Straight Engine

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2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about

3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Straight Engine? Wrong! If the Straight Engine is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.

4. Questions - Got a question about Straight Engine then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....

5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Straight Engine? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Straight Engine and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.

6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Straight Engine wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.

7. Feedback - happy with your Straight Engine then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.

8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Straight Engine site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site

9. Contact - got a question about Straight Engine, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.

10. Payment - ready to pay for your Straight Engine, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.

Usually found in 4- and 6-cylinder (engine) configurations, the straight engine (often designated inline engines) is an internal-combustion engine with all cylinders aligned in one row, with no or only minimal offset.

A straight engine is considerably easier to build than an otherwise equivalent Flat engine or V engine because the cylinder bank can be milled from a single metal casting and it requires fewer cylinder heads and camshafts. In-line engines are also much smaller in volume than designs like the radial engine, and can be mounted in any direction. Straight configurations are simpler than their V-shaped counterparts. Although six-cylinder engines are inherently balanced, the four-cylinder models are inherently off balance and rough, unlike 90 degree V fours and horizontally opposed 'boxer' 4 cylinders.

Automobile use The straight-4 is by far the most common 4-cylinder configuration, whereas the straight-6 has largely given way to the V6, which although not as naturally smooth-running is smaller in both length and height and easier to fit into the engine bay of smaller modern cars. Some manufacturers, notably Acura, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, VW and Volvo Cars, have also used straight-5 configurations. The General Motors Corporation GM Atlas engine family includes straight-4, straight-5, and straight-6 engines.

Once, the straight-8 was the prestige engine arrangement; it could be made more cheaply than a V-engine by luxury car makers, who would focus on other specifics than the geometric ones, and even built engines more powerful than any V-8. In the 1930s, Duesenberg used an aluminium block with four valves per cylinder and hemispherical heads to produce the most powerful engine on the market. It was thus a selling point for Pontiac to introduce the Pontiac Straight-8 engine in 1933. But following the Second World War, even the simple technology of overhead valves was not applied to the straight-8 blocks but only to V-engines, which were comparatively lighter.

Many manufacturers mount straight engines at an angle from the vertical, referring to them as slant engines. Chrysler Corporation's famous Chrysler Slant 6 engine was used in many models in the 1960s and 1970s. Honda also often mounts their straight-4 and straight-5 engines at a slant, as on the Honda S2000 and Acura Vigor. SAAB first used an inline-4 tilted at 45 degrees for the Saab 99, but later versions of the engine were less tilted.

Two main factors have led to the recent decline of the straight-6 in automotive applications. Lanchester balance shafts, an old idea reintroduced by Mitsubishi in the 1980s to overcome the natural harshness of the straight-4 engine and rapidly adopted by many other manufacturers, have made both straight-4 and V-6 engines much more refined than used to be the case. The inherent smoothness of the straight-6 is no longer as great an advantage as it used to be. Secondly, at around the same time, fuel consumption became a much more important factor. Cars became smaller and much more space-efficient. The engine bay of a modern small or medium car, typically designed for a straight-4, often does not have room for a straight-6, but can fit a V-6 with only minor modifications. Conversely, if the car is designed to have enough room for a straight-6, the 4-cylinder version of the same car will have wasted space and, all else being equal, cost a little more to manufacture and use more fuel.

Some manufacturers (originally Lancia, and more recently Volkswagen with the VR6) have attempted to combine advantages of the straight and V configurations by producing a narrow-angle V; this is more compact than either configuration, but is less smooth (without balancing) than either.

Straight-6 engines can still be found in passenger vehicles like the Australian Ford Falcon (Australia), some entry-level Lexus models, the Toyota Land Cruiser, and BMW 6-cylinder models.

Aviation, bus and rail use Renault produced an inverted air-cooled Straight-6 for airplanes, this was used on the Stampe. A similar design was the de Havilland Gipsy series of engines, used on the Tiger Moth and other aircraft. Advantages include improved visibility for the pilot in single engined craft, and lower center of gravity.

Engines of this type in some buses and trains have been built in a horizontal form. This differs from a flat engine because it is essentially an inline engine laid on its side. Underfloor engines for buses and Diesel multiple units are commonly seen in this design. Such engines may be based on a conventional upright engine with alterations to make it suitable for horizontal mounting.

