited application scope. The choice of cylinder arrangement requires balancing performance, space and cost. For example, the inline type is suitable for compact models, while the V-type or W-type is primarily used in luxury cars that prioritize power and smoothness.