ENGINE BLOCKS: Aluminum vs. Iron

[@d4a]

Support the channel by shopping through this link: amzn.to/3RIqU0u Become a Tuning Pro: hpcdmy.co/dr4a Rebuilt GM crate engine: amzn.to/3cIpmfG POR-15 Engine block paint: amzn.to/3eIKOCY Red Line engine assembly lube: amzn.to/2XYHkWV Engine degreaser: amzn.to/3cLjqCF Patreon: www.patreon.com/d4a

[@kent0955]

could you introduce some motorcycle engine? just wanna know the different to car engine.

[@andoniades]

This vid reminded me of a college lecture back in the late 90's...back when we wrote in an ancient writing style called "cursive".

[@nocturnal101ravenous6]

OK let me correct this please. Aluminium = Element itself Aluminum = Amalgam or alloy we use.(ironically there is less than .5% of Aluminium in Aluminum like Alcoa 6063, 6061, 6062 for most cases where there is higher Magnesium%) I can get into a deep history lesson on an Industrial, Chemistry, and dip shit corporate marketing and confused scientific communities, that essentially led to the stupidity as to why we use the terms improperly, but tbh I would probably need your entire comments section. Also 6061, was CRS press 10, Chrysler/ Plym. Prowler, FYI, Its extruded not cast or milled from a billet(which is a slice of a cast log), the log is cast then cut into billets, then extruded into a generalized profile shape then milled. Its fairly easy to buy btw, there are several Aluminum companies that still exist that you can call and drive a truck to a loading dock Particularly in PA. Also when it comes to metallurgy most people don't realize the Hader the metal is, the more fragile it is an example is titanium terrible to machine and turn into something, but a small diameter rod I could snap/shatter over my knee, when it comes to properties of metals you can't have it all you have to take the good with the bad.

[@uru-freemind7711]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2rHqKOsr7GoeMk ea827 iron block is strong for turbo potensation. Fwd record... the iron block is more resistent to cavitation and temperature deformation... Iron block is the best because it has more duration.

[@NARENDRAKUMAR-dl7ek]

0

[@steven-vn9ui]

Not only do I admire this man's knowledge but the way he can put the information to his viewers is just off the chart. One of the best channels on KZbin.

[@Romamb]

Use a bigger chart.

[@markamd1]

calm down 😂

[@vincedibona4687]

He’s a handsome one, to boot. FTR, I am a straight male. But if I looked like him and had his accent, I’d be pulling the babes here in America.

[@velobob4299]

Been involved in the modification of stock engines for racing use for more than 30 years now, and have done a lot of my own research on the subject. I can honestly say this man 'knows his onions'. Excellent!

[@ACommenterOnYouTube]

Yea he is def NOT scotty kilmer who thinks he knows everything

[@mann_idonotreadreplies]

@velo cool story bro.

[@simongruber8366]

in today´s automotive industry, they use aluminium blocks to save 15kg and then proceed to manufacture a 3 ton tank. Make it make sense

[@alexanderunguez9633]

For minute 10, in case you guys were wondering, here's the weight percentage drop from steel to aluminum for inline 4, v6 and v8. 44%, 34% and 28.6% respectively. So inline 4 seems to gain the most weight advantage, which is great for economy and smaller cars.

[@VisioRacer]

Very well researched and detailed video. Definitely learned a lot!

[@d4a]

Thank you. Means a lot coming from one of the big dogs :)

[@aaronp9835]

Visio! Whats good!

[@christopherjones512]

Iron block better takes heat

[@mayuravirus6134]

@@christopherjones512 But it can't dissipate heat quick enough

[@DimoS...]

@@d4a mate please make a video with 1.8 20vt engine!✌

[@MultiBuck78]

I've learned more in 10 minutes with you than i have with many hours with others. liked and subscribed.

[@barebonebeast]

Was it the first half or the second half of the vid?

[@princesssolace4337]

​@@barebonebeast😂😂

[@J3rryTortoise]

SUMMARY: aluminum block pros: -much less weight -slightly better cooling -slightly higher compression -much easier to fix cracks -more fuel efficient iron block pros: -better bang for your buck (much cheaper) -can generally handle more power -slightly less prone to warping -much easier and faster to manufacture -much easier to rebuild/resurface -less noise

[@justawhitenigga]

The best: iron!

[@sameerjain4423]

Is not Iron block is Steel block!

[@TheEdudo]

i knew iron wins, there is a reason why there is an IRONMAN and not an aluminiuman

[@octaviangeorge5455]

@@justawhitenigga if you care about dynamics and efficiency, aluminium is better.

[@shabasn]

@@octaviangeorge5455 who cares! Quality is always better.

[@missingnola3823]

I'm clearly late to the party that is this channel but, after watching half a dozen videos, I have to commend this guy on doing such a good job of organizing and presenting information.

[@JoseRivera-ym3wj]

Very informative, as always. As a sidenote: there is one advantage iron blocks have over aluminum blocks: seasoning. With various heat cycles, the microscopic porosity of iron blocks can help it absorb oil into the block. When building performance engines, many will go for a well-maintained high mileage iron block with as little wear as possible. Many aftermarket iron blocks even come seasoned from the supplier.

