The V-type of engine has two rows of cylinders at an angle usually of 90 degrees. The working of a V engine is similar to that of a flat engine except the angle. Different angles of a v-type engine gives rise to different levels of smoothness.
Some steep angles of the engine combines the advantages of V and flat engines and also the disadvantages. Its advantages are its short length, the great rigidity of the block, its heavy crankshaft, and attractive low profile (for a car with a low hood).
Since it is short, it is compact and can be mounted easily. It is desirable in a vehicle with a small hood since the engine can be fit without negotiating passenger space. This engine lends itself to very high compression ratios without block distortion under load, resistance to torsional vibration. In-line engines have cylinders arranged, one after the other, in a straight line. Overall, V type engines are better and more powerful.
Usage
V engines are both used in cars and motorcycles. It is a highly preferred one in motorcycles due to its compactness.
Types
V2 (V-twin): Has two cylinders mounted in a ‘V’ shape. Most of The V-twin connecting rods share the same crank-pin. The cylinders can either be off-set in two different planes or can be set in the same plane using the ‘fork and knife’ connecting rods.
V4: V4 has been used in vehicles very less compared to the other V engines. The only advantage it has is that it is small in size and still can produce 140 horse power.
V6: The V6 has 6 cylinders, three of them joining the other three at a right angle or an acute angle. Like all V engines, all the pistons rotate the same crankshaft. It is a commonly used basic configuration of engines in modern cars after straight-4.
V8: A V8 can be defined as two sets of straight-4 cylinders acting on the same crankshaft. They produce more power compared to a V6, but has the disadvantages of being costly and consumptive on fuel.
V10: A V10 is two straight-five engines coupled together. V12 is slightly more complicated and runs more smoothly, while a V8 is less complex and more economical. V10 is not found much in common purpose in cars, but highly used in F1 racing.
The other V engines are V10, V12, V14, V16, V18, V20 and V24 as of today, where the number after ‘V’ indicates the number of cylinders.