why my car fuel consumption high

The V12 engine does exist; it is a high-performance engine with 12 cylinders arranged in a V configuration, renowned for its exceptional smoothness and powerful output. By dividing the 12 cylinders into two banks angled at 60 degrees, this engine achieves an ignition every 60 degrees of crankshaft rotation and attains first-order and second-order dynamic balance without the need for a balance shaft, resulting in extremely smooth operation. Compared to an inline-six engine of the same displacement, the V12 structure is more compact and lighter, while delivering higher power and torque with quicker throttle response. It is commonly found in luxury models such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class AMG and BMW M760Li, as well as supercars like Ferrari and Lamborghini. For example, the V12 engine in the Ferrari 812 can generate 819 horsepower, enabling 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 2.9 seconds. However, its complex structure leads to high maintenance costs, so it is typically limited to the high-end market. Technically, each cylinder of the V12 engine has a smaller diameter, allowing for higher rotational speeds. When combined with modern turbocharging or hybrid technology, it further pushes the performance limits, making it one of the symbols of top-tier automotive engineering.

Currently, there are no mass-produced vehicles with 20-cylinder engines on the market, whether in the passenger car or motorcycle sector. Mainstream engine configurations typically range from 3 to 12 cylinders, with 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder engines being the most common. For example, the Nissan Serena S-HYBRID is equipped with a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine, the Yamaha MT-25 uses a 250cc twin-cylinder engine, and the Ducati Panigale V2 is fitted with a V-twin engine. Although 16-cylinder engines for supercars have existed in history (such as Bugatti's W16), the 20-cylinder design has not been practically applied to civilian vehicles due to its large size, complex structure, and non-compliance with modern emission and efficiency requirements. Automakers prefer to enhance the performance of existing cylinder-count engines through technologies like turbocharging and hybrid power rather than increasing the number of cylinders. For the Malaysian market, consumers are more concerned about fuel economy and practicality, so small-displacement engines with 4 cylinders or fewer remain the mainstream choice.

Inline 12-cylinder engines do exist, but they are extremely rare in mass-produced vehicles at present, mainly used in a few top luxury models. Represented by the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, Audi A8, and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, this type of engine features an inline layout of 12 cylinders to achieve extraordinary power output. For example, the inline 12-cylinder gasoline engine of the Maybach S-Class can deliver a maximum power of 530kW and a peak torque of 1000Nm, demonstrating a combination of ultimate smoothness and explosive power. From an engineering perspective, the inline 12-cylinder structure occupies more longitudinal space than the V-type layout, making it suitable only for long-wheelbase models and requiring extremely high manufacturing precision. This explains why modern car manufacturers prefer to adopt V12 or W12 structures. It is worth noting that with the trend of electrification, such large-displacement engines are gradually being replaced by hybrid systems. However, the inline 12-cylinder is still regarded as one of the pinnacle technologies of the internal combustion engine era, and its precision mechanical structure's contribution to improving vehicle NVH performance remains difficult to fully replicate.

The V18 engine is technically feasible, but its practical application faces numerous challenges. Currently, luxury brands like Rolls-Royce have not introduced such engines. The V18's complex structure requires addressing issues such as spatial arrangement, noise and vibration control, and weight reduction. Its substantial size would encroach on engine bay space, necessitating a redesign of the chassis and suspension systems. High-precision manufacturing processes demand extremely tight tolerances for components, and achieving power balance across 18 cylinders presents significant challenges, requiring precise coordination to minimize vibration. Moreover, the V18 engine's fuel efficiency may be suboptimal; the large displacement results in higher fuel consumption, adversely affecting range. For instance, the Phantom's V12 engine can consume up to 20L/100km in urban driving, and the V18's consumption would likely be even greater. Rolls-Royce concentrates on refining its existing V12 and V8 engines. Its 6.75-liter V12 twin-turbocharged engine already delivers exceptional power output, acoustic refinement, and longevity, eliminating the need for technological advancement through a V18 configuration. Thus, while the V18 holds theoretical promise, when considering technical hurdles, costs, and market requirements, it currently does not represent a mainstream option.

The flat-eight engine (Flat-8) does exist, but it is a relatively niche type of engine, mainly used in high-performance cars and some aviation fields. Its core feature is that the eight cylinders are arranged in a horizontally opposed configuration. This layout can significantly lower the center of gravity, improve the vehicle's handling stability, and offers better balance than traditional V-type engines. Porsche is a representative manufacturer of this technology; for example, the 1968 Porsche 908 race car was equipped with a 2.997-liter flat-eight engine that delivered 350 horsepower, with subsequent upgraded versions reaching 370 horsepower. Additionally, the 5.1-liter Jabiru 5100 aviation engine developed by Australia's Jabiru Aircraft also employs this structure. Compared with the common V8 engine, the flat-eight engine incurs higher manufacturing costs due to its complex structure and imposes stricter requirements on cooling and lubrication systems, making it rare in mass-produced models. Currently, Porsche has gradually shifted its technical focus to flat-six and four-cylinder engines, but the flat-eight engine remains a classic example of engineering design, with its low center of gravity advantage being irreplaceable in race tracks and specialized applications.

