How a 3-Cylinder Engine Works? Pros & Cons | Top Cars Using I3 Engines

Types of Three-Cylinder Engines Available:
First Inline3, V3, and W3.
The Inline-three engine (also called an inline-triple or Straight-three engine) is a three-cylinder piston engine with cylinders arranged in a line along a common crankshaft. Straight-three engines have been used in various motorcycles, cars, and agricultural machinery.
The V3 engine is a V engine with two cylinders in one bank and one cylinder in the other bank. It is a rare configuration mostly used in two-stroke engines for motorcycles competing in Grand Prix motorcycle racing.
A W engine is a type of piston engine where three banks use the same crankshaft, resembling the letter W when viewed from the front. Due to their shape, these are also known as "broad arrow" engines.
Advantages of 3 - cylinder engines
Compact size: Having one cylinder less to accommodate gives manufacturers more space in the engine bay.
Better fuel efficiency: The fewer the cylinders, the lesser the area for metal-to-metal contact, and the lesser such contact, the better the fuel efficiency of the car.
Less raw material usage: The fewer the number of cylinders, the lesser the total material required to manufacture the engine. This gives a significant advantage to the manufacturer in terms of cost savings that they can transfer towards lowering the price of the car.
Lighter weight: This is a pretty straightforward advantage.
3 Cylinder Engines | Disadvantages
Less Responsive Engine: The lower amount of cylinders makes the engine respond in a bit delayed manner. Although the difference seems negligible, the difference can be felt by someone who has driven or is used to driving a 4-cylinder.
Not Refined: A 3-cylinder engine requires more work than a 4-cylinder engine due to the lower number of cylinders. The 3 cylinders perform most of the work against the 4 cylinders, making them a tad bit noisier than their 4 cylinder counterparts.
--- Time Stamp --
00:00 - Introduction to 3-Cylinder Engine
01:23 - Types of 3-Cylinder Engines
02:11 - Inline-3 Engine
08:54 - V3 Engine
10:07 - W3 Engine
11:14 - Balancing of 3-Cylinder Engine
12:33 - Top Cars that use 3-cylinder Engine
15:42 - Why 3-Cylinder engines have a Bad Reputation
16:41 - Which is Better?
17:08 - Wrap Up
All images used in this video are under a creative commons license.
Watch our video on 'V' Engines: • Different 'V' Engine C...
Watch video on 'W' Engines: • Different 'W' Engine C...
Watch the video on Inline Engines: • Different "Inline Engi...
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[@gazzafloss]

I've owned a Mitsubishi Mirage with a 1.2 litre, 3 cylinder, naturally aspirated engine for 10 years and 120,000 klms, it has been ultra reliable and consistently gives 4.5 litres per hundred klm, (approx 60 mpg), I find the engine to very adequate to the chassis dynamics of this small car and great, economical transport.

[@yethuraj4873]

Maruti Suzuki Wagonar 4 cylinder petrol engine gives 24km per liter average. The company claims 26km per liter. 1gallon=3.78 liter so 3.78*24=90.72.

[@jericocabaya8252]

How well does it run on a freeway?

[@wmhamel3331]

1989 Geo Metro Hatchback 1L 3cyl, 5sp, 50mpg, 5 doors, a/c, etc Incredible high torgue engine, no lugging with the long stroke, I could drive to Las Vegas at 90mph, great car, I put 200,000miles on it after 10 years and it still looked and ran like new. The earlier version 1988 Chev version had a turbo and was a beast.

[@mronepercent5799]

I'm a first time car owner. Thanks for this now I have more knowledge to my Toyota I3 engine.

[@SASMacDroid]

I find the sound of the 1.0 ecoboost Fiesta amazing sounds more aggressive than a 4 cylinder

[@mechguy8459]

Its a comprehensive guide on 3-cylinder engines. Amazing 👌🏻❤️

[@TheEngineersPost]

Glad you think so!

[@knrz2562]

@@TheEngineersPostWas 3 cylinders used on motorcycles?!. And how about the rotar rx7 engine what is that?!.Box engines?!. And if possible can you do twin turbo or turbo+super charger on a 3 cylinder engine?!.

