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Old Sep 30, 2006 | 10:22 AM
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Default Engines: W vs. V

Just curious why doesnt Lexus and other companies use a W8 instead of the V8?
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Old Sep 30, 2006 | 10:45 AM
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How are you going to get 3 equal banks of cylinder when you only have 8cyl??

a W16 is okay because you can have three banks of 8 cyl, and that block would be shorter than a V16.

Maybe a W9 would be okay
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Old Sep 30, 2006 | 11:13 AM
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Originally Posted by GSteg
How are you going to get 3 equal banks of cylinder when you only have 8cyl??

a W16 is okay because you can have three banks of 8 cyl, and that block would be shorter than a V16.
Um, doesn't 3x8 = 24?

Maybe a W9 would be okay
I don't think it works that way. The W engine is essentially two V engines side by side. On a V engine you have odd/even cylinders interleaved controlled by 1, 2, or 4 cams typically. I think in the W engine the 'peak in the middle' of the W is the common cam of both V's if that makes sense.

A W8 isn't possible though because each 4 cylinder engine is inline, not a 'V' engine.

VW does the W12 engine because its development is fairly cheap (it's Siamese V6's joined at the hip ) plus it may have some packaging advantages over a looooong V12.
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Old Sep 30, 2006 | 11:20 AM
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damn if only i had a cut-off picture of a W- engine
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Old Sep 30, 2006 | 11:29 AM
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Originally Posted by GSteg
damn if only i had a cut-off picture of a W- engine
http://www.autozine.org/technical_sc..._packaging.htm
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Old Sep 30, 2006 | 11:33 AM
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Because "V" engine are already complicated and pain in the *** to work on, as compared to "Inline" and "Straight" engines. The only advantage of a "V" engine is that its more compact when compared to "Straight" and "Inline", so when it comes to 8-12 cylinders you're pretty much stuck with "V" configuration. And the only time when "W" configuration is necessary is if you have 16+ cylinders.
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Old Sep 30, 2006 | 11:37 AM
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Technically that VW motor isnt a "W12", its two "VR6" combined. A true "W" engine would have three banks of four cylinders.
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Old Sep 30, 2006 | 08:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Och
Technically that VW motor isnt a "W12", its two "VR6" combined. A true "W" engine would have three banks of four cylinders.
I don't think so. The cylinders are at the bottom 'valleys' of the W, not the tops. The connecting rods are the lines of the W and the cams at the top. An "M" configuration might have 3 banks of cylinders.
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Old Sep 30, 2006 | 09:27 PM
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Originally Posted by bitkahuna
Um, doesn't 3x8 = 24?


I don't think it works that way. The W engine is essentially two V engines side by side. On a V engine you have odd/even cylinders interleaved controlled by 1, 2, or 4 cams typically. I think in the W engine the 'peak in the middle' of the W is the common cam of both V's if that makes sense.

A W8 isn't possible though because each 4 cylinder engine is inline, not a 'V' engine.

VW does the W12 engine because its development is fairly cheap (it's Siamese V6's joined at the hip ) plus it may have some packaging advantages over a looooong V12.
I may be mistaken, but didn't the Passat have a W8 a while ago?
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Old Sep 30, 2006 | 10:09 PM
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Yea there was a Passat W8 for about a year or two, but didnt sell to well. I believe the cylinders were built on top of one another. I remember them saying the W engines were actually more compact than their V engines.
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Old Sep 30, 2006 | 10:10 PM
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Old Sep 30, 2006 | 10:24 PM
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Originally Posted by RX_330
I may be mistaken, but didn't the Passat have a W8 a while ago?
Forgot about that, you're right! Good one.

And a few cars have had V4's so the W8 is made from two V4's sharing the middle crankshaft.

Some great articles I found:

http://www.autozine.org/technical_sc...ne/smooth5.htm
http://www.autozine.org/technical_sc..._packaging.htm
http://www.answers.com/topic/w8-engine
http://www.answers.com/topic/v4-engine
http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/car-reviews...8-2004886.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W8_engine
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Old Oct 1, 2006 | 06:38 AM
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looks like you have a lot of unnecessary weight and bulk metal because of the configuration of the W engine, must be a pain to work on also
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Old Oct 1, 2006 | 07:39 PM
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Looks like its an excuse to make something overly complicated. Sounds like a German idea
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Old Oct 1, 2006 | 09:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Bean
Looks like its an excuse to make something overly complicated. Sounds like a German idea
That's just silly. That's just like saying Toyota's quad cam V8 design is just an excuse to make something overly complicated.
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