Different 'W' Engine Configurations Explained | W3 to W30

Different 'W' Engine Configurations Explained | W3 to W30
W Engines:
Like the more commonly available V engine, the name W engine comes from its appearance; when viewed from the front, the engine is shaped like W. The W shape comes from three to four banks of cylinders using the same crankshaft, forming a double V engine.
The Volkswagen A.G., more commonly known as VAG, is responsible for the mass production of the W-type engine and becoming a recognized engine configuration. The W engine has been available in W3, W6, W8, W12, W16, W18, and W24 cylinder configurations. The biggest ever was a W30, used in a Sherman tank during World War 2.
There have been numerous attempts at building a W-type engine for cars, but most were unsuccessful. The three most common versions of W engines are W8, W12, and W16.
Volkswagen's W8 engine is no longer in production but has an interesting story behind it. This engine was supposed to be the big seller in Volkswagen's W engine range. While testing the concept, Volkswagen used W8 and not W12. The W8 made a short-lived appearance in the 2001 W8 Passat, which proved to be a poor contender in its segment.
The W12 is the most famous, and it was used in Volkswagen, Audi, and Bentley, but it wasn't exactly stunning. The most stunning and ongoing application has been the W16 engine, used in both the Bugatti Veyron and Chiron; in its most potent current format, this engine develops 1,578 hp.
History and Evolution of the W Engine:
One of the first W-type engines was designed and developed by Anzani Motorcycles. It was also used in the first plane to successfully fly across the English Channel.
The W engine gained attention in 2001 with the introduction of the W8 and W12, But these engines would not exist if it weren't for another famous Volkswagen engine: the VR6. The VR6 engine is basically a mix of V6 and straight-six, It has two banks of cylinders like a V6, but it uses the same cylinder head. This meant the angle between the banks could be extremely narrow, which meant the engine was more compact.
--- Time Stamp --
00:00 - Introduction
00:28 - Types of W-Engine Configurations
01:48 - History & Evolution of W-Engine
02:30 - Why is W-Engine Used?
03:25 - Advantages & Disadvantages of W-Engine
04:08 - W3 Engine
05:05 - W6 Engine
05:46 - W8 Engine
07:29 - W12 Engine
10:05 - W16 Engine
12:48 - W18 Engine
14:21 - W24 engine
15:38 - W30 Engine
16:13 - Wrap Up
All images used in this video are under a creative commons license.
Watch our video on 'V' Engine Configurations: • Different 'V' Engine C...
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[@mechguy8459]

"W" type configuration is considered as the most compact arrangement. Overall video is awesome 👍😎

[@TheEngineersPost]

Thanks! 👍

[@sagenbabin8786]

Yeah but there’s always a single cylinder

[@brycering5989]

@@sagenbabin8786 or inline 3

[@magronet]

Great to see you know the very rare Jimenez Novia. Mr Jimenez makes also 2 liters with 2 bikes motors for Schlesser's buggys on the Paris Dakar. The Novia was full carbon built and very innovative.

[@roelp1126]

The VW groep W8, W12 and W16 engines actually aren’t really ‘W’ engines. They’re ‘VV’ engines as they have two V-shaped cylinder banks. VW group’s marketing department decided to ‘glue’ the V’s in the naming together, making it look like a ‘W’

[@19smkl91]

Edit: NO.. sorry, was thinking and writing at the same time, mistakes happen. Original BS comment: Actually it is exactly what they marketed the engine before the "W" "VR" (in english "VI" I suppose), if it were "VV" a normal V-engine should be "II" since the V is essentially two inline engines stuck together. I heard that the name was changed because VR wasn't as marketing as W but what do I know..

[@Allanzx10]

Isnt it VVR

[@roelp1126]

@@Allanzx10 you’re right, they are. However VW stopped using ‘VR’ for the successors of the VR6 and instead started calling them ‘V6’. With this in mind two of these V6’s combined make the VV12. But again, strictly speaking, you’re absolutely right

[@Tippotipo]

W is also correct depending of the languages which spelt "double V".

[@Crossies]

Ya so it comes out like a vw

[@broskis80]

In tuning W engines has probably best capability. W8 with turbos has potential of over 1000hp at factory crankshaft. Obviously conrods and pistons custom made. There is company in the UK that specialize in W engines and they got racing passat W8 modified to 1470hp.

