The Difference Between Three-Cylinder and Four-Cylinder Engines?

2 Answers
Serena
07/23/25 8:14pm
The differences between three-cylinder and four-cylinder engines mainly lie in fuel consumption, weight and size, and mechanical friction. 1. Fuel consumption: For engines of the same displacement, fewer cylinders result in less power output. At the same RPM, the volume of air drawn in per unit time is less, leading to reduced fuel injection and naturally lower fuel consumption. Therefore, a three-cylinder engine is generally more fuel-efficient than a four-cylinder one. 2. Lighter weight and smaller size: A three-cylinder engine of the same displacement is lighter and more compact than a four-cylinder engine. The trend toward lighter and smaller engines aligns with vehicle lightweighting, which also provides better weight distribution for front-engine compact cars, improving handling. 3. Mechanical friction: A three-cylinder engine has one less cylinder working than a four-cylinder engine, reducing mechanical friction. This leads to higher thermal efficiency and further enhances engine power, compensating for the initial acceleration power deficiency caused by reduced air intake in three-cylinder engines.
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JordanMarie
08/10/25 6:15pm
I've been driving for over a decade and have experienced many three-cylinder and four-cylinder cars. Three-cylinder engines feel particularly shaky when starting, as if the engine is panting heavily, and the noise is also loud and buzzing; four-cylinder engines are much smoother, whether at low or high speeds, the car remains as steady as a rock, without that jerky feeling. In terms of fuel consumption, it's true that three-cylinder engines save some fuel, especially good for saving money in city driving; but the power can't keep up during acceleration, making overtaking feel sluggish, suitable for short-distance commuting. For long-distance trips, the advantages of four-cylinder engines come into play—the engine sound is gentle, won't make passengers carsick, and maintenance is simpler with easier-to-find parts. Three-cylinder engines are suitable for small cars, like compact cars that save space and are lightweight, but for family comfort, a four-cylinder is the better choice.
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