[@divedo9108]

Well thats a strange fact, I got a 2.0 L 4g63 engine. It is well maintained, no turbo has ever been equiped on this beast, been running octane 100 on it since 117,000 km for less wear and tear inside the engine and its been driving 145,000 km now. How much do you think i can get for the engine alone if sold to the right buyer?

[@JoseRivera-ym3wj]

@@divedo9108, I'm no expert on the engine, but I have seen enough to say that it depends. There has been so many variations of the engine throughout its life, anyone that knows the engines can really tell. Some variants are known to be... problematic when building it for high performance.

[@Reverend_Salem]

and ig it dosn't come seasoned a sprits of lemon, some salt and pepper, saffron, and some ginger are always great choices. this is a joke, please dont season your engine like chicken and rice.

[@JoseRivera-ym3wj]

@@Reverend_Salem, you won the Internet for me today, so have a 🍪.

[@rkentwenger5095]

In the 80s, when BMW made turbo F1 engines with iron blocks, they did some kind of artificial aging process on the blocks because of this...

[@MrGoldInfinity]

Modern engineering’s balance of pros and cons if something that I enjoy very much. I love that there’s no such things as free lunch.

[@perpetualgrin5804]

Like with drugs, no free lunch.😅

[@tommydrake5682]

my ex girlfriend's heart was also made of cast iron

[@nrgrlsd9931]

So did you rebuild her when she failed?

[@hermanman8235]

CAST or FORGED ?

[@currentliveoccupant]

Did you resleave her?

[@mtcru]

Bore and hone her each day and cast iron be kept polished.

[@peterboot7120]

Hahaha 😂💔👍

[@BaMB00Z420]

The fact this channel is not 5+ Million subs yet, Blows my mind... one of the best motor sports channels by a mile

[@802Garage]

"Extremely accurate computer controlled process." *Mustache man push button.*

[@d4a]

Don't you dare. He practiced for weeks to ensure a perfect performance! He trained that finger until it could push buttons like no other. Que scene with sweat band wearing mustache man pushing drawn-on buttons on a 2x4 with eye of the tiger in the background.

[@802Garage]

@@d4a We need the blue collar mustache man montage. 😂

[@meir0n]

@@802Garage 7:54 MONEY SHOT!

[@luk4s56]

@@d4a you mean went for a smoke when an intern typed down numbers into the computer that are likley ducktaped to the mashine? :D

[@802Garage]

@Bobis Vajine Mmm. Midnite Bepis.

[@tdautomotive8042]

If I had to choose between the two I would go for the iron block. Just for durability. Aluminium defiantly has its advantages, but can be so temperamental, especially when it overheats, it can go soft, distort, crack and warp.

[@johnanderson591]

😊

[@interhaker]

It's also softer and unlike steel doesn't have an endurance limit

[@fraymond3]

Cast "I-run" lol!!! Love ya buddy. Us yanks pronounce it "I-earn"... Excellent material as always!

[@janeblogs324]

Ausse me pronounces it "ire-onn"

[@calebnation7797]

Southerners pronounce it “ahrn”

[@callumlove2076]

shame you can't spell or pronounce Aluminium like the rest of the world

[@bobdole57]

@@callumlove2076 Taryl Dactyl does.

[@bcubed72]

Where I'm from, we pronounce it "ern."

[@davidblalock9945]

Every time I watch one of your videos I start to think “well he missed an important detail”, then 45 seconds later, you pull round to that important detail after it’s become fully relevant.

[@burritopizza8242]

Engine blawk

[@AvoKupelian]

it's blahhk

[@avenger25]

Engine bloak it's all I hear!

[@norhairie2635]

So many blawk....blawk...blawk😁😁😁😵😵🤣🤣😂😂😬😬

[@d4a]

You're all wrong, it's bwuak actually.

[@diogenescapellangomez5576]

You nailed. That's all I hear damn😂😂😂😂

[@diplonik8174]

I appreciate your channel and also this content, but let me add some points: -thermal expansion matters! The bearing clearance in aluminum engines increases when the engine warms up, this leads to higher oil flow through the bearings, so that the oil pump must be bigger in aluminum engines (=> higher friction losses => less efficiency). Keep in mind, that the crank shaft and (for OHV engines) will not expand as much as the surrounding material. The use of iron bearing caps is one way to reduce the thermal expansion in the bearings. The larger bearing clearance also contributes to higher engine noise. -wall thickness: in sand casting (like all gray iron cran cases) you can’t reduce the wall thickness as much as you need for strength. Below 4 mm it will become very difficult, although some serial applications succeeded with only 2.5 mm. So bigger the engine, so easier it becomes to reduce the relative wall thickness and so more use can be made of the higher strength of the cast Iron. -GJS 450: This material is replacing the old standard GG250 (don’t know what you call it in the US) and offers much higher strength (1,8 times as much) than the old gray iron materials. For Diesel engines it is the best choise for low weights. -cylinder distance: For a given engine length, iron crank cases enable more capacity than aluminum crank cases, simply because the wall between the cylinders can be as low as 5,5 mm in an iron crank case. -engine overhaul: this can be very simple in classic aluminum engines with wet iron liners by simply replacing them (like.g. in old Alfa Romeos). You can replace them almost indefinitely, unfourtunally this design is no longer used in modern engines (due to increased cylinder spacing). -Tooling: Aluminum is easier to machine an when using dye castings, very little material has to be removed, that’s why aluminum crank cases for small gasoline engines can be cheaper than gray iron crank cases. -threads: with aluminum crank cases you can only apply bolt with low strength (up to 8.8 strength) whereas GJS 450 can handle up to 12.9. With all the threading for the head, bearing caps, auxiliaries etc. this can be a real weight disadvantage. Due to the difference in thermal expansion, the threads in aluminium engines are suffering each time, the engines changes its temperature, which can shorten engine life. To compensate that, the threads for the main bearings are often very long because the thread damage is moving slowly upwards, so that there is a “reserve” of thread length. Aluminum can give a weight advantage for small gasoline engines, but not for bigger Diesel engines which can make better use of the high material strength of GJS 450 due to relative thin walls.

