Car engines vary in design, but there are some components that are common to all engines and are used for engine classification. Engines can be classified in several ways such as the number of cylinders, the geometry of the block, or type of ignition system used.
Here are some explanations of the different types of classifications:
Fuel Consumption
The type of fuel burned by an engine provides a broad classification. There are two types of fuel which are generally used: gasoline and diesel oil. Gasoline car engines use spark ignition whereas diesel engines use compression ignition (no spark).
Engine Block GeometryThere are a few types of engine block geometry: V-type, inline, horizontally opposed, slant and W-type. Each refers to the layout of the cylinders as viewed from the front or back of the engine.
A V-type has two angled rows of cylinders, which form a "V." This formation is typically used in V6, V8, V10 and V12 configurations.
An inline engine arranges the cylinders vertically in a row, and is the most common configuration in a 3, 4, 5 or 6 cylinder car engine.
The horizontally opposed engine has the cylinders laid horizontally and opposite each other. This may also be called a Boxer engine, or a flat engine, and is a less common configuration.
A slant design is one row of angled cylinders forming a half "V."
A W-type configuration is composed of two V-type formations side by side.
Number of Cylinders
The number of cylinders is often used in combination with the engine block geometry (V6, slant four, inline four.) A car engine will have between 3 and 12 cylinders. The number of cylinders determines how powerful the engine is. An eight cylinder engine will be more powerful than a four cylinder engine. This is not always the case - depending on the technology in the engine. For example a turbo-charged four cylinder engine can produce more power than a standard six cylinder engine. The greater the number of cylinders in an engine will also indicate how smoothly the car will run as power strokes occur with greater frequency.
Ignition Type
Spark ignition and compression ignition are the two methods used for igniting fuel. Gasoline car engines use spark ignition whereas because diesel is a less combustible fuel, a method of compressing air to the point that a resulting rise in temperature causes ignition to occur with the addition of diesel is used.
Cooling System
Engines can be air-cooled or liquid-cooled. Liquid-cooled engines are the standard with most cars on the road. The early Volkswagen Beetle is an example of a car that is air-cooled, however most modern cars use are liquid-cooled due to strict exhaust emission standards. Liquid-cooled engines have internal channels called water jackets in the cylinder block and cylinder head, through which coolant circulates, removing heat.
Here are some explanations of the different types of classifications:
Fuel Consumption
The type of fuel burned by an engine provides a broad classification. There are two types of fuel which are generally used: gasoline and diesel oil. Gasoline car engines use spark ignition whereas diesel engines use compression ignition (no spark).
Engine Block GeometryThere are a few types of engine block geometry: V-type, inline, horizontally opposed, slant and W-type. Each refers to the layout of the cylinders as viewed from the front or back of the engine.
A V-type has two angled rows of cylinders, which form a "V." This formation is typically used in V6, V8, V10 and V12 configurations.
An inline engine arranges the cylinders vertically in a row, and is the most common configuration in a 3, 4, 5 or 6 cylinder car engine.
The horizontally opposed engine has the cylinders laid horizontally and opposite each other. This may also be called a Boxer engine, or a flat engine, and is a less common configuration.
A slant design is one row of angled cylinders forming a half "V."
A W-type configuration is composed of two V-type formations side by side.
Number of Cylinders
The number of cylinders is often used in combination with the engine block geometry (V6, slant four, inline four.) A car engine will have between 3 and 12 cylinders. The number of cylinders determines how powerful the engine is. An eight cylinder engine will be more powerful than a four cylinder engine. This is not always the case - depending on the technology in the engine. For example a turbo-charged four cylinder engine can produce more power than a standard six cylinder engine. The greater the number of cylinders in an engine will also indicate how smoothly the car will run as power strokes occur with greater frequency.
Ignition Type
Spark ignition and compression ignition are the two methods used for igniting fuel. Gasoline car engines use spark ignition whereas because diesel is a less combustible fuel, a method of compressing air to the point that a resulting rise in temperature causes ignition to occur with the addition of diesel is used.
Cooling System
Engines can be air-cooled or liquid-cooled. Liquid-cooled engines are the standard with most cars on the road. The early Volkswagen Beetle is an example of a car that is air-cooled, however most modern cars use are liquid-cooled due to strict exhaust emission standards. Liquid-cooled engines have internal channels called water jackets in the cylinder block and cylinder head, through which coolant circulates, removing heat.
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