[@afoxwithahat7846]

That's interesting, makes me wonder why they didn't have a lot of power from factory

[@Alucard-gt1zf]

@@afoxwithahat7846 power is always a trade off with reliability

[@AndyE30]

@@Alucard-gt1zf hard to say when they weren't fucking reliable from the factory

[@Anthonest1]

Are these not a nightmare to work on? With performance like that I would expect more tinkerers to mess with these engines but I never see them even at carshows.

[@broskis80]

@@Anthonest1 they are more difficult yes. But if you good mechanic it makes no difference. Just consume more time that's all. In fact there is lack of service informations like torque settings for bottom end or most parts not available anymore so must be made by CNC technology. Same related to W1w and W16 motors as W8 is precursor of them 2. W8 was testing engine to discover basic issues before making W12 then W16.

[@zainshaikh9538]

Sir please make a video on all sensors of the vehicle please .. your explanation is truly excitant .. and easy to understand by animation .

[@_Someone_who]

Thanks for this content of quality 👏

[@TheEngineersPost]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@theknight7619]

Thanks. I've been looking for this video

[@TAUNYANE1]

Your videos are very informative..thank you

[@TheEngineersPost]

You are welcome!

[@khimsophacarfixing]

This is a good knowledge about type of engine!

[@TheEngineersPost]

Glad you liked it!

[@coreyrussell2942]

Great video. Thank you for making a video of W configuration engines.

[@TheEngineersPost]

Glad you liked it!

[@rickconstant6106]

The "W" engines with 3 individual banks are really a different category from the modern VW range of "W" engines, which are more accurately described as "double V", being a V engine with 2 banks of staggered cylinders

[@tigerpjm]

The "W3" and "W4" engines in this video are not W engines, they're radial engines.

[@UltramanMebiusBrave]

@@tigerpjm No. A radial 3 engine has 3 pistons placed so that when the cylinder heads are at their outermost positions, they form a triangle. A radial 4 is the same, but they form a square, which makes it no different than an X4 engine.

[@tigerpjm]

@@UltramanMebiusBrave No. A radial engine has all conrods on the same crank lobe.

[@tigerpjm]

@UltramanMebiusBrave When you say four cylinder radial, are you referring to a four stroke engine?

[@rickconstant6106]

@@UltramanMebiusBraveI don't think you can have a 4 cylinder radial engine. As I understand it, the layout only works with an odd number of cylinders (or multiple banks of odd numbers, as on some aero engines)

[@nickayivor8432]

Thanks 👍 Happy Christmas 🎄

[@qwiklok]

There are a lot of technical and graphical errors in this presentation. It needs a redo and clean up. Here is some added information. For the record, I have 2 W8 2003 Passat wagen's and I love them. Beautiful and smooth, lots of pulling power and torque, I can easily pull 3,500 lb. trailer over long distances. Gas economy is reasonable (10-11 l/100km - about 24-30 Imp mpg.). Car has 365,000 on it and runs like new. It cannot be faulted. I would not trade this for a VR 6 any day. The entire concept of W engines was to put in as many cylinders in the shortest front to rear space but adding only marginal width. They put a 4l. W8 in the Passat into an engine bay made for a 2l. 4 cylinder engine! That is an accomplishment. The reason it failed in the market place was due to marketing, pure and simple. No one could distinguish the W8 from a V6 from a TDI or 4 unless you knew Volkswagen. Had they made cosmetic changes that were so different and made it stand apart, it is mehhh, whats so special about that car? But get in and drive it, then the differences become noticeable. And it can tow a heavy load too, governed out at 250. I have seen 225 5 years ago and that is FAST. The W-12 is the same as the W8 but with 4 more plugs, 2l. and 2 turbochargers and a hell of a lot more power 275 to 525. It is used today in the Bentley and Audi as a luxury car and you pay a hefty price for it, but many of the parts are interchangeable - at a price. They are butter smooth and definitely better engines they displaced. If one could put on 2 turbos on the W8 - you would see 400 hp. But there is literally no space to add them no matter what unless you put in an electric supercharger and that is a tight fit if not impossible. The Chrysler W5 is simply 5 inline 6 motors that Chrysler was already making onto a common block used for an immediate war motor - high speed development when time was critical. The Bugatti W16 is essentially the same as the W8 but has a 90 degree V instead of a 72 degree V since space width was no longer a consideration, 4 turbocharges, intercoolers, everything tweaked for power - and at 500,000 a pop, you pay for it. The regular maintenance on it is absurdly expensive - like $40,000 for new tires after some 15,000 km, $20,000 for oil changes that only their mechanics will allow - that kind of nonsense. All this for what? Bragging rights? The car doesn't exactly appeal cosmetically not to me anyway. And recently Koenisegg's V8 has exceeded the latest w-16 using smart technology.

