Are There 18-Cylinder Engines?
2 Answers
There are 18-cylinder engines, and the largest engine is said to have 24 cylinders, mostly used for military purposes. Overview: An automobile engine is a device that provides power for a vehicle, determining its performance, fuel economy, stability, and environmental friendliness. Depending on the power source, automobile engines can be classified into diesel engines, gasoline engines, electric motors for electric vehicles, and hybrid systems, among others. Additional Information: Common gasoline and diesel engines are both types of reciprocating piston internal combustion engines, capable of converting the chemical energy of fuel into mechanical energy for piston motion and delivering power output. Gasoline engines have high rotational speeds, are lightweight, produce less noise, are easy to start, and have lower manufacturing costs. Diesel engines have higher compression ratios, greater thermal efficiency, and better fuel economy and emission performance compared to gasoline engines.
Yes, 18-cylinder engines really exist! I've seen them while studying automotive history, mostly in large military equipment like WWII-era tanks or ships. For example, some old diesel engines used a V18 design, delivering astonishing power but with impractical size and fuel consumption. Thinking back now, these engines look cool on museum displays, but driving them feels like riding a roaring monster with vibrations so intense you can barely stay seated. Why are they rare in everyday cars? Because more cylinders mean more complex structures and difficult maintenance, plus the eco-conscious era favors efficient engines like V6s. Thanks to technological progress, ordinary cars now typically opt for eight or twelve cylinders—more fuel-efficient and practical. When curious, I love digging through old books or online articles and found that modern race cars occasionally experiment with them, but the costs are prohibitively high, so it's not recommended to try.
