The Big List of Favorite Engines

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Originally Posted By: cadfaeltex
This link got me thinking... http://editorial.autos.msn.com/blogs/autosblogpost.aspx?post=ed9a40d9-bd79-4257-b243-275fd6eb5068
Sorry, I just wanted to comment on the article itself. Looks like the author is scratching his head as to why MB is moving from V6 to I6. I kind of am too. I can't imagine them really being able to monetize on the fact that there is an I6 instead of a V6 under the hood. An average MB buyer/owner just does not care, IMO. Maybe I'm wrong. Besides, their current V6 plants work and sound pretty good. I might like the sound of the I6 at higher RPMs in my 530i a little more than the V6 in my wife's C300, but again, an average buyer will most likely not care. The one negative about MB's current V6 engines is that they deliver poor fuel economy, and hopefully MB will address that aspect as they redesign their engine portfolio.
 
The 3.0 V-6 in my wife`s 06 C-280, is the same displacement as her old 1996 C-280 inline six cylinder. And I can tell you first hand that the six she has now runs ring`s around the inline motor. Much faster (although she doesnt care about that) and peppier.
 
Most fun: In my experience the LT4 is the most fun engine I have had the honor to own and operate. It is smooth, powerful, makes overtly awesome sounds, revs like no small block Chevy before it, and bottom line, puts a big grin on my face every time I drive it.
 
I've always loved I-6 engines for some reason. They are smoooootttthhhh, and seem to generate a lot of power, whether it be torque (Jeep 4.0L) or Horsepower (Vortec 4200).
 
Most Economical Engine: 12-valve Cummins in First-Gen Dodge Ram diesels. The 24-valvers were never as economical.
 
Smoothest Engine: I6's are great because they are the simplest type of engine that have perfect primary and secondary balance. 90-degree V8's with two-plane cranks can achieve secondary balance with proper counterweight design. V12's also have perfect balance and have cachet that motor-heads appreciate. V16's get too complex, big, and heavy for me.
 
Easiest Engine to Work On: Chevy Vega. They had to be. I once changed a cam belt on an exit ramp off I69 in Michigan in about 20 minutes. I could change the starter in 10 minutes without getting under the car. The oil filter could also be changed from above the engine. I adjusted the valves once in the 5 years I owned it.
 
Originally Posted By: A_Harman
Smoothest Engine: I6's are great because they are the simplest type of engine that have perfect primary and secondary balance. 90-degree V8's with two-plane cranks can achieve secondary balance with proper counterweight design. V12's also have perfect balance and have cachet that motor-heads appreciate. V16's get too complex, big, and heavy for me.
I guess I have the best of both worlds; my Jag slant six is desgined (to some degree) to be just half the v12. The heads are shared for instance.
 
Best Sounding Engine: Rolls-Royce Merlin on High Supercharge. Honorable Mention: Honda F1 V10 from the 2000 season. Wicked enough to be scary, but not shrill enough to be annoying.
 
Most Fun Engine: Has to be the LS1 in my Camaro. In terms of smiles per dollar and maintenance hours invested, I am totally satisfied. It's better than sex.
 
Originally Posted By: A_Harman
Most Fun Engine: Has to be the LS1 in my Camaro. In terms of smiles per dollar and maintenance hours invested, I am totally satisfied. It's better than sex.
TMI wink
 
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Most Powerful Engine: In tractor pulling, they have 2-stage turbocharged, alcohol-fueled International DT466's. Originally they made 200hp. Modified, they make 4000hp.
 