Automotive, aircraft and marine use

Straight-twin
Straight-3
Straight-4
Straight-5
Straight-6
Straight-8
Straight-9
Straight-10
Straight-12
Straight-14
Straight-24

See also

Usually found in 4- and 6-cylinder (engine) configurations, the straight engine (often designated inline engines) is an internal-combustion engine with all cylinders aligned in one row, with no or only minimal offset.

A straight engine is considerably easier to build than an otherwise equivalent Flat engine or V engine because the cylinder bank can be milled from a single metal casting and it requires fewer cylinder heads and camshafts. In-line engines are also much smaller in volume than designs like the radial engine, and can be mounted in any direction. Straight configurations are simpler than their V-shaped counterparts. Although six-cylinder engines are inherently balanced, the four-cylinder models are inherently off balance and rough, unlike 90 degree V fours and horizontally opposed 'boxer' 4 cylinders.

Automobile use The straight-4 is by far the most common 4-cylinder configuration, whereas the straight-6 has largely given way to the V6, which although not as naturally smooth-running is smaller in both length and height and easier to fit into the engine bay of smaller modern cars. Some manufacturers, notably Acura, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, VW and Volvo Cars, have also used straight-5 configurations. The General Motors Corporation GM Atlas engine family includes straight-4, straight-5, and straight-6 engines.

Once, the straight-8 was the prestige engine arrangement; it could be made more cheaply than a V-engine by luxury car makers, who would focus on other specifics than the geometric ones, and even built engines more powerful than any V-8. In the 1930s, Duesenberg used an aluminium block with four valves per cylinder and hemispherical heads to produce the most powerful engine on the market. It was thus a selling point for Pontiac to introduce the Pontiac Straight-8 engine in 1933. But following the Second World War, even the simple technology of overhead valves was not applied to the straight-8 blocks but only to V-engines, which were comparatively lighter.

Many manufacturers mount straight engines at an angle from the vertical, referring to them as slant engines. Chrysler Corporation's famous Chrysler Slant 6 engine was used in many models in the 1960s and 1970s. Honda also often mounts their straight-4 and straight-5 engines at a slant, as on the Honda S2000 and Acura Vigor. SAAB first used an inline-4 tilted at 45 degrees for the Saab 99, but later versions of the engine were less tilted.

Two main factors have led to the recent decline of the straight-6 in automotive applications. Lanchester balance shafts, an old idea reintroduced by Mitsubishi in the 1980s to overcome the natural harshness of the straight-4 engine and rapidly adopted by many other manufacturers, have made both straight-4 and V-6 engines much more refined than used to be the case. The inherent smoothness of the straight-6 is no longer as great an advantage as it used to be. Secondly, at around the same time, fuel consumption became a much more important factor. Cars became smaller and much more space-efficient. The engine bay of a modern small or medium car, typically designed for a straight-4, often does not have room for a straight-6, but can fit a V-6 with only minor modifications. Conversely, if the car is designed to have enough room for a straight-6, the 4-cylinder version of the same car will have wasted space and, all else being equal, cost a little more to manufacture and use more fuel.

Some manufacturers (originally Lancia, and more recently Volkswagen with the VR6) have attempted to combine advantages of the straight and V configurations by producing a narrow-angle V; this is more compact than either configuration, but is less smooth (without balancing) than either.

Straight-6 engines can still be found in passenger vehicles like the Australian Ford Falcon (Australia), some entry-level Lexus models, the Toyota Land Cruiser, and BMW 6-cylinder models.

Aviation, bus and rail use Renault produced an inverted air-cooled Straight-6 for airplanes, this was used on the Stampe. A similar design was the de Havilland Gipsy series of engines, used on the Tiger Moth and other aircraft. Advantages include improved visibility for the pilot in single engined craft, and lower center of gravity.

Engines of this type in some buses and trains have been built in a horizontal form. This differs from a flat engine because it is essentially an inline engine laid on its side. Underfloor engines for buses and Diesel multiple units are commonly seen in this design. Such engines may be based on a conventional upright engine with alterations to make it suitable for horizontal mounting.

Automotive, aircraft and marine use

Straight-twin
Straight-3
Straight-4
Straight-5
Straight-6
Straight-8
Straight-9
Straight-10
Straight-12
Straight-14
Straight-24