[@dandingerat]

great informative comment! thanks for this

[@robertalameda]

That's why I love my 5EFE engine on my 1999 Toyota Tercel. It's indestructible.

[@janeblogs324]

Just remember you can only drive it for 3 hours 30 times per month while its overheating to ensure you don't crack the head

[@whytellmewhy]

Not only do I admire this man's knowledge but the way he can consistently say Engine BLAUKS with a straight face cracks me up

[@Sacto1654]

A lot of engineers feared that aluminium engine blocks could have heat-related problems given how modern engines run quite hot, but dramatic improvements in engine oils (especially the current API SN rated or GM Dexos 1 Gen 2 rated oils) makes the use of aluminium blocks a lot more viable.

[@FoxBonly]

EVERY video you make, you leaving NOTHING out and EXPLAIN PRECISELY AND CLEARLY. KUDOS!

[@johnkeepin7527]

The thermal performance of Al engines is also useful when Hybrid power transmission is in use. In these applications, the engine starts and stops en route, and they warm up quite rapidly when started (which is automatic) even in cold weather (I run a Toyota Hybrid).

[@matiasfpm]

Yup. But also start and stop os a great way to cook the turbo oil hehe

[@yan7911]

@@matiasfpmwhich is why Toyota doesn't use turbos in their hybrids

[@mfkliegenschaften5420]

While there is little instructive vids on the market, this is the first video among others on your channel that i have really learned from. Good job.

[@stevenkurinec4194]

Another category not examined is longevity of the engine. I think this is separate to resistance to abuse and overheating. The aluminum blocks with liners/sleeves for the cylinders tend to exhibit issues such as waterlocking or coolant mixing into the oil due to the different heat expansion coefficients of the materials. Over time this makes engine work more frequent on aluminum engines with iron sleeves.

[@ghshrksidhc5460]

Best automotive-learning channel on KZbin.

[@danilorodriguez4665]

Great video, one of the best channels in KZbin, very informative

[@jasonstevenson110]

Even if you have no interest in cars these videos are great. They explain matters most give no thought about. Brilliant, simple easy to understand explanations. Thanks, and well done.

[@802Garage]

Excellent video! Only other thing I can think of is that iron blocks are of course susceptible to rust. Not only is it ugly, but it can dirty up your coolant, especially if you run just water like a dummy. Not a huge deal, but just something I thought to mention.

[@fwdesparado]

I have personally seen an engine that sat up with straight water in it eat into an aluminium head as well. I'm guessing that it would also damage a block. Bottom line, don't put straight water into your cooling system, bad things will eventually happen.

[@derrickg5612]

All lives matter

[@bjorn1583]

@@fwdesparado also never mix glycol based coolants with water that has fluoride in it cos it will make an acid that loves to eat aluminium

[@electoplater]

@@fwdesparado you are right high ph water will destroy a alloy engine

[@a.fritzbecker8986]

@@fwdesparado It will eventually destroy an aluminum block, that's one of the stories I heard as to why G.M gave up producing the 215 V8 for Buick Skylarks, and sold the tooling to Rover, people in the Southern U.S supposedly running tap water through them eating the blocks out.

[@dunxy]

This appeared in my feed and im glad i clicked! Im more a external combustion kinda guy but love all engineering and now i know a bit more about the block in my car. It is CGI, so i am one of the rare cases that its not full commercial (although my vehicle was listed as millitary on the paperwork! when i picked it up new) and has one of these CGI blocks, its a Landcruiser 70 series, the 200 (which is %100 non commercial!) has same engine as well, unless youre American in which case bad luck no landcruiser diesel for you. This is one reason of the extreme reliability of these kinds of Toyotas AND why they cost lots of coin, more coin than others that dont build commercial grade 4wds for consumers. Many many million mile + Toyotas here in Austrailia.

[@ibast1]

The main reason for aluminium blocks hasn't been weight saving and thus fuel economy. Fuel after all has been historically cheap in the past 15 years. If the cost of fuel was going to drive change it would have done so in the 70s and 80s. The main characteristic driving change is actually the heat soak characteristics. Aluminium blocks get up to temperature quicker and thus start up emissions are much reduced. Which is a big component of European emission laws. Aluminium blocks don't make engines that much lighter (as pointed out). Aluminium does have 1/3 of the density, but it also has 1/3 of the modulus of elasticity (which is bigger concern than tensile strength). Which means you have to cast a lot thicker than iron and put a lot more ribbing in the blocks. The result is they end up weighing about 75-90% of the weight of a CI block (also pointed out). When you consider the block is only about 1/4-1/3 of a total engine weight and then look to only a 10-25% saving on that, you only save kilograms. And that against the weight of a car isn't enough to drive change. Hence why it didn't happen until emission laws became tighter and the heating properties of aluminium came to the fore.