[@rcpmac]

I do the oil change on my Bugatti myself. Big savings!

[@bigsmoke6189]

The Sherman engine wasn't really a"w"configuration,it was simply five six cylinder inlines bolted together.

[@samueljesse2179]

You can't just simply bolt engines together

[@bigsmoke6189]

@@samueljesse2179 actually you can,it was called the Chrysler A57 multi bank,it was five six cylinder gasoline engines bolted to housing with a central output shaft .

[@coaxill4059]

@@samueljesse2179 You don't realize the extent to which desperation can change what's possible. Several tanks in WW2 effectively used multiple engines configured around a common shaft. Some even used multiple shafts. They were notoriously finnicky and painful to repair.

[@EdExpertise077]

Helpful video with the all is well 🤗

[@chevydyall7619]

The last one I'd call a radial engine not a W!!

[@arashmotamdi7393]

nice information about w type

[@davidherrera2465]

Yes Yes Perfecto Extraordinario 👍👉💪❤️

[@coolomino]

Tbf the VR6 configuration should start to get more attractive. I know VW still uses it but in the Altas and others I might've forgot, but still Also, what video editor do you use?

[@NorthWay_no]

It would be interesting to see a flat V/Boxer with R arrangement.

[@GoranMilovanovic-zr4vw]

VW brought the W configuration to perfection, this was proven in the Pheton W12 and 6000 ccm model, with this engine the W engine configuration was brought to perfection, from quiet operation to max revs, power in everything that is required from an engine. The Audi Sestra company also uses VW - W engines in its models, especially sports models.

[@jeanc3167]

Timing one of those W engines must be a nightmare

[@mccauleymccranie3752]

Facts

[@blasterTC]

I caught a tiny mistake when detailing W18 engine. 3 banks of 6 cylinders, but the image shows a 4 bank 6 cylinder engine (W24) @12:55

[@TheEngineersPost]

My bad, Thanks for pointing out.

[@sherrokinchen5253]

That W30 engine is the sickest looking engine I have ever seen😧

[@sudithhk8925]

Sir what is er collets? Why it's used in milling machine... Please replay to this iam a student I want to know about it..... Plz

[@panther7584]

0:19 me and bois snickering

[@brianfury2366]

Interesting video

[@donfiduzo]

Napier Sabre was 2 V12 engines with 180 degrees between them. A flat V24 ... They were used in Hawker Tempest and Hawker .... I forgot - with some success, and a lot of problems 🙂

[@kinkiller3935]

can i share this video to my facebook ?I will tag the youtube link.

[@antonfloor344]

0:49 That picture was taken in Holland, Ede it’s next to a pancake restaurant. It looks so familiar I had to looked it up. Arnhemseweg 120.

[@mahimmustakim6859]

Thanks.

[@TheEngineersPost]

You're welcome

[@kaerwald]

At 7'31, you show the VAG w12, which is constituted of two vr 6 and NOT three banks of four cylinders;

[@yzrippin]

My god I've just had the best idea ever let's take two w3's make them together so that is a circular 6 and use it to power aircraft

[@yzrippin]

I know I know genius Einstein level genius I'm also the first man who ever dipped onion rings into ketchup is he everybody was thinking of french fries only but I'm a bit of a trendsetter you see

[@rcpmac]

You really should post something relevant to this century

[@jq747]

My favorite part was the Macpaint 1.0 illustrations ;)

[@adolfolowskibautista646]

I'm learning English with your videos thanks and like y subscribiros

[@williamgrazioli5754]

Go and see Lancia Fulvia 1600, from here the design of the narrow v of 15 degrees started

[@Mauro-82]

Lancia patented the narrow v engines in 1915 for aeronautical use, the firsts cars were the Lancia Lamba (NV4) and Trikappa (NV8) in 1922. The Fulvia was one of the last Lancia with narrow v engine before Fiat, which had bought Lancia a few years earlier, decided to rationalise production by using the same engines for both companies.

