What is the working interval angle of a four-stroke six-cylinder engine?
2 Answers
The working interval angle of a four-stroke six-cylinder engine is 120 degrees. Definition of working interval angle: In one working cycle of an engine, the angle through which the crankshaft rotates from the termination of one cylinder's working to the termination of the next cylinder's working is called the engine's working interval angle. Engine firing order: In a multi-cylinder engine, the predetermined sequence in which each cylinder fires is called the engine's firing order. Each cylinder operates at a certain interval and in a specific sequence to ensure smooth and continuous engine operation. Additionally, in engines with more than four cylinders, to reduce bearing load, it is also necessary to avoid consecutive firing of adjacent cylinders.
I was researching car engines and was particularly curious about the firing interval angle of a four-stroke six-cylinder engine. After checking the data, I found it to be 120 degrees. This is mainly because a complete four-stroke cycle requires the crankshaft to rotate 720 degrees, and for six cylinders, the average distribution per firing stroke is 720 divided by 6, equaling 120 degrees. This means that every 120 degrees of crankshaft rotation, one cylinder is firing, making the entire engine run very smoothly with minimal vibration. I also learned that the firing order, such as 1-5-3-6-2-4, ensures even angle distribution, making six-cylinder cars much quieter than four-cylinder ones. Driving such a car in daily life results in smoother acceleration and lower noise levels. After understanding this principle, I better appreciate why luxury cars favor six-cylinder designs.