[@zahimiibrahim3602]

Great points, I totally agree!

[@octaviangeorge5455]

Performance cars have the whole engine made by aliminium. Not just the block. Considering a fwd or awd car, having less weight on the front wheels mean better dynamics. The biggest weight factor on the front axle is the engine.. So.. Even 25% is a lot.

[@caloye654]

How about the pistons? Are they alluminum or cast iron?

[@ibast1]

@@caloye654 Maybe there were cast iron pistons at some point, by some manufacturers, but they have been aluminium alloy for a very long time. Maybe some old industrial diesels were cast iron but I don't know any off the top of my head.

[@knutbjornlarsen4435]

He said 1 TURD !

[@whoneedsroads]

Nice one! I enjoyed it very much. One fun detail: I drive a 2002 Saab 9-3, with a B205 2L engine (the 2.3 is a B235). Only the stroke-length differs (78 vs 90mm). Hence the base is also named B2x5 When totally stripped, the iron engine block weighs 45 kg. Already close to the 47 kg mentioned for a 6-cylinder. With no hefty internal modifications, they say it wil not break down and function reliably up until some 300 hp. The predecessor is the B2x4, which is heavier. It weighs 49,7 kg and it's said it can handle power up until some 700 hp. Mind that the internal components (pistons, drive-shafts and all) seem to be in a heavier class as well. I've took apart two Saab engines in the past years and plan on rebuilding one as a hybrid. The block from the B2x4, including crackshaft. The cylinder-head from a B2x5 (better flow) and the camshafts from a B2x4 (even more flow). First save some money to get this project started ;-)

[@scotttomlinson1057]

Your channel has some incredible information! I i’ve been tinkering and working on engines my whole life and never really understood a lot of the information that you present. All the different alloys and ways of producing engines are complex and you do a great job of explaining it. Keep up the great work!

[@simonward5833]

Great video and great series. For someone who spent many years in the metal casting industry, it’s good to see what advances have been made in aluminium technology. You didn’t touch on corrosion issues with aluminium. I remember the days when an aluminium head on a cast iron block was problematic over time. What are the latest technologies to guard against this?

[@rickitysplitz7035]

Depending on the corrosion, it can actually be a good thing. The corrosion can create a protective layer and cover the rest of the uncorroded block.

[@ew3612]

You made a lot of great points for the iron block. One think that you missed on your chart is purchase price. If the cost difference between the two is say $800 then that money should be included in the fuel savings calculation and $800 can haul 15kg around for a long time.

[@doublenickel1000]

Many of us gearheads are also motorcyclists. For motorcycles aluminum is superior not only because of the weight saving but also because of the conductivity, especially in air-cooled engines. Aluminum doesn't get hot spots as readily as iron because heat is conducted away from them much quicker. I first really saw this using a steel pan and an aluminum pan on an electric cook stove. The steel pan often (if I was inattentive) would form a burn pattern that was a perfect duplicate of the burner it was sitting on. That didn't happen with the aluminum pan because the heat would transfer away too quickly and spread throughout the pan. The bad part with aluminum is that you don't want to ingest much aluminum, it's bad for you. So, many manufacturers of cookware put a layer of copper in the bottoms of their steel pans to distribute the heat.

[@chonshinlim6668]

Your content is excellent. You really deserve way more subscribers.

[@konsen6149]

Excellent review whereby most KZbinrs failed to highlight the differences except on engine configurations and layouts. Keep up the good works

[@Martmns]

The late, great Smokey Yunick once said "It takes to pounds of aluminum to equal the strength of a pound of steel. Ol' Smokey was right. Also another factor about aluminum blocks that few people think about. Another late, great racer and engine builder, Bill 'Grumpy' Jenkins noted when working with the 427 ZLI-1 aluminum block and head big block Chevies, that due to 1). higher heat rejection and conductivity properties of aluminum and - 2) cylinder bore and deck height dimension changes caused by the higher rate of expansion of aluminum due to heat, that everything else being equal, the all aluminum ZL-1 made fully 8 to 10% less power than an equivalent cast iron block and head 427 Chev race engine. My thinking...if weight is not a critical factor, always choose a cast iron block for maximum power reliability and longevity.

[@randomvideosn0where]

You don't need as much power if you have less weight...

[@Martmns]

@@randomvideosn0where That's why I said 'if weight is not a critical factor". For example in a light-weight drag racer, a lighter weight aluminum block - even if it makes slightly less power than an en equivalent iron block race engine - may be a real advantage. But maybe in Bonneville Salt Flats type racer, where engine weight doesn't matter nearly as much, a heavier but slightly more powerful iron block engine would be more desirable.

[@clarencealexander1908]

Here I was thinking that the introduction piece was poorly written.

[@exoticcreature3059]

@@Martmns What about the pistons? I know it wasn't mentioned but I'd still like to know if it matters. Aluminum or steel? Again, we'll assume weight is not a factor.

[@Jupiter__001_]

@@exoticcreature3059 The thing with pistons is that weight is always a factor, because more mass means the crankshaft needs to bear heavier loads due to the increased momentum of the pistons (when operating at the same engine speed). This also means the con-rods have to bear heavier loads, meaning they need to be stronger, and hence heavier, which means even more reciprocating mass.

