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An inline 5 is much smoother (less vibration) than a 4, yet smaller than a 6 - this allows it to be mounted transversely in the engine bay when a 6 would be too long, among other benefits. V engines like V6s and V8s are different btw.
So many people close to the answer, but nobody takes the points !!
The simple reason is that a 5 cylinder is physically smaller than a 6 cylinder, and because of the design, a piston is on a power stroke something like every 144º.
Thus, on every rotation of the engine, there is always one cylinder on a power stroke.
Therefore the power is much easier to transmit out.
It gives more power than a straight 6, but is comparable in economy to a 4.
Henry Ford had messed about with a 5 cylinder way back in the 20's or 30's, but it was for a small car which he decided there wasn't a market for a small car.
So many people close to the answer, but nobody takes the points !!
The simple reason is that a 5 cylinder is physically smaller than a 6 cylinder
Not necessarily. In fact they're more difficult to package than a comparable V6 because the block is longer.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bobman
and because of the design, a piston is on a power stroke something like every 144º.
Thus, on every rotation of the engine, there is always one cylinder on a power stroke.
Same for a 4-cylinder -- twice per revolution in fact.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bobman
Therefore the power is much easier to transmit out.
Not necessarily.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bobman
It gives more power than a straight 6
All else being equal... no it doesn't
Quote:
Originally Posted by bobman
but is comparable in economy to a 4
Possibly.
There's really one primary purpose of a 5-cylinder: to split the difference between the power and smoothness of a 6-cylinder and the fuel economy of a 4-cylinder. Any more it's hardly a difference worth splitting which is why there so few manufacturers still using them. Volvo, Volkswagen/Audi, GM in a handful of compact trucks... that's about it.
I'll still take the straight 6, 4.0 in my 91 Wrangler any day of the week though.
Meh...I guess it depends on what I'm up to. lol
I've heard great things about the straight 6, 4.0 that u mention. People claim that it's damn near bullet proof. What makes this engine so great? I'm thinking about getting an early 90's Cherokee with the same engine and using it as a winter beater.
I've heard great things about the straight 6, 4.0 that u mention. People claim that it's damn near bullet proof. What makes this engine so great? I'm thinking about getting an early 90's Cherokee with the same engine and using it as a winter beater.
My sister had a 1981 Mercury Capri with the turtle slow Ford 200 CID inline 6 cylinder. She hated the car because of how slow it was and that everything on the car broke (except the engine). In fact, her future husband hated it so much he intentionally drove it hard to try to brake the engine. Never could even though he accidentally blew the engine of an Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme (the one made like a Chevelle). She didn't realize the value of such an engine until her next car, an Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais Quad4. Her husband was regularly replacing the head gaskets.
The main purpose of a 5-cylinder is to provide more power/torque than a 4-cylinder with better fuel economy than a V6, essentially splitting the difference.
I don't think it matters if there is an odd number of pistons turning the crank since they just go up and down.
My wife's '09 Jetta has a 5 cylinder, seems to run smooth except when you start it cold it seems kind of noisy.
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