[@khursheed.fateh.786]

Good

[@widjojohuang7854]

11:52 Only for the prototype version. Tbh, the production version has speed limiter to around 270 mph.

[@markkennethn.nerpio8260]

Next video how about flat engine pls

[@getthewin1046]

W12 and w16 are the best engines for cars

[@assasinhard152]

No

[@nathanielcruz6675]

Bugatti is the one that use the W16 engine with 4 turbos. I love the sound it makes.

[@kaerwald]

At 14'57, you speak about an engine which is constituted of three banks of 8 cylinders, but as you go on with this engine, at 15', you show a w18 engine with two vr 9 blocks...

[@kaerwald]

Excuse me but I think that the image shown at 5 '05 is a V6 and not a W6...If you count the rockers, you will see three groups of two on each bank, which means... 6 cylinders.

[@jayjay6070]

Imagine a w30 in a subaru wrx sti 2004😱😱 that's crazy maybe I should It😄

[@mrwang420]

I think a small airplane engine with p[pistons all the way around could be used in a vehicle, but it would have to be put in crank shaft pointing up and down and an elbow piece attached to power the gear box and then the drive shaft.

[@Roomsaver]

A radial would be too big to fit in a car. You also can’t rotate the engine like that

[@alexsz.6530]

I have a W3 air compressor,and i want to build the cylinders to 2Takt or 4Takt petrol engiene, sized like a motorcycle or little buggy framed and thinking on the compact shiftgear 😅

[@didierg.bertrand6117]

Excellent synthesis. 12:54 : illustration of W18 is not correct : this is a W24 with 4 banks of 6 cylinders.

[@loucaslabrie522]

It would be incredible if we ear them

[@vernlochtefeld1626]

I was impressed with the VW VR6. The W 3 air cooled Harley had to be difficult to keep cool.

[@tigerpjm]

It's not a W3, it's a radial. Same as the "V twin" that Harley uses. It isn't a V2 but radial as it shares the same crank pin for both cylinders.

[@vernlochtefeld1626]

@@tigerpjm Fair. When did shared crank pin engines get defined as radial engines?

[@tigerpjm]

@@vernlochtefeld1626 @vernlochtefeld1626 Always has been. If you continue adding cylinders, you'll get a circular arrangement of cylinders that are all in a line, not staggered if you were to keep adding cylinders, as would be the case with a V engine.

[@tigerpjm]

@@vernlochtefeld1626 Also, because all cylinders share the same crank pin (and therefore the same lobe), they fire in sequence. That's why Harley's sound the way they do. They fire in quick succession and then go silent for the remainder of the crank rotation. It's a completely different arrangement.

[@Yobox013]

Why don't they make a W9 engine?

[@AstrixCars]

Yes

[@rojiii69420]

Engines with an odd number of cylinders tend to be very unbalanced.

[@Dudeman9339]

We should be revisiting a close ratio W3.

[@Dr.Mcstaby]

the W engine seems like a nightmare for mechanics and a blessing to the parts dealers

[@armyboi4082]

why am i watching this at 2am? nobody knows but its very interesting

[@TheEngineersPost]

Thanks for Watching!

[@hoangtrungchinh647]

Có kênh nào phiên bản việt như này không mn

[@werewolfh7252]

the sherman was fitted with a continental engine wright R 975 9 cylinders

[@LawpickingLocksmith]

Wow! I just learned something new! Strange I had seen star type engines in old planes but never took notice of W arrangements? Over-engineering pure. Open a flap of a huge motor coach and what do you see? An inline 6 cylinder! How come even container ships dropping the 96cm pistons for a 46cm MAN setup? They go inline and just add pistons and usually stop at 14. Now Bugatti still goes fast but the Tesla Model S Plaid maxed out the bottom end. Koenigsegg is going to be the only one to show the world what a fast luxury car will be. Combustion engines are going to be as relevant to road transport as the dial was to telephones!

[@android584]

If a better battery chemistry than lithium ion is discovered, I would agree that you. But it's still better than lead-acid.

[@tigerpjm]

No. The "W3" and "W4" engines in this video are not W engines, they're radial engines. There are numerous other errors in this video.

[@afro_snake6458]

W engine is an 3 bank 1 crank engine, a duel v is a 3/4 bank engine w 2 cranks, and why does it say w6 and show a v6?

