What does inline 4-cylinder mean?

[DiLeila]

Inline 4-cylinder refers to an engine configuration where four cylinders are arranged in a straight line. The inline-four engine is not a balanced structure. Although the imbalance is minimal in low-displacement, low-power configurations, vibrations increase as the engine size and power output grow. Some vehicles use V-type or W-type engines instead. A V-type engine has two banks of cylinders set at an angle to each other, while a W-type engine features four banks of cylinders also arranged at specific angles. The engine is often called the heart of a car as it provides the power needed to propel the vehicle. During operation, the engine goes through four strokes in continuous cycles: intake stroke, compression stroke, power stroke, and exhaust stroke.