[@pipodeclown3782]

I've owned the Suzuki GT750(2-stroke) and my last bike was a Laverda Jota 180. Both great bikes. The Suzuki was also dangerous fast!

[@leewaggy1989]

I have 06 Daytona 675 speed triple and i have had a few inline 4 motorcycles and the torque I get off the inline 3 is way more than the 4.

[@philbenson6041]

I drive a 3 cylinder Mitsubishi Mirage as my daily driver. Great little car

[@extralock1045]

Same!

[@jacksonwanyoko273]

Having someone do a video on 3 cylinder engines only is a privilage thanks man

[@paulpobsanderson6219]

I had a Honda NSR 400, Nissan Juke 1.2 3 cylinder and a Peugeot 2008 GT line 1.2 3 Cylinder, every one was quick enough. Technology really has moved with the times.

[@gravemind6536]

And they all sound like they're misfiring. Horrible drone boxes, if it has less than 4 cyclinders I won't own it, same goes for cars without a mechanical handbrake, manual gearbox and physical start key. Any car with auto brake and lane keeping assist is a big no. My current car is the newest car I'll ever own.

[@jorgenascimento9710]

@@gravemind6536 If you don't have money to get into the newest car technology dont cry, go work earn some money. Older cars are just that old, newer car keep improving everything season. Bug smashed. And if you think 4 is a balanced engine go make some research why a 4 in line needs so many balancing rings on crank, more then a ford 3 inline 1.0 that produces less side unbalancing centrifugal force then a 4 inline. btw ford 3 in line is the best from all car makers with almost none balancing rings, using a unbalanced flywheel and a unbalanced poly to counter the engine, making it very smooth. I have family with the ford 3 inline and if nobody tells, most people cant even notice its a 3 cylinder car. Go study, ready some books on physics, use google, dont just spew nonse.

[@mariobotti1952]

Absolutely happy about my GR Yaris engine

[@raven_mtf1202]

I love my smart fortwo 453, it sounds great gives me the power I want when I want & let's me hear the turbo flutter when I put it in sequencial :3

[@Gregsheppo66]

Back in the 80’s I had a Yamaha V-Max V4. It was so powerful it was banned in some markets. Then I managed to buy a Vincent Black Shadow from 1955 which did 150 mph. Insanely fast & advanced for its era. It was nicknamed the plumber’s nightmare from all the external hydraulic lines. Today I drive a 2022 Subaru WRX, twin scroll turbo 2.4 litre boxer engine.

[@rhiantaylor3446]

I have a 3 cylinder BMW turbo diesel and I don't like the relative lack of flexibility that inevitably follows the reduction in firing strokes. I like to be able to pull away gently at low revs - maybe 1100 rpm for a 4cyl but the 3 cyl is not happy below about 1500 rpm. I also have a 5 cyl volvo that seems happy pulling away from idle - about 900 rpm.

[@ahnafzahid9450]

I love the GR Yaris and the Gamera only for this reason

[@1888fel]

I love how he called the gemera a family car

[@recon1673]

IT does have 4 seats lol

[@sandasturner9529]

Lol

[@jhorniel9320]

It is a family car are u dumb? Watch the vids they put out about the gemera😂😂

[@whocares.u3024]

It is though

[@mpriid]

well, it is

[@tonyg9290]

My daily driver is a 1994 Geo metro 1.0 3cyl. love this engine especially because it is non interference engine

[@rob5944]

We have a a triple (naturally aspirated) in our peugoet 2016 108. It puts out around 67 bhp and returns 55mpg overall. You have to use it's tall gearing to wind it up a hill but at 99 g/km it attracts on road tax in the UK. The car is a around 900kg so just adequate really, nippy around town.

[@initiald.h]

I am even using these engine knowledge in my Initial D series

[@g4obb]

road tested a 1 litre 3 cyl arona.....brought it...stunning performance. Unreal.

[@grgfourtinas]

Ill take a v12!

