3-cylinder engine: better or worse? Come and find out with us
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2025 8:48 am
Whether you are a mechanic, a rectifier, an applicator or you simply follow the news and developments in the automotive sector, the truth is that you have surely heard of the 3-cylinder engine. This technology, which still divides the opinions of some specialists, is almost mandatory among compact vehicles recently launched on the market. That is why, in today's article, we are going to better understand how this machine works. Come with RIO!
What changes with the 3 cylinder engine anyway?
To get straight to the point, the 3-cylinder engine is a trend that finland phone number list become established in recent years among car manufacturers around the world. This practice, also known as downsizing, consists of reducing the size of the engine to improve the efficiency of the vehicle.
The core idea is to maintain power, torque and throttle response even with one less cylinder in the equation. However, it should be noted that this has nothing to do with building “miniature engines.” In fact, the concept is more related to developing an engine capable of delivering more performance with less weight and lower fuel consumption.
Just do the math: if less fuel is burned, the emission of pollutants decreases, as does the consumption of gasoline, alcohol and the like. In addition, this type of engine, with its more modern reorganisation, offers other advantages that are perceived throughout the life of the vehicle.
In other words, a mechanics that offers a clear reduction in overall weight and internal friction, which is great. All very fascinating and innovative, it is true. But in all this scenario, what about performance? After all, a 3-cylinder engine is incapable of offering the performance and speed of a 4-cylinder engine, right? Well, it is not! We will understand this better in the next topic.
Understand the benefits of this technology
In good Portuguese, the idea of creating an engine without the 4 standard cylinders is to put into circulation a vehicle that “drinks” less fuel. Just do the math: if less fuel is burned, the emission of pollutants decreases, as does the consumption of gasoline, alcohol and the like.
In addition, the 3-cylinder engine also has a lower production cost, since this technology reduces the number of pistons, piston rings, connecting rods, valves and springs in each vehicle. And to make the official proof, here are some of the main advantages of this downsizing trend:
Lighter engines
By being more compact and using less materials, the 3-cylinder engine also manages to be lighter than an equivalent four-cylinder engine. To give you an idea, that's a difference of up to 30 kilos.
This directly affects the final weight of the vehicle, as well as benefiting a number of other points, such as maintenance in the workshop and relieving stress on the front suspension.
More efficiency and performance
As we mentioned earlier, another highlight of the 3-cylinder engine is its overall efficiency. Whether in fuel consumption or polluting emissions, the fact is that this technology has proven to be more environmentally responsible than its counterpart.
This is made possible by changes in the shape of the combustion chamber and piston heads, which results in lower losses through the exhaust system. In addition, they often use variable valve timing, a technology that improves the way gases enter and exit the chamber.
Less friction on components
Did you know that in a 4-cylinder engine, much of the power generated by combustion is used solely to combat friction between moving parts? By reducing the number of moving parts, friction is also reduced and the vehicle achieves superior performance.
What changes with the 3 cylinder engine anyway?
To get straight to the point, the 3-cylinder engine is a trend that finland phone number list become established in recent years among car manufacturers around the world. This practice, also known as downsizing, consists of reducing the size of the engine to improve the efficiency of the vehicle.
The core idea is to maintain power, torque and throttle response even with one less cylinder in the equation. However, it should be noted that this has nothing to do with building “miniature engines.” In fact, the concept is more related to developing an engine capable of delivering more performance with less weight and lower fuel consumption.
Just do the math: if less fuel is burned, the emission of pollutants decreases, as does the consumption of gasoline, alcohol and the like. In addition, this type of engine, with its more modern reorganisation, offers other advantages that are perceived throughout the life of the vehicle.
In other words, a mechanics that offers a clear reduction in overall weight and internal friction, which is great. All very fascinating and innovative, it is true. But in all this scenario, what about performance? After all, a 3-cylinder engine is incapable of offering the performance and speed of a 4-cylinder engine, right? Well, it is not! We will understand this better in the next topic.
Understand the benefits of this technology
In good Portuguese, the idea of creating an engine without the 4 standard cylinders is to put into circulation a vehicle that “drinks” less fuel. Just do the math: if less fuel is burned, the emission of pollutants decreases, as does the consumption of gasoline, alcohol and the like.
In addition, the 3-cylinder engine also has a lower production cost, since this technology reduces the number of pistons, piston rings, connecting rods, valves and springs in each vehicle. And to make the official proof, here are some of the main advantages of this downsizing trend:
Lighter engines
By being more compact and using less materials, the 3-cylinder engine also manages to be lighter than an equivalent four-cylinder engine. To give you an idea, that's a difference of up to 30 kilos.
This directly affects the final weight of the vehicle, as well as benefiting a number of other points, such as maintenance in the workshop and relieving stress on the front suspension.
More efficiency and performance
As we mentioned earlier, another highlight of the 3-cylinder engine is its overall efficiency. Whether in fuel consumption or polluting emissions, the fact is that this technology has proven to be more environmentally responsible than its counterpart.
This is made possible by changes in the shape of the combustion chamber and piston heads, which results in lower losses through the exhaust system. In addition, they often use variable valve timing, a technology that improves the way gases enter and exit the chamber.
Less friction on components
Did you know that in a 4-cylinder engine, much of the power generated by combustion is used solely to combat friction between moving parts? By reducing the number of moving parts, friction is also reduced and the vehicle achieves superior performance.