Nothing else is as smooth as an I6, flat-6, or a V12, nothing SOUNDS as good as a 90-degree crank v8 (either common firing order sounds good). Nothing vibrates worse than a flat-crank v8. ;-)
 
most durable engine http://atc90.tripod.com/hondaatc90/id17.html they later made a 110cc version and even a CDI 110cc version. the engine was such a great design that when the patent expired EVERYONE made a copy, not just cheap Chinese companies but other Japanese companies like Yamaha. I have first hand experience with this engine and can say its easily the most reliable i have ddealed with. it would always get you home. They even used them for racing waay back in the late 70s, some even having 190cc strokers. I myself have a 125cc, 10.5:1 with race cam and carb engine from honda. mine is the later CDI model (1984) or otherwise i could have gone alot bigger. they sure are fun
 
Originally Posted By: A_Harman
Most Fun Engine: Has to be the LS1 in my Camaro. In terms of smiles per dollar and maintenance hours invested, I am totally satisfied. It's better than sex...
...with Rosanne Barr. I kid grin
 
Originally Posted By: mechanicx
Originally Posted By: A_Harman
Most Fun Engine: Has to be the LS1 in my Camaro. In terms of smiles per dollar and maintenance hours invested, I am totally satisfied. It's better than sex...
...with Rosanne Barr. I kid grin
Image damaging brain. Full frontal lobtomy stat!
 
Originally Posted By: cadfaeltex
Originally Posted By: A_Harman
Smoothest Engine: I6's are great because they are the simplest type of engine that have perfect primary and secondary balance. 90-degree V8's with two-plane cranks can achieve secondary balance with proper counterweight design. V12's also have perfect balance and have cachet that motor-heads appreciate. V16's get too complex, big, and heavy for me.
I guess I have the best of both worlds; my Jag slant six is desgined (to some degree) to be just half the v12. The heads are shared for instance.
I've read that a lot, but it's just not true .... There is no commonality that I can think of between the heads for any Jaguar I6 and the V12. The six is a DOHC 4 valver, and the 12 is a SOHC two valver. Jaguar rejected DOHC 4 valve heads for the V12 on the basis that the extra performance was not worth the additional size and weight on an already massive engine. The Jaguar V12 was originally designed to be an ultra smooth engine for limo type transport in their big saloon cars. The V12 is just a different animal, pardon the pun, from any of their other engines. AS much as I like the Jaguar inline sixes, and the V12, I think the best all around engine I have ever had the pleasure of owning has to be the GM Powertrain LS1,pushrods and all .....
 
Originally Posted By: Win
Originally Posted By: cadfaeltex
Originally Posted By: A_Harman
Smoothest Engine: I6's are great because they are the simplest type of engine that have perfect primary and secondary balance. 90-degree V8's with two-plane cranks can achieve secondary balance with proper counterweight design. V12's also have perfect balance and have cachet that motor-heads appreciate. V16's get too complex, big, and heavy for me.
I guess I have the best of both worlds; my Jag slant six is desgined (to some degree) to be just half the v12. The heads are shared for instance.
I've read that a lot, but it's just not true .... There is no commonality that I can think of between the heads for any Jaguar I6 and the V12. The six is a DOHC 4 valver, and the 12 is a SOHC two valver. Jaguar rejected DOHC 4 valve heads for the V12 on the basis that the extra performance was not worth the additional size and weight on an already massive engine. The Jaguar V12 was originally designed to be an ultra smooth engine for limo type transport in their big saloon cars. The V12 is just a different animal, pardon the pun, from any of their other engines. AS much as I like the Jaguar inline sixes, and the V12, I think the best all around engine I have ever had the pleasure of owning has to be the GM Powertrain LS1,pushrods and all .....
I could be wrong about the head. I've been investigating the engine since I got it but can't readily lay hold of the section where I got this idea. My recollection was that it was a cost saving measure to use the head off the V12 on the new AJ6 straight six leading to some compromises include stud placement for the head. But as I said, I can't remember where i got that idea - maybe from wikipedia so who knows if it was even accurate.
 
Best engine for heavy modifications straight from the factory: the 03-04 Cobra WAP SC 4.6 iron block Modular. Although my current dream is to stuff the WAP internals into a Teksid block.
 
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