[@trevortrevortsr2]

An excellent & comprehensive presentation. In the mid 80's at Silverstone I recall a conversation with the Lister Peter rep who said they elected to go with thin wall malleable iron blocks for their then-new design diesel industrial engine as tests had shown it to be superior to Aluminium however they were having trouble convincing the buyers that Iron even using their thin wall modern regime was a better solution - there seems to be a prejudice against Iron - Sadly the firm are no more and this great pioneering manufacturer has gone -I am an owner of a 1934 Lister CS1 where even the piston is a close grain child iron casting : )

[@CaliforniaBushman]

After watching one hundred rebuild videos on my Chrystler 318 Magnum V8, I've got the bug to break open my first V8 engine. My first rebuild!

[@magicstew45]

Good one to start with but plan on replacing the heads. EQ heads will give you great power gains along with being more durable.

[@EVH3730]

Hello my friend, I love your work. I want to add that 6061 Aluminum is very commonly found in bicycle frames and component parts. Thank you.

[@eskamobob8662]

Dude. I fucking love this series. TY so much for spreading this info out. Im an EV guy by trade trying to learn about ICE engines and it is shocking hard to find videos like this that compare materials and production techniques for different parts.

[@matthewmillar3804]

Never ever stop making content like this!

[@jeong-ilkajokaya3849]

19:43 "Boost and abuse" That`s about every car enthusiast ever, I lie?

[@ahrarabid1038]

Is an iron block better than aluminium block for daily abuse?

[@jeong-ilkajokaya3849]

@@ahrarabid1038 I think iron is strong that aluminium, but is it heavier. Fact check that information. If so, yes iron is better for daily boost and abuse.

[@MrGsteele]

Interesting video. The advent of machined billet blocks addresses many of these issues. It would be interesting to compare 7075 Aluminum with 6061; it's as strong as steel - but hard to machine. Racing is driving the costs down of everything, as always. They are the early adopters that blaze the trail for moving a technology into affordable common use. Nice job on the video.

[@Coyote27981]

Drinking game, take a shot every time he says "aluminum engine block"

[@d4a]

Here's a better one, take a shot every time you just hear "engine block". You'll be drunk 2 minutes into the video :)

[@tojiroh]

@@d4a was about to suggest that 😂

[@SendItGarage]

Coyote27981 and skull a beer every time he says iron engine block Challenge accepted

[@SuperDirk1965]

Why not eat two turds everytime you hear engine blawk

[@MarinTheFirestarter]

@Adrian black power

[@jdoyle4811]

English is not your native language but you still make an excellent bilingual Instructor in either language.. Thanks for the lesson I enjoyed the specifics in engine block material.

[@mvnorsel6354]

So many non English people pronounce it i ron, not knowing the r is silient😅.

[@danronck3636]

Amazing unformation and humor combined, great channel man, keep it up🙏🙏🙏

[@DouglaZandem]

This video just covered my whole semester, thanks my man

[@a2cryss]

2:52 "two turds"

[@biggityboggityboo8775]

Indeed 😁

[@maverick2242]

I heard that 2 Made me think of Count Von Count on Sesame Street ... 1 Turd 2 Turd 3 Turd ah ha ha

[@edwardrichardson8254]

Great summary thx! Over 30 years ago the Formula 1 Brabhams team used a turbocharged 1.5 liter cast iron 4-cyl BMW engine (that powered a production sedan for decades) to achieve 1400hp by using a single turbocharger nearly as big as the engine with 80 psi of boost. It killed everything and the FIA did what the FIA does: they banned it. It was the BMW M12 (M10 in production livery). With this less-is-more approach they were able to better play the heat game you mentioned and scale down the entire car. Wiki: “The main advantage of the inline-4 M12 over its V6 Ferrari and Renault opposition was that, with one less turbo, two fewer cylinders and eight fewer valves, the BMW engine had lower frictional losses and, therefore, produced less waste heat. This allowed Brahbam's lead designer Gordon Murray the luxury of designing the BT52 with smaller radiators, which meant better aerodynamic efficiency and thus better straight-line speed. The BT52 was notable for its very skinny, short sidepods especially compared to the Renault, giving it better penetration through the air on circuits with long straights.” A Bugatti Veyron/Chiron W-16 with an 8-liter aluminum engine and four turbos producing similar hp requires 16.5 quarts of oil (that’s 3 gallons and an oil change is $21,000 USD)!!! There is the hidden weight cost of aluminum. There are a LOT of engine fire videos in these “Hypercars” - the videos are endless. Between the aluminum and the carbon fiber, they should throw in a complimentary NOMEX suit with each sale.

[@niko8638]

F1 engines/race engines in general are not designed to idle and city traffic in 30C summer heat... which in Veyron/Chiron is perfecty adequate for all day long. The amount of oil in 8ltr W16 is there on purpose too, its for mileage between OCIs. Hypercars are often long periods of time not driven and the oil TBN and amount is in important role. And the high cost of an oil change for Bugatti is beacuse of brand that it is, not the oil itself or complexity etc. There's not many places that can do it (certified) and can take responsibility in case of error in such expensive car.

[@proxypanda4156]

The 4 cyl option was also due to a 4 cyl being beefier than a 6 cyl. Takes more boost and abuse. They also used rocket fuel to run those Hp numbers

[@meanwhileinthegarage]

Interesting. Thank you mate.