[@Datsun100Aisthebest]

0:45 Ur wrong, actually W30 engine has used in german super-heavy tank Maus. But the Maus tank was a fail, it was too slow, and sink on the ground almost everywhere. Sherman tank uses W16 engine.

[@havvasaglam3177]

I love motor

[@anriveremuhammadazkasugiar5630]

Yes it is unique but i can say that this type of engine make the maintenance pain in the butt

[@nerolike2burn13]

W5 ?

[@nathan_4199]

Good vid but why the robot voice it kinda kills it

[@lawlaw9176]

I always think why engines platforms only v or inline.....then this blow my mind

[@khursheed.fateh.786]

Goid information

[@tasknelo123]

Can you imagine the sound of W9?

[@TalhaZaman-bn3fu]

❤

[@seancallahanch.8639]

why are no W10 engines 10 cylinders in an W configuration

[@Coolgamer400]

in a real W there are always 3 banks in 3 heads. in a double VR are always 4 banks in 2 heads. try to divide 10 by 3 or 4.

[@seancallahanch.8639]

@@Coolgamer400 what if you combine 2 VR5 engines

[@Coolgamer400]

@@seancallahanch.8639 good point. didn't thought of these :)

[@Saabjock]

Motors are electrical. Engines use fuels...whether in liquid or gaseous form. The terms need to be used correctly. Good video though.

[@astro_roblox1549]

i like the W16

[@davebar2017]

Put me down for a W16

[@Renzo-ht1yh]

W16 engine is also used in Koenigsegg Jesko!! (What a beast…)

[@mrcandycanemcc6686]

You mean the Bugatti Chiron?

[@markuscamenzind5510]

W6 scematics was a V6 W8,W12 and W16 are double V if 3 cylinder form a W ,how can you have a W8? engineer my foot

[@ajisuleiman1484]

w16 engine but v-shaped. if it says w should have 3 cylinder blocks then it can only be called w if only 2 cylinder blocks still call it v

[@kaerwald]

At 8'41, the name of the French brand is Lorraine, with an "E"

[@brandonwillis4811]

I want a small w8 in a compact or a w 12 in a pony car.

[@Stealth_Droid]

and W40?

[@afoxwithahat7846]

According to you, 3 W16 engines are the most powerful W16 engines in the world.

[@Le_Floffy_A92]

imagine adjusting the timing

[@jamesbowen2105]

No mention of jaguar powered by vw w 12 or vw built lambo with w12?

[@houseofmine]

do-sen-berg is the pronunciation of that auto manufacturer

[@jamesgudgeon4868]

You forgot about the Naiper lion engine

[@zulgo]

bro got the big W engine now I'm curious of the big L engine

[@adeliobenguela919]

And VR6

[@sergeantschlumpf6368]

10:35 “ “W’R’16” .. the R eh..

[@avsystem3142]

Narrator set a new record for the most words mispronounced in the least amount of time.

[@Pepperyeen]

I made my own W3 that I welded together from an I4, could never figure out 2 things 1) Could never get the fucker to idle 2) Piston wouldn't stop making love to the intake valve specifically

[@evoldragon4729]

W 16 is best

[@TheEngineersPost]

Yeah it is.

[@evoldragon4729]

@@TheEngineersPost plz pin my comment

[@8x8snooptracing48hr-mz1do]

I am surprise why pickup trucks are not made or SUV

[@tricosteryl]

The world didn't wait the car builders to develop engines. In fact, car engines are aong the most underdevelopped...

[@ryzz_FN.]

Why do some W engines look like a wierd type of V engine but others like the W3 they look like a W?

[@sergeantschlumpf6368]

11:23 5 valve per cylinder 😳

[@Jeroensgambling]

Waiting for the worlds first W64 cilinder engine downsized to fit any normal car.

[@kace2852]

11:50 bro called a Bugati a 'Sports Car'

[@arrowarrow6924]

engine pluss model makes i

[@arrowarrow6924]

new model sets for i work

[@foxboy1985]

I want a W30 in a dodge

[@chaileeportraits]

Some say its Double V, they are V's 🤣not double U's

[@dkvperformance]

+1

[@ernsailor9041]

It's funny how a V engine is a V, an inline is inline, a flat is flat and the W isn't even close to a W unless it has 2 cranks which they don't unless home made.