3 cylinder cars

[Sludgy]

Originally Posted by JanGeo

Yes but they are harder to build being apposed and tend to puddle oil in the cylinders causing leakage past the rings plus have totally different valve train expansion problems - longer timing chains or belts or require long pushrods for the valves from a centrally located camshaft - longer intake manifolds for each head separate exhost headers etc. High performance boxer BMW motorcycles exhibited crank case stretching under heavy loads under race conditions. It is a great motor but it too has design trade offs.

Citroen, Volkswagen, BMW, Honda, and Subaru all made or make production boxer engines that deal with the problems you mentioned. Now, if they would design a long-stroke, four valve, VVT Atkinson boxer twin, then we would have a real economy gasser. Or diesel.

[JanGeo]

Anyone with a boxer knows that the side stand use will usually result in a smoking left cylinder when it starts up again. The K bikes all have the same problem and BMW solves it with smokeless BMW motor oil and recommends using the center stand.

[skewbe]

Originally Posted by JanGeo

Anyone with a boxer knows that the side stand use will usually result in a smoking left cylinder when it starts up again. The K bikes all have the same problem and BMW solves it with smokeless BMW motor oil and recommends using the center stand.

Do they make center stands for cars?

[Mike T]

The current smart with the DaimlerChrysler-built Suprex (gasoline) and cdi (diesel) engines are also inline threes.

The gas one displaces 698 cc (formerly 599) and the diesel is 799 cc.