[@igorvashkov8821]

Thank you so much for sharing all that knowledge, my friend! You're a natural born lecturer and your friendly manner of speaking adds so much charm to your videos and make them amazingly watchable - I didn't even notice how an over 20 minute clip came to an end. So exciting and dynamic! When I'm finished watching this whole playlist "Engine Bootcamp" I guess I'll be knowing more about engines than some of the workers at the local shops LOL

[@isaks3243]

I used to daily drive a tuned volvo 940 with a turbocharged 2.3l inline 4 made out of cast iron. the B230 is a great engine for building cheap power here in sweden thanks to all of the cheap tuning parts available. so getting 250 horses out of the stock engine is an easy task, even tho the stock powere is just 136 horses on a b230 low preassure turbo

[@merlingeikie]

Good work mate. Happy Christmas from your buddies in Australia

[@aterack833]

Just have iron sleeves, iron cylinder head cores (part where combustion occurs), iron piston caps even, and the whole bearing area (top and caps) be iron inserts too and you save as much of the weight as you can while having most of the benefits of iron

[@theodorgiosan2570]

GM is starting to do something similar on some of their new engines. The heads are completely aluminum, but the block has iron cylinders and main bearing structure inside an aluminum block. The advantage of an aluminum head is also that it runs cooler and doesn't suffer from detonation as much as an iron one. Even the head is screwed into iron reinforcements that extend down into the main bearing structure.

[@AbhishekK-hn4gd]

Awesome...excellent way of explaining the technicalities behind selecting Aluminium and Iron Block...in engine.

[@Roarman57]

Awesome thanks for the video! My friend and I watch your videos on FaceTime together because of the covid lockdown. He has a 240z with a L24 and I have the K-series engines my cars, plus we are both huge rotory fans so your iconic engine series is our favorite thing to watch!

[@JudsonRadio]

I don't know why, but the biggest surprise to me in this video is that the 2nd largest ingredient in aluminum alloy is silicon. Never would have though it would make up a whole ~7% of the block. Great video! Now I gotta go brush up on my materials science...

[@GemAppleTom]

The silicon is there to help with the casting process. It reduces the aluminium’s viscosity and let’s you cast into more elaborate shapes. The 6000series alloy that was mentioned doesn’t have very much silicon so needs to be machined (which increases the cost). It’s similar to the carbon is cast iron.You could make a smaller lighter structure out of steel with a much lower carbon content but you’ll struggle to cast the shape.

[@davidbonnett8954]

iron long life cheaper cost.

[@T0rpedey]

You did such a great job with this video. Extremely well explained and easy to understand. Big props.

[@maxmoughal5183]

"Other tricks up their sleeve" i see what you did there ;)

[@TENNSUMITSUMA]

I don't! I don't get it.

[@d4a]

Sleeve, as in cylinder sleeve, but also sleeve as "trick up one's sleeve".

[@TENNSUMITSUMA]

@@d4a damn it! I could have figured that out! Lord help me sometimes i'm just not that bright!

[@FoxBonly]

@@TENNSUMITSUMA hahaha...........you're me to a T! lol......LOL.....

[@ghostofsparta6579]

@@TENNSUMITSUMA 🤣🤣🤣🤣👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 its all fine some time we get hooked up to the mechanical side and we lose the slang side .. i didn't get it at 1st too LMAO

[@asimov64]

Excellent video. Thanks! I had Hyundai Lantra '98 with French made cast iron diesel engine. That engine was almost indestructible, it withstood a lot of overheatings. I can't believe, how much rugged this engine was. Yes, cast iron engines are heavy, but next important thing is, they also withstand abuse and harsh treatment. I love cast iron engines! I want whole car made from cast iron!

[@joelrogers836]

Find the 1hz landcruiser engine

[@nyronm941]

I love aluminum blocks and heads because its always that last bolt that keeps spinning, and of course whatever you where doing is covered with rtv .... :(

[@micahhill4786]

Stripping threads on aluminum blocks are my specialty

[@rmzk1783]

'Engine blocks are the skeleton of an engine' , 'engine cannot work without an engine block', 'engine blocks have been part of engines since day one'. I gather a block is very important, lol.

[@vteckid82]

This is like listening to Christopher Walken talk after an extended stay in Europe.

[@korybeckwith834]

Lol

[@christophermarshall5765]

I've seen a 4G54 Mitsubishi cylinder block cracked along the full length along the top between the bolt holes on the exhaust manifold side. It had also cracked down to the expansion plugs, & along the block between them. Only a rib of iron between cylinders 2 & 3 was holding that part of the block in place.

[@sanneo1]

I love your narration and knowledge you have and share. As always great explained. Thank you!

[@johnmeyers3844]

i love this channel! I learn a ton from your efficient and detailed presentation.

[@tojiroh]

In short, the "right" engine choice depends on what you want to do with it. Boost it to the heavens and run it like a hun? Iron all the way! Modest gains plus efficiency and lightness? Aluminium team, baby! Also, 300th like. WITNESS ME! 🙏🏼

[@TENNSUMITSUMA]

What's a hun?!

