When they think about car servicing in Perth, many drivers don’t pay much attention to the finer details of their engine. This is understandable after all, most people are too busy to get involved in mechanical issues, and that’s why you get a regular professional car service. However, it’s worth mentioning that many new cars now have a three-cylinder setup and this can have a dramatic effect on how the engine works and how it’s serviced.
Harmony in Symmetry
As a rule of thumb, it’s a great idea to buy or install things in matching pairs. This is true in home decorating, buying shoes and of course installing parts in your car. This is because when things have to work together, the symmetry of pairing things works better from an aesthetic and engineering perspective. Now, most cars in the past and today are fitted with cylinders in pairs so that you will get a four or six cylinder engine. This has the advantage of balance; the cylinders are working well together because they are designed to work in pairs. However, certain new cars are now fitted with three cylinders, and this does fundamentally change how they work together. After all, the physical balance is no longer present, and in the past, the balance of cylinders has been a key factor in producing a smoother ride.
What is a Cylinder?
The cylinder in your engine contains a snugly fitting piston or a shorter cylinder that moves up and down to compress gas and create power for your vehicle. If you want a decent amount of acceleration and power, typically more cylinders are better. This is why a muscle or sports cars will typically have larger V6 or V8 engines. The number after the V is the number of pistons in the engine. A typical family car will have four cylinders, but you may get six on a larger executive class luxury wagon or certain SUVs. However, if you’re more interested in a fuel-efficient drive, a three-cylinder engine is certainly an attractive proposition.
Three Cylinder Engines
A minimal three-cylinder engine will give you better fuel efficiency, especially if the majority of your driving is urban or suburban. When you drive a car with three cylinders, there will be two out of the three cylinders moving at any one time. This gives your driving with an engine that has an inherently unbalanced gait. In the past, this type of engine would be typically used in vehicles, such as motorcycles, tractors, snowmobile, and even trains. In these types of vehicles, the inherent weight or relevant mass of the vehicle would offset the uneven beat of a three-cylinder engine.
So, why are car manufacturers returning to this style of engine for their cars? Well, advances in engine technology, turbocharging and the reduction in weight are all making this type of engine a viable choice for smaller fuel-efficient cars. It is also an attractive trait that less raw materials are required when making the engine, leading to overall savings for the manufacturers. This can also flow through to consumers when servicing their engines, with fewer parts being exposed to wear and tear, we’d expect lower costs associated with replacement.