Most mainstream passenger car engines on the market today are designed with three, four, or six cylinders. Seven-cylinder engines are extremely rare in the civilian automotive sector, and no models with such a configuration are available for sale in Malaysia. From a technical perspective, while odd-cylinder engines (such as three-cylinder and five-cylinder) exist, they require special balance shaft designs. A seven-cylinder layout would lead to complex structures and a sharp increase in manufacturing costs, whereas four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines, with their symmetrical layouts, can better balance power and smoothness. Recent new cars launched in the local market, such as the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro equipped with a 1.6T four-cylinder turbo engine (197 horsepower) and the Mazda CX-60 offering a 3.3L six-cylinder turbocharged option (280 horsepower), demonstrate manufacturers' preference for enhancing the efficiency of four-cylinder/six-cylinder engines through turbocharging technology. For those seeking multi-cylinder engines, luxury brand models with V8 or V12 engines may be considered, though it's important to note that such large-displacement engines incur higher road taxes in Malaysia.

The number of cylinders in a car engine is usually determined by its displacement and purpose. Common configurations include 3-cylinder, 4-cylinder, 5-cylinder, 6-cylinder, 8-cylinder, 10-cylinder, and 12-cylinder. For daily family cars, engines with 1.0L to 1.5L displacement mostly adopt a 3-cylinder design, 2.0L displacement engines are generally 4-cylinder, 2.5L may use 5-cylinder, around 3.0L are mostly 6-cylinder, while engines with 4.0L and above displacement commonly have 8 or more cylinders. The number of cylinders is closely related to power output and fuel efficiency. For the same displacement, more cylinders usually mean higher power, but they also increase mechanical complexity and cost. Currently, 4-cylinder engines are the most common in the market because they strike a good balance between power and economy, while 3-cylinder engines are also becoming popular due to their energy-saving advantages. There are various cylinder arrangements, including inline, V-type, W-type, etc. Different layouts have different impacts on space utilization and operational smoothness. When choosing the number of cylinders, factors such as driving needs, fuel economy, and budget should be comprehensively considered.

The core differences between four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines lie in their structure, performance, and application scenarios. Four-cylinder engines are compact in structure and have lower maintenance costs (typically 20% to 30% lower), making them suitable for urban commuting. Although their 180-degree firing interval results in more noticeable vibrations, their small-displacement design (e.g., 1.5L to 2.5L) offers better fuel efficiency—for instance, some models achieve a combined fuel consumption of 5.5L to 6.5L per 100 kilometers. Six-cylinder engines (usually with displacements of 3.0L or above) demonstrate significantly improved smoothness due to their 60-degree firing interval and greater number of cylinders, reducing vibrations by approximately 40% to 50%. They also provide more abundant power reserves during high-speed cruising, though their manufacturing costs are about 15% to 25% higher. For example, a six-cylinder model from the same brand may cost 30,000 to 50,000 Malaysian Ringgit more than its four-cylinder counterpart. Notably, when displacements are equal (e.g., both 2.5L), the power output of both engines is comparable, but the six-cylinder version delivers superior driving refinement through a more consistent power delivery curve (with torque fluctuations reduced by around 30%). From a technical standpoint, inline-six engines inherently cancel out vibrations without requiring balance shafts, whereas four-cylinder engines rely on balance shafts or dual-mass flywheels to optimize NVH performance. The choice ultimately depends on budget and priorities: those prioritizing fuel economy may opt for four-cylinder turbocharged variants (e.g., certain 2.0T models producing up to 250 horsepower), while those valuing quietness and smoothness will find six-cylinder naturally aspirated engines preferable (e.g., a 3.0L six-cylinder's idle noise is roughly 3 decibels lower).

In the field of automotive engines, the upper limit of the number of cylinders depends on technical design and application requirements. Currently, the record for the maximum number of cylinders in mass-produced passenger cars is 18, such as the concept model once launched by Bugatti which adopted this extreme configuration. Such multi-cylinder engines are typically used in supercars pursuing ultimate performance or special-purpose vehicles. Their advantages lie in providing astonishing power output and torque, but they are also accompanied by practical issues such as complex structure, high manufacturing costs, and significant maintenance challenges. For ordinary consumers, daily family cars commonly equipped with 3 to 6-cylinder engines can already balance performance and practicality, while 8 or 12-cylinder engines are mostly found in luxury performance models. It is worth noting that the number of cylinders is not the sole criterion for evaluating engine quality. Modern turbocharging and hybrid technologies can achieve efficient power output with fewer cylinders, so vehicle positioning and personal needs should be comprehensively considered when making a choice.

The V24 engine does exist. It is a piston engine composed of 24 cylinders arranged in a V configuration, typically used in specialized fields such as large industrial equipment or high-performance racing cars. The most famous historical example is the AS.6 engine developed by Fiat in the 1930s for the Macchi-Castoldi M.C.72 racing aircraft. It was actually formed by two AS.5 V12 engines connected in series, with a total displacement exceeding 50 liters and an output of approximately 3100 horsepower. In modern applications, the Jenbacher J624 is a two-stage turbocharged V24 industrial engine with a power output of up to 4507 kilowatts, primarily used in large-scale power generation facilities. Bugatti once developed an innovative V24 configuration with 26 cylinders and 24 pistons, which could deliver 1001 horsepower with twin turbochargers, though it never entered mass production. Due to their complex structure, high cost, and maintenance challenges, such engines are seldom employed in civilian automotive applications and are more prevalent in scenarios demanding extreme performance or specialized requirements. Their design strengths include high power density and compact packaging, but engineers must address challenges like noise control, thermal management, and reliability.