[@dozernose1155]

@@TENNSUMITSUMA think he meant Hoon

[@hewasdeadwhenigotthere7109]

Youre so cool

[@lobehold2263]

Maybe he meant the huns as in Attila the hun. They were nomads and traveled like crazy 🤷‍♂️

[@lordzeuscannon6400]

not necessarily. like the 1UZ v8 can take more boost than most iron blocks, being aluminum. the engine is just as bulletproof as a 2jz and can easily take 1000hp

[@bonvoyagewanderlust1734]

What is engine blacks ??

[@AntonioPhillips-w8r]

😂😂😂😂😂❤

[@alfredotovar8984]

Great video! You should consider making a video on just talking about the different materials that have been used in production cars and in motorsport! Including the aluminum-beryllium alloy that was banned in Formula 1! Oh, also a video on banned technologies used in racing! Thank you 🙏🏼

[@pavelslama5543]

German Tiger 1 heavy tank also had an aluminum block in its first production series.

[@svinche2]

Because of that Aluminum Maybach V12 engine installed, many Tigers & King Tigers catches fire, when they are hit by rounds fired from other tanks/artillery and still not being penetrated? Why ? Because aluminum petrol engine blocks eventualy cracked and seep oil over hot exhaust and catch fire.

[@Midnight_Rider96]

I've handled many ls aluminum and iron blocks in a rebuilding shop. The difference is huge, I can pick up and carry an aluminum LS block easily. Iron LS will kill you trying to pick up by hand.

[@donniebaker5984]

Aluminum small block chevy is 50 pounds lighter weight than an iron small block chevy ...

[@perpetualgrin5804]

Save on gym membership, get iron😅.

[@bobbysenterprises3220]

"up their sleeve". I see what ya did there. Excellent.

[@exoticcreature3059]

Iron block or I walk. In 1999 a kid's movie came out. The Iron Giant. It wasn't called The Aluminum Giant. Even movie directors know iron is superb.

[@d4a]

That made me laugh! It wasn't called the aluminum giant. Gold!

[@Noooo23523]

aluminium man

[@exoticcreature3059]

@@Noooo23523 Cat man.

[@RustyDockLight]

Iron all day erry day

[@knocksensor3203]

Soo satisfying hearing “block” over and over and over

[@lucassapiens3725]

Loved the video. I know its a little niche but there are also magnesium alloy blocks such as the bmw n52. It would be interesting to see how magnesium blocks stack up against aluminum.

[@a.fritzbecker8986]

Scary thought in the even of a vehicle fire!

[@loludied552]

Magnesium is lighter and has better vibration/shock absorbing than aluminium, but it has poor corrosion resistance and is flammable

[@JunkCCCP]

Magnesium is ever so slightly lighter. It tends to corrode and erode much faster, especially if you use the wrong coolant or don't change it often enough. It's a pain in the ass to do any work on (welding and machining). That's about it.

[@NameNaameNameeNaamee]

Thanks for this video! I now understand, why Renault/Nissan opted for an iron block on their (presumably) last Diesel engine, the M9R. It's going to be used most of all in commercial vehicles like the Primastar and Interstar / Trafic and Master, and therefor is optimized for longevity and resiliance. It's quite impressive how they managed to make the vehicles so fuel efficient nonetheless, but I guess with commercial vehicles, the percentage of weight the block is accountable for is smaller than in a passenger car, so that disadvantage shrinks in importance. I think - and I hope I interpreted your video correctly - this is a perfect example of when a cast iron block makes sense and still can be a super modern and environmentally friendly choice.

[@TheGreyTest]

Buick 215... also known as the Rover V8 in Britain (and elsewhere). 👌🏻

[@janeblogs324]

You're killing me

[@7s29]

Yeah, I've got one of these in my 1988 Honda Legend.

[@VAspeed3]

True. Rover bought the design and some tooling from GM in the 80's I think. Upped the displacement from 3.5L to 3.9L. My father drove a 1962 Olds Cutlass with that engine about 200,000 miles back in the day when 100,000 was about all you could expect from a car.

[@a.fritzbecker8986]

@@VAspeed3 Late 1960s actually, and they were still making them for Range Rovers up until 2000 at least, though with a bigger displacement. They used to use P6 Rovers equipped with the 215 for cop cars over in Britain, it was the only thing there that could compete with the Jaguars the crooks had.

[@TheGreyTest]

@@VAspeed3 Rover did a whole range of sizes of that V8, from the 3.5 litres up to 4.6 litres. Other car makers used it too, modified and sized to suit their particular needs, TVR for example with the 5.0 litre in their Griffith 500. ✌🏻

[@kyleklunk6333]

Hello, first off Im a big fan! I love your videos! This is just a suggestion, Ive been reading about the GMC 60deg V6 made from 59-74. It was interesting just because of the story behind it. It was made a a work horse. They are some of the largest displacement v6 ever made. They were made with all sorts of extra features to make the extremely tough and very high torque work. The largest v6 in the line was a 478ci / 7.8ltrs ! IDK i just thought that was interesting. :) Take care! ~Kyle

[@thepatriot8514]

Iron block & heads can with stand overheating more so than aluminum.

[@blackericdenice]

Wow really

[@davidperry4013]

But aluminum blocks are less likely to crack in case of coolant freezing

[@mrsorgic4790]

In theory. I have seen EJ engines overheated to hell and back and as soon as you fix whatever was behind the leak, it runs like nothing happened to it. Whereas I know iron blocks have cracked under similar torture. So it just depends on application.

