# Straight-Block vs. Slant vs. "V" Engines **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 21, 2004, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-block-vs-slant-vs-v-engines/235563 "2004-03-21T17:07:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GawnFishin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9bcb4/32.png) [@GawnFishin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GawnFishin)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-block-vs-slant-vs-v-engines/235563/21 "2004-03-22T20:48:55Z")
Ever walk into a autoparts store with an old straight 8 head gasket and ask if they have new ones in stock? Most common answer: Sorry sir we only sell car parts. ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-block-vs-slant-vs-v-engines/235563/22 "2004-03-22T22:33:06Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > Isn’t there a straight 6 in the Ford Windstar? Of course, that’s a minivan. Both of the Windstars I’ve seen (1995 and 2000 [loaner when the '95 was in the shop\*]) had horizontally-mounted V6 engines (that is, with spark plugs pointing fore and aft, and the water pump and alternator on the right, parallel to the tires). A quick Google search shows that all the Ford minivans still have V6s. RWD Ford pickups and large vans (Econoline series) could be had with the old 300 c.i. I6; it’s far too long to cram into a FWD minivan in any position. [sub]\*The '95 version (and only the '95, AFAIK) of the 3.8L V6 in the Windstar had a head gasket defect; they blew like clockwork at 110,000 miles. Costs $1200 to fix, and happens again every 10,000 miles. We gave up and bought a new car after the second time. Don’t buy a used '95 Windstar (unless you’re _really_ good buddies with a mechanic).[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![conczepts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e7dd6/32.png) [@conczepts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conczepts)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-block-vs-slant-vs-v-engines/235563/23 "2004-03-22T23:36:38Z")
> [@Stan Doubt](#): > > No, inline engines, by definition, would have a higher center of gravity than the other engine types mentioned if other factors are kept constant. > [@MadScientistMatt](#): > > 1. Center of gravity - the closer the cylinders are to horizontal, the lower the C.G. height is. Which one is it? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Doubt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@Stan\_Doubt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Doubt)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-block-vs-slant-vs-v-engines/235563/24 "2004-03-22T23:57:22Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by Stan Doubt > No, inline engines, by definition, would have a higher center of gravity than the other engine types mentioned if other factors are kept constant. > Originally Posted by MadScientistMatt > 4. Center of gravity - the closer the cylinders are to horizontal, the lower the C.G. height is. > Which one is it? Your confusion stems from confusing an inline engine (term used to refer to an engine in which all cylinders are oriented vertically in a line) as employed in most automobiles with 4 cylinder engines, and the far less common _horizontally opposed_ configuration. In an inline engine, the crankshaft is below the cylinders and all the pistons move “up and down” relative to the crankshaft. In a horizontally opposed engine, the crankshaft is between two separate banks of cylinders and the pistons move “side to side” relative to the crankshaft. While it might be said that the pistons are oriented in one line (or plane), this is not a “inline engine”. Mad Scientist Matt is completely right stating that this configuration allows for the lowest center of gravity, if other factors are kept constant. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-block-vs-slant-vs-v-engines/235563/25 "2004-03-23T00:42:00Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Yep, they certainly did. I have one. As did the Citroen GS that I had a few years back. Quirky but brilliant, could be driven on three wheels. Never dared risk it though. The 4 cyl air-cooled 1220cc engine was only supposed to reach about 85 mph. but it would keep on accelerating until the needle hit the stop at 100mph, and continue accelerating long after that. No clue as to the real top speed but would estimate about 115. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-block-vs-slant-vs-v-engines/235563/26 "2004-03-23T00:58:47Z")
So what is a slant engine? Is that like an inline but tilted away from the vertical? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-block-vs-slant-vs-v-engines/235563/27 "2004-03-23T01:44:28Z")
> [@sturmhauke](#): > > So what is a slant engine? Is that like an inline but tilted away from the vertical? Got it in one. ---
**Author:** ![Fritz\_The\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f17d59/32.png) [@Fritz\_The\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz_The_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-block-vs-slant-vs-v-engines/235563/28 "2004-03-23T02:46:17Z")
My 1987 VW Fox has a slant 4. ---
**Author:** ![SlickRoenick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SlickRoenick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlickRoenick)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-block-vs-slant-vs-v-engines/235563/29 "2004-03-23T04:16:24Z")
'93 Subaru Justy with a slant 3. Yeah, i said 3. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![conczepts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e7dd6/32.png) [@conczepts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conczepts)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-block-vs-slant-vs-v-engines/235563/30 "2004-03-23T06:16:00Z")
> [@Stan Doubt](#): > > Your confusion stems from confusing an inline engine (term used to refer to an engine in which all cylinders are oriented vertically in a line) as employed in most automobiles with 4 cylinder engines, and the far less common _horizontally opposed_ configuration. > > In an inline engine, the crankshaft is below the cylinders and all the pistons move “up and down” relative to the crankshaft. > > In a horizontally opposed engine, the crankshaft is between two separate banks of cylinders and the pistons move “side to side” relative to the crankshaft. While it might be said that the pistons are oriented in one line (or plane), this is not a “inline engine”. > > Mad Scientist Matt is completely right stating that this configuration allows for the lowest center of gravity, if other factors are kept constant. Ok, I thought inline was synonymous with horizontally opposed (and I’m pretty sure I’ve learned it that way because people use them the same way). So a “boxer” engine is horizonatlly opposed, not inline? ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-block-vs-slant-vs-v-engines/235563/31 "2004-03-23T11:39:50Z")
> [@SlickRoenick](#): > > '93 Subaru Justy with a slant 3. Yeah, i said 3. 🆒 Used to drive one of the original Saabs, pre v4 triumph engines. It had a 3cyl. 2-stroke engine with a free-wheel control. Fabulous vehicle, puttered along sounding like a lawnmower, but was very smooth and responsive. ---
**Author:** ![Newton\_meter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/57b2e6/32.png) [@Newton\_meter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newton_meter)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-block-vs-slant-vs-v-engines/235563/32 "2004-03-23T12:26:58Z")
> [@conczepts](#): > > Ok, I thought inline was synonymous with horizontally opposed (and I’m pretty sure I’ve learned it that way because people use them the same way). So a “boxer” engine is horizonatlly opposed, not inline? No, a horizontally opposed or “boxer” engine is also called “flat”. Besides the obvious Porsche and VW car engines, BMW (famously) and Honda make horizontally opposed motorcycle engines. Another engine configuration is the “square four”, which was used in Ariel motorcycles. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-block-vs-slant-vs-v-engines/235563.md?page=1)