Going to purchase a new car? Wait! There are some things that you need to sort out before making it to the showroom. One very important consideration is deciding which car engine you are going for.
Today we are going to discuss V8 and V6 car engines, which are more common in the market. Which one you should opt for is largely contingent on your personal choice.
Before making this choice, you need to have a basic knowledge of the pros and cons of both. For starters, the V6 engine has six cylinders, while V8 has eight cylinders.
Some Basics
The engine body is an aluminum or cast iron housing one or two rows of cylinders. Some water tubes move through the engine to absorb excess heat and dissipate it through the radiator.
The camshafts hold inlet/outlet valves of pistons inside cylinders, piston rings keep gases in isolation and spark plugs provide initial spark for combustion.
Crucial Differences between V6 and V8 Car Engine
The type you use affects both economy and power, rendering to the speed of the vehicle. Now let us go through some major differences which will affect your choice.
1. History
V8 engines were originally made for use in aircraft in 1904 by a French Engineer. It became more popular in 1932 when Ford introduced it in their Ford Flathead.
Whereas the first V6 was fabricated in 1906. However, it could not make it to production lines until the 1950s. In recent years, however, it has become the most common engine.
2. Power
The power of an engine is mainly measured in horse-powers. To put it simply, an engine’s horsepower is the peak performance it can achieve.
A v8 engine has a number of cylinders; hence it produces more power. This also means it produces more acceleration. It also has the advantage of cylinders arranged transversely, aiding in smooth power transmission.
Consider 3.5L Ford Ecoboost V6, which gives 375 HP whereas Nissan Endurance V8 gives 395 HP.
3. Fuel Economy
The fuel economy depends upon the amount of energy consumed to produce power in one cycle. A V8 has more cylinders; hence it will consume more fuel. It also has more cost than V6.
Under standard conditions, a V6 will always consume less fuel. Consider Nissan Ultima, which gives 32 miles per gallon, whereas Nissan Titan 4WD gives 17.85 miles per gallon.
No matter how much the dealers try to convince you that the V8 engine car they are providing is very efficient, they are bluffing.
If you want to buy a car with high speed and have no cost issues than V8 is the engine you should be going for. A V6 will be preferred by someone who is more focused on the economy.
4. Torque
Torque is an important factor when considering heavy vehicles for rough terrains and hilly areas. The four-wheelers are bought because of their abilities to move around difficult places easily.
In a simple way, an engine’s torque relates to the amount of time required to achieve the maximum speed. So engines with higher torques mean that they will easily move and can carry more loads.
Hence, if you want to have something that can pull heavy objects with ease and good speed, you are going for a vehicle with high torque.
For heavy loads, V8 will provide better performance as it can give higher torques than V6 because of more power.
Controversy
A recent improvement in the V6 car engine has given them enough power to support heavy loads. An example of such improvement is the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox.
This has motivated other four-wheeler companies to go for V6, such as the 2016 Ford explorer and 2016 Honda Pilot.
5. Speed
When considering speed, V6 engines are faster than V8 engines because they have lighter weight. Also, the rotation speed of pistons in a V6 is very high.
However, there is another end to the picture. If you consider a heavyweight applied to the cars, V8 will be slower initially, but its average speed will be higher than the V6.
It is because V8 can provide higher torques hence making it able to pull heavy weights while maintaining high speeds.
6. Infrastructure
The V6 engine has a tough and tight construction. It comes in both 2 liters and 4 liters. It serves as a middle ground between 4 cylinder engines and a V8 and has been used in the rear, front, and both wheel drives.
A drawback is that it has a V shape. Hence for SOHC (single overhead camshaft), it has four shafts, and for DOHC (double overhead camshaft), it has eight shafts rendering it to be heavier.
Recently, car companies have introduced turbo, which enables cars to have more efficiency. The mechanism of the turbo is that it supplies more air, making the process more efficient.
The turbo is not constantly operational and provides energy only when the car needs higher power. Hence, the fuel consumption also becomes more economical.
V8 is more attractive for heavy-duty vehicle as it provides more power. It’s subdivided into two configurations.
Cross-plane crankshaft
This crankshaft displays a cross shape when you view it from one end. In this design, two pairs of shafts are at 180 degrees with respect to one another and 180 degrees with respect to the other pair.
This design provides more balance to the assembly. It has an uneven firing order. These are preferable if you want thrilling sounds in your car.
This design is larger and has more weight. It is due to its design that it has crankpins on two axes.
Flat-plane crank shaft
This design mostly finds its place in racing cars. It has a secondary imbalance; hence it offers more oscillations as opposed to cross-plane crankshafts.
It gives a 180-degree angle in the crankshaft, and it is like a plane surface. It is lighter as compared to cross-plane cranks. The revolution speed of the flat-plane crankshaft is much higher.
The bulk production of the flat-plane crankcase engine is decreasing as the days are moving forward.
7. Companies going for V8 and V6
Mercedes use V6 engines in their E-class and GLK-class. The reason is that it provides a fuel-efficient economical system with luxurious Mercedes experience.
These cars are not large-sized and are not made for heavy load pulling. These are on track cars made with high speeds and lightweight as major considerations.
The Jaguar XJ/LJ plus the Land Rover Range Rover prefer V8 engines. It is because they are four-wheelers and heavy-duty cars. They are suitable for difficult tracks.
Fuel efficiency is not the main consideration in these designs. They are more focused on power.
8. Weight
Another consideration when you are looking for a car is the weight. A lightweight car means higher stability and easy handling, while a heavyweight car gives you a tough time on sharp turns.
A V6 engine has less weight due to less number of cylinders. They offer improved handling and easy turnings around corners. A V8 lacks this aspect.
9. Cost
The V6 engine is more economical as compared to the V8 while giving almost the same amount of power. Consider the example of an Infiniti Q60. It has a twin-turbocharged V6 engine that comes with a 3 liters capacity.
The infinite Q60 can get up to 400 HPs and 474-newton meters of torque. It offers power close to V8 engines too.
10. Maintenance
Generally, V6 requires less maintenance, and when it is required, the cost is comparatively lower. The main reason behind this is fewer parts involved in a V6 engine.
If you are a lazy person with a nominal budget who has no power issues, you should prefer a V6 over a V8.
11. Space
V8 engine vehicles such as SUVs, trucks, and vans often come with more space than their V6 counter options.
With a V8 engine, you can manage to carry more of your stuff than a V6, and it also accommodates more people, so if your circumstances compel you to buy a good bagging vehicle than you should go for V8.
12. Sound
Heavy V8 engines offer a better sound than a V6 engine. When you push the accelerating pedal, a V8 gives a thrilling, loud, and roaring noise, which has a satisfaction in itself.
If you are a sound lover and consider sound as an important aspect in a vehicle, then you can go for a V8.
Final Thoughts
There are a lot of important factors that count when choosing between a V6 and a V8. Some important ones include your personal choice, your budget, and your lifestyle.
You must be well aware of your priorities before you make a choice. If you have to manage a workplace supply or carry a lot of things around, V8 should be your choice.
If you consider speed, flexibility, and economy to be of prime importance than you can go for V6 engines.
I have tried my best to cover the maximum aspects of this article and hope that it has covered all your concerns.