[@chandrashekharwankhade4566]

is it true? iron is better conductor of heat? ...does it mean an aluminium engine fails at 150 degrees Celsius n An iron engine still working at 200 degrees Celsius? can anyone answer me ?

[@magicstew45]

@@chandrashekharwankhade4566 depends on the situation. Aluminum dissapates heat better so you're less likely to bring it to a temp that will cause issue short of a catastrophic failure that would kill either an aluminum or iron block. Aluminum will generally crack and break at a lower temp temperature but like I said won't be an issue without catastrophic failure.

[@Ancient_Souls]

Very well done bro. I like how he is saying BOoOsT and BLAK 😅

[@Crusher103]

lol this guy's voice and speech pattern is soothing somehow.

[@auggie803]

-Soothing? Come on,,Get real.

[@TheHengeProphet]

If this was mentioned, I don't know if I missed it, but a significant factor in the massive rise of the aluminum block was the use of AlSi (Aluminum Silicate, or casting aluminum). Casting more pure aluminum has difficulties in that it can leave voids in the final product, which will leave surfaces that must either be machined out, filled, or cause the product to be recycled; however, AlSi does not suffer this issue while casting, but is much more difficult to machine as the silicate part of the alloy wears down tooling much faster.

[@knocksensor3203]

So satisfying to hear “ aluminum engine blocks”😅😅

[@spedracer55]

blahcks

[@circusboy90210]

Blauxs

[@MigotRen]

As an Rs3 driver ive looked a bit into the engines as audi switched to aluminum block in the mid 2010s for their 2.5 Inline 5 engines. It was done to get rid of a lot of weight as these are heavy engines for relatively small cars and focused on reducing friction in the engine. Neverheless the Iron blocks were already practically motorsport class as they used vemicular graphite cast iron. Tensile strength of 450N/mm² or about 65.000 psi and improved heat conductivity.

[@michaelmulto8013]

I still choose cast iron engine block for it's thoughness

[@mattjohnson8902]

and longevity

[@jlo13800]

@@mattjohnson8902 Better for 2 stroke cycle conversions:www.4btswaps.com/attachments/2cyclesbc-jpg.6839/

[@brawdz31]

Cast iron is the way

[@angelgjr1999]

The old iron block v8 engines last forever and can take a beating.

[@nikosucksatskating]

​@@angelgjr1999yup, got a 93 cadillac fleetwood brougham on 330k miles still kicking. Those v8s are indestructible.

[@salmanalaalinew]

Honestly one of the best informative and entertaining channels.. Excellent.. thanks for the great content and efforts

[@nonyadamnbusiness9887]

I've always found it funny to see people talking about how light their aluminum engine is, then go look in their car and there's 100 pounds of bullshit rattling around in the trunk.

[@imthedarknight-8755]

Yeah and depending on the driver you might add 100 pounds, if you've got passengers too it's a joke

[@octaviangeorge5455]

Y but.. If they had iron engine..the 100 pounds of bullshit will still be there

[@gmac8852]

Plus a hundred pound speaker box and 30 pounds of amplifiers.

[@BlackStar250874]

As usual: Excellent. No need to add anything. Five stars to You !

[@MOTOFLIXGARAGE]

sometime back Perhaps Isuzu showcased an engine made out of ceramic, it was. 1000cc engine with 200 bhp, not sure what happened to it.

[@mitri5389]

it cracked...

[@MOTOFLIXGARAGE]

@@mitri5389 lolzzz

[@David-lr2vi]

MOTOFLIX. It got turned into a coffee cup!

[@CharlieK92004]

I think they made a small diesel 4 cyl with ceramic cyl liners in the eighties. It was a limited production prototype kinda thing. Not much power, but 50+ mpg!

[@a.fritzbecker8986]

There were a few companies that experimented with ceramic blocks, I think Ford was another. They may not have made it to market for cost reasons, not the material but the manufacturing costs.

[@byronrichards3001]

Thank you kindly for this upload.Your knowledge and experience is very much appreciated. Keep informing the people...

[@carlosmayorca4642]

I love your channel! It's just a gold mine of information. From videos like this, to repair tutorials. Just amazing overall! I appreciate you taking the time to do such great videos. Can't wait till you get to a million subscribers. You deserve it!

[@jamesadams2333]

Cadillac Northstar or Chrysler 2.7 anyone? Aside from gasoline engines, id never trust an aluminum diesel engine, but technology has come along way. Awesome video and keep up the great work.

[@richardgraham4827]

Amazing videos...Great work ...how about SteelRods vs Titanium

[@angelomelojer7719]

Hey i,m drin Austria i love your Videos ! I so Work with Cars and there Motors more than 15 years before i See your Videos i've Bern meening i know all abouth Motors but i learn so much from you !thank you so much and dont Stop make Videos ! In German we say : danke vielmals fürs deine perfekten erklährungen du bist der beste

[@carnutal3627]

Thanks for this great video. I was wondering why the engine in my mk 7 GTI was quieter than the engine in my merc glc 300. It doesn’t make sense considering the cost difference of the cars. The VW has a very sweet turbo motor which I love to rev the hell out of. But the Merc engine seems to rev easier and faster albeit with more noise. Maybe you can explain why some engines rev faster than others

[@connorray9801]

That's Throttle response it just varies because of different throttlebody sizing and cam profile, flywheel weight, rotating assembly weight