Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Mechanic
The problem with 4 cylinder engines over 2.5 liters is harmoinic oscillations, a rocking motion front to rear caused by the forces created by the first and last cylinders.
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I won't say you're wrong about that, but I have operated vehicles with 4-cylinder engines considerably larger than 2.5 liters. Like for instance the 13.6 liter engine on a D-7 Cat:
TractorData.com Caterpillar D7 tractor information (Which brings back not-so-fond memories of hand-cranking the 2-cylinder gas (IIRC) engine that was used to start the diesel.) Or the (horizontally opposed) O-360 (approx 5.9 l) in my Piper.
But my point was that if you had a 4-cylinder that was objectively better in all respects - HP, torque, fuel economy, price - than an optional V6 or V8, a large fraction of buyers would still go for the V-engine, because they've been conditioned by so much marketing crap to non-think that it's better.