djmisio85

So, How does the boxer engine combat the issue of gravity???

When looking at an vertically mounted inline 4 (like my lancer) there appears to be no issue,

BUT

How does the horizontally mounted boxer engine counter the issue of being sideways. As in, the pistons edge is always being pulled down....
Does this in anyway effect the bores of the cylinder ??? wear etc.......

Very curious to see how porsche, VW subaru, alfa and fiat (and any other manufacturers) have addressed this issue.......if its an issue at all......

mike

Normski

Even in an in line 4 that's vertical, the pistons don't have zero sideways force. Because as the piston is moving up and down, the con-rod is always at an angle. Cylinders wear unsymmetrical due to this, the highest sideways loading is on the power stroke.
As for flat engines, I can't see it being a major factor having the extra gravity force, seeing that both Porsche and Subaru have stuck with the same layout for this long.

jasonius

iTrader: (1)

It's nothing to do with gravity as you've put it..!
It purely means a flat engine has the ability to sit lower in the chassis and therefore allows for a lower CENTRE of gravity..!

jasonius

iTrader: (1)

Doh..! Sorry, just re-read OP and may have misinterpreted what you meant..

silverwrxnor

let me answer your question, by asking you a question:

how is your transverse mounted inline 4 being affected by accelration and braking any cylinder wear by the CARs acceleration or deceleration?

I guess there is not so much problems with gravity.

djmisio85

touchee, you got me thinking on that one now. Thats a very good point.
well, it was a just one of those questions that puzzled me, if the cylinders or bores do get to a point of wear, would the wear in a boxer tend to be at the bottom or top...........and of course the acceleration and braking on my car is pretty damn good so cheers for ur answer

and of course you see many high mileage porsches and subarus, so I guess, its simply not an issue which was addressed from day 1

silent running

I've also wondered this: i.e. whether a high mileage engine would have worn slightly oval. I think the idea of acceleration/deceleration causing it is a red herring - the amount of forward and backward force caused by these will be exactly the same as however much acceleration you do added up over a day, you must do the same amount of deceleration when added altogether - net effect would be even wear both ways. Gravity must have an effect, an ever so slightly greater loading on the pistons and thus the rings, downwards. Whether it's enough to be noticeable in a normal engine's mileage I don't know.