Top 10 Improvements in Engine Design

Imagine your car only having 22 horsepower!  Sounds insane, right? 100 years ago, 22 horsepower was top-notch.  The engine has come a long way and this blog breaks down the biggest engine improvements.

Released in 1908 and known as the first affordable automobile, the Ford Model T was an amazing technology for its time. But the car only had a 22 horsepower engine! Incredible right?  And that’s even better than the horsepower of the first ever automobile – the 1885 Benz Patent Motorwagen, which had a single piston engine and ran with only two-thirds of a single horsepower!

 Cars have come a long way since the first automobiles. Engineers are always finding ways to improve our vehicles. Here we take a look at the benefits and drawbacks of the top 10 improvements in engine design during the 150 year process of making vehicles what they are today. We can only imagine what the future holds!

10.          The Four –stroke Engine Cycle

                Benefits: More fuel-efficient, less polluting

                Drawbacks: More complicating, more expensive to manufacture

9.            Forced Induction

                Benefits: More power without an increase in engine size

                Drawbacks: Fuel consumption and turbo lag

8.            Fuel Injection

                Benefits: Better throttle response, increased efficiency, & more power

                Drawbacks: More complexity and potentially expensive repairs

7.            Direct Injection

                Benefits: More power, better fuel economy

                Drawbacks: More expensive to make, relatively new technology

6.            Aluminum engine blocks

                Benefits: Lighter weight leads to more efficiency and better handling

                Drawbacks: Can warp at high temperatures

5.            Overhead Camshafts

                Benefits: Better performance
                Drawbacks: Increased Complexity

4.            Variable Valve Timing

                Benefits: Fuel economy, more flexible power delivery

                Drawbacks: Greater cost to produce

3.            On-board Engine Computers

                Benefits: Fuel economy, better diagnosis of problems
                Drawbacks: Cost, complexity

2.            Clean Diesels

                Benefits: Torque, fuel economy, cleaner emissions

                Drawbacks: Cost of fuel, low RPMs, higher initial cost

1.              Hybrid Engines

Benefits: Fuel Economy

Drawbacks: Higher initial cost, complexity

 

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