Straight 6 or V6

[UtterNutter]

Anything with 6 or more cylinders (in any configuration) is music to my ears.

 

[koeks]

i missed this one ... LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *I fell off my chair and now am crying from the laughter while rolling on the floor!!!!!*

 

[EvoBunny]

You guys might find the following link interesting to read...

I quote from the page:

Ultimately, inline-6 engine is more efficient yet smoother. V6 has more energy loss because it duplicates valve gears and camshafts (which increase frictional loss), while the use of 2 cylinder banks leads to more heat loss. In terms of production cost, although V6 has 3 fewer main bearings, it has more valve gears - which is getting more and more costly these days, with the introduction of twin-cam, hydraulic tappets / finger follower and variable valve timing. Inline-6 is going to be cheaper than equivalent V6.

http://www.autozine.org/technical_school/engine/smooth3.htm

 

[koeks]

thanks evo, that's an interesting read

 

[Claymore]

V's tend to have a nicer sound, but for a big car a straight 6 should be a better option since space isn't a problem, and the balancing that is mentioned.

There is a weight difference too - the straight-sixes are, by their nature, heavier.

The straight 6 (and combinations thereof, such as the V12) are in perfect balance, and are thus the smoothest engines around.

The straight-eights and V16s too...

 

[Pyro]

The V's would require more balancing gears, which could negate most of the difference.

 

[UtterNutter]

The straight-eights and V16s too...

Nope, incorrect. In terms of balance, engines with particular balance advantages include:
Straight-6
Flat-6
Flat-12
V12 (essentially 2 seperate straight 6)

Not 8s. They are just derivatives of the 4, so don't have perfect balance.