The most common type of six-cylinder engine in passenger vehicles is a V6. Due to their compact size, V6 engines are frequently subject to turbocharging or supercharging. After all, they allow enough space in the engine compartment for the installation of subsequent optional equipment. V6 engines are often considered a compromise between low-cost, low-powered 4-cylinder engines and inefficient, heavy V8 engines.
While the V6 has many practical applications, it comes with a fair share of disadvantages. When it comes to fuel economy, a three-cylinder or four-cylinder engine is more practical. The V6's compact size also limits its potential for power when automakers prefer not to use turbochargers. High-end sports cars still prefer engines with 8 or more cylinders to generate more power.
As part of a general progression toward engines that produced even greater power, Marmon Motor Company built first a V2, then a V4, V6, V8, and finally a V16. After GM included V6 engines in its pickup trucks in 1959, the Buick LeSabre became the first American production car to use a V6 engine in 1962.
Here are 15 other facts that most people don't know about V6 engines.
15 Marmon Motor Car Company First Used Them
V6 Engines were first used by the Marmon Motor Car Company in the early 1900s. While they were one of the earliest pioneers of V6 engines, they built a series of larger engines in rapid succession. The V6 was the third type of engine the Marmon Motor Company built, following the V2 and V4. The V8 and V16 came soon after the V6.
14 They're Measured By The Angles Of Opposing Cylinders
V6 Engines, like all of the V engines, are measured by the angles of their opposing cylinders. Basically, a common crankshaft is driven by six cylinders, hence the V6 name. Also, the V6 uses a single crankcase with two banks of cylinders attached. While a 90-degree mount is common among many V6 engines, other V6 engines prefer a more acute angle for a more compact design.
13 V6 and V8 Engines Take Up The Same Space
V6 and V8 engines are 90-degree engines, and therefore, they take up the same space and weigh roughly the same. The difference is that the V6 requires a balance shaft and split-pin crankshaft. Superchargers can increase horsepower and torque if required. With a V6 engine, the modularity that makes the engine inexpensive and easily constructed also make it heavy and long.
12 They Leave Room For Variation
V6 engines, as mentioned earlier, can have several variations among them. The angle of the mount is one category that allows room for variation. Turbochargers are another category, as the space left by the V6's compact design opens the door for forced induction. Further, front-wheel drive setups can also utilize a V6 as a powertrain, giving car companies the option to introduce a 'performance variant' on a four-cylinder car without sacrificing any other key features.
11 Their Fuel Efficiency Makes Them Popular
V6 Engines are also efficient with fuel usage, resulting in widespread, practical usage from many drivers. When new federal standards required automakers to increase the fuel efficiency of their fleets, they responded by replacing V8s with the smaller V6 in many models. The V6's smaller size contributes to better fuel economy, allowing them to catch on and find a place in the market.
10 Oil-Spray Cooled Pistons Increase Power
Oil-spray cooled pistons can increase a V6's power, as the crankshaft is manufactured from forged steel connecting rods are constructed from powdered metal with a higher ratio of copper, increasing strength while decreasing weight. When pressure-actuated oil squirters are installed, the jets reduce piston temperature, allowing the engine to generate more power without sacrificing durability.
9 Quiet Power Is Their Specialty
The V6s are all about quiet power. Their four-cylinder counterparts feature straight or inline configurations, as opposed to the V6's more compact "V" shape. This quiet power attracted V6 engines to American automakers, quickly becoming their preferred engine. However, turbocharging technologies allowed four-cylinder engines to become more appealing by compensating for less power.
8 Jaguar Turned One Of Its Engines Into A V6
The Jaguar once converted an existing engine into a V6. The Jaguar has only designed four engines in the past century. One of those, the AJ-V8, varies in size and can be used in many vehicles, such as the Aston Martin V8. Jaguar opted to transform the AJ-V8 into a V6 for construction of the F-Type instead of using the new AJ-V6 engine from the S-Type.
7 Its Compact Size Helps When Designing A New Car
Because the V6 is so compact, it's often considered when auto industries design a new car. Despite its width being greater than that of an inline engine, a V6 is only three cylinders long, and shorter than an inline-4 cylinder engine. When multiple engines will be offered during new car design, they need to be mounted in the same amount of space.
6 Buick Also Turned A V8 Into A V6
Although Jaguar turned an existing engine into a V6, they weren't the only ones to do so, as Buick then followed suit. As a result of a financial crunch from an oil crisis, Buick converted its V8 into a V6. The final product was the turbocharged 3800 engine found in the Grand National. That said, while the two engines are derived from the same base, they bear little resemblance to each other.
5 It's The Most Common Six-Cylinder Configuration
While several six-cylinder engines exist, a V6 is the most common, with its compact space and v-shaped design. After all, a six-cylinder engine can come in a variety of alternative configurations, including a flat-six that features two rows of three cylinders side by side. Another option is a straight-six with all cylinders are lined up in a single row.
4 Repair Is More Difficult Because It's Mechanically Complex
A V6's mechanical complexity makes repair increasingly difficult and somewhat complicated. More parts mean more connections, as well as more ways an engine can break down or become damaged. The V6's greater complexity as a result of being imbalanced during operation, whereas inline-4 and V8 engines are more balanced.
3 They're Ideal When Power Beats Efficiency
Although the automotive industry has seen a recent resurgence in four-cylinder engines, V6 engines still have their uses beyond standard performance cars. The V6 generates enough power for trucks hauling trailers or other loads. In situations like those, power becomes essential and is desired more than efficiency is.
2 Aston Martin’s V12 Was Birthed From Ford’s V6
Jaguar opted away from using the Ford Duratec V6 in its F-Type, so Aston Martin decided to experiment on the V6. They ultimately doubled the cylinder count to make its famous V12. Aston Martin chose this particular V6 engine as source material, because the Ford Duratec V6 had a strong history of quality, even before it became a Ford Engine, as it was originally a joint effort between Mazda and Suzuki.
1 V6 Engines Power Several Types Of Cars
V6 Engines are fairly versatile and universal because they can be used in several types of cars. Keep in mind that Jaguar and Buick were able to modify their existing engines to become V6s, while Aston Martin did the reverse by taking an existing V6 to create a new variation. After Buick used a V6 engine in the 1962 LeSabre, Nissan decided to produce V6 engines to power its sedans, Z-series sports cars, and racing models.
Sources: cars.usnews.com, driving.ca, itstillruns.com, gmauthority.com, carthrottle.com