What is the difference between a 3-cylinder engine and a 4-cylinder engine?
2 Answers
The differences between a 3-cylinder and a 4-cylinder engine are as follows: 1. Number of engine cylinders. A 3-cylinder engine operates with 3 cylinders, while a 4-cylinder engine operates with 4 cylinders; 2. Overall weight. Due to having one less cylinder, a 3-cylinder engine is lighter than a 4-cylinder engine; 3. Fuel consumption. For vehicles of the same body weight, because the overall engine weight and working cylinders are different, a 3-cylinder engine consumes less fuel than a 4-cylinder engine; 4. Manufacturing cost. The volume, weight, and manufacturing time of a 3-cylinder engine are lower than those of a 4-cylinder engine.
As a veteran driver with over a decade of experience, what impresses me most is the difference in vibration. The 3-cylinder engine is particularly noticeable at red lights, with both the steering wheel and seats vibrating, as if sitting on a massage chair, especially when the air conditioning is on. In contrast, a 4-cylinder car is like a thick sponge, absorbing all the vibrations, providing a stable and comfortable ride. The power feel is also different; the 3-cylinder car always seems a bit sluggish at startup, and the engine sound is rougher when accelerating, but it's indeed more fuel-efficient—I've calculated it can save about seven or eight bucks on gas in city driving. The 4-cylinder car accelerates more smoothly and feels more confident when overtaking on the highway. Nowadays, many 3-cylinder cars are equipped with balance shafts, significantly improving idle vibration, but you can still feel that lack of ease when driving. Choosing a car depends on daily scenarios: for short commutes, a 3-cylinder is cost-effective, but for frequent highway driving, a 4-cylinder offers more comfort.
