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Old 07-20-2021, 11:39 PM   #50 (permalink)
Isaac Zachary
High Altitude Hybrid
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Gunnison, CO
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Avalon - '13 Toyota Avalon HV
90 day: 40.45 mpg (US)

Prius - '06 Toyota Prius
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr View Post

Sometimes the weight and physical volume difference between a thumper and some other engine with more cylinders, both ranging within the very same displacement, turns out to not be so much more favorable to the engine with fewer cylinders.
Yes, a single cylinder engine could end up weighing more or being bigger than a multi-cylinder engine of the same displacement.

The benefit is that for the same displacement in a single cylinder engine you have less ring/piston wall area so less friction. You also have less combustion chamber surface area, so less heat rejection.

Of course the downside is vibration. A single piston engine would be terribly unbalanced. It would also get a power stroke once every 720⁰ making it even more shaky. So this limits speed (and longevity) and also limits power.
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Last edited by Isaac Zachary; 07-21-2021 at 12:32 AM..
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