Flat 4 vs straight 4

[misenthrop]

Is the flat 4 engine the same thing as a straight 4. I've got my head around V and W engines but I cant seem to fathom the flat 4.

Are there advantages or disadvantages over a flat or straight four?

 

[MasterAuron]

No a flat 4 is what you might know as a boxer engine (as Subaru use, for example).

Inline 4's are cheaper to produce and take up a lot less space due to being narrower. Boxers are generally better balanced and allow a lower centre of gravity. Boxers have perfect secondary balance (the opposing pistons and rods cancel each others vibrations out) but most have a primiary imbalance because they don't have counterweights on the crankshaft.

 

[herb]

you learn something new everyday!!
cheers ma:bigsmile:

 

[misenthrop]

Interesting, so I guess a flat 4 engines is a lot lower than a standard one which I presume is better for handling as it has a low centre of gravity?

 

[HDi fun]

Think of a flat 4 as a V engine with a 180 degree V angle.

 

[claymore]

the old beetle uses a flat four, I would hardly call that a good handeling car, but the old alfasud was brilliant.

 

[HDi fun]

Porsche's 911 is a flat 6. The early ones could be a handful because the engine is dangling out over the rear wheels.

 

[ronniecalcutta]

The car can be designed very low.
Greater aerodynamics achievement.
Much less vibration.
User friendly maintenance.
Flat/ Boxer /opposed engines sounds really nice...