120 Degree V6 Engine – Commonly Used In Racing Cars

The V6 engine’s natural angle could be regarded as 120°.  This is because cylinders fire after every 120° rotation of crankshaft.  Unlike the 90° or 60° configuration the pistons pairs are sharing crank pins in the three throw crankshaft.

This does not require split crankpins or flying arms for even firing. But, unlike the V8 cross plane crankshaft engine, V6 can not be arranged in such a manner that the unbalanced forces arising from both cylinder banks get cancelled completely.

Because of it, 120° V6 behaves similar to two straight-3s that are running on common crankshaft. Similarly, it gets affected from primary dynamic imbalances and needs balance shaft for offsetting.

A 120° layout gives an engine that is much wider for mostly all compartments of automobile engines. Therefore, this layout finds its application in the racing cars. Here the designing of a car is around an engine and not the vice a versa. Moreover, vibrations are not given much significance.

Tags: 120 engine car, engine cars, racing cars, v6 engine