[@jimpie231]

Back in the 1998, I had 2 vehicles. One was a 92 Geo Metro with a 3cylinder 1.0 liter engine, stick, no options basic car with 70,000 miles. I purchased this car for $100 and it had front end damage. The other was a 1993 Suzuki Swift with a 4cylinder 1.3 liter engine, stick, no options basic car with 5,000 miles. I purchased this car for $2500 (salvage title). The Suzuki was dropped from the car hauler when it was delivered and had 0 miles and it was totaled. The gal I purchased it from sold it 4 years later. The Geo Metro was a gift to my brother-in-law when he came from Poland. The Metro was repaired, at a cost of less than $500 total, including a hood, paint, clutch and the $100 price of the car. Both of these cars were made by Suzuki and were reliable. The Metro came with only the 3 cylinder and thr Swift only with the 4 cylinder engine. The 4cylinder was stronger than the 3cylinder, everything else was the same. My broth-in-law kept the Metro for 19 months, he would use it to work for 2 weeks on $5 worth of gas. He then sold it at work to a gal for $1150, he needed a bigger car. The Swift I sold 5 months later to my nephew for what I paid for it, he wanted it badly. About a year later the Metro was doing well, but the Swift developed an electronic problem that was intermittent and unreliable and it was sold. Both of these cars were great on mileage, I never really saw or felt any differences between them. Thanks…Jim PS….I have rented a 1990 Ford Fiesta 1.0 liter 4 cylinder, stick, basic car in 1990 for a tour in Belgium, West Germany, East Germany and Poland. I put on 4500 kilometers in 3 weeks. It had great gas mileage and was comparable to the above cars. Mechanically it was no problem, however it was new and I lost the spare tire on the Autobahn in West Germany at the end of my trip. It was not properly fastened at the factory, being under the car in a covered storage, when it dropped the cover was dragging on the road surface. Luckily traffic was low and I retrieved it and replaced it. Gasoline in Europe was about $4.50 a gallon, in 1990.

[@laranaarana]

I just purchased a 2024 Chevy Trax with a 1.2L 3-cylinder turbo engine 3 months ago and it has been performing well. I sue it as a daily commuter to my job and I am quite pleased with its performance and fuel economy. Let's see how many years of good service it provides.

[@wandameadows5736]

You just bought it & all cars drive good brand new. You don't know how good a car is until it hits 100K. 3 cylinder Engines in SUVs with Turbos is like a person on Methamphetamine. Sure at first it seems great with your body on overdrive but you age faster just like a small turbo engine. Also these small turbos require better seals because they produce a lot more pressure & pressures what causes engine seals & gaskets to blow. Also these engine have Direct Injection which causes carbon build up which is a nightmare to clean & will cause constant emissions codes. The truth is they didn't build these for longevity & if you dropped a v6 in these same bodies with that transmission they'd be so much more reliable & probably last a long long time. The only good thing about a 3 cylinder is there gonna create a lot of job opportunities for Mechanics & there's a lot of room to work under the hood. Personally i'd rather have the hood closed as much as possible.

[@namits-cine_visuals]

Make middle piston bigger than other two this will solve the vibration problem 😛

[@richardtheweaver4891]

Yep, but use the perhaps triple-sized (and double weight) middle piston both as a (two-stroke) re-expansion cylinder for the other two (four-stroke) combustion cylinders AND as a positive crankcase pump that feeds crankcase vapors to the oxygenating catalytic converter instead of the current intake vacuum system that feeds crankcase goop into the induction system, which gunks everything up, especially when direct injection is used. This keeps the induction system clean and means that the reducing cat will see oxygen-free conditions while the oxygenating cat will see oxygen rich conditions, improving both cats. It works because the middle cylinder is bigger than the other two combined, so pressure in the crankcase wavers. Add a check valve from the intake to the crankcase and another from the crankcase to the oxygenating cat (which is always after the reducing cat). Way cheaper emissions system that works far better, too. (Patent pending 1/8/24)

[@crpro5420]

I owned three 3 cyl cars since 2011. Now I have a toyota vitz 1krfe 1.0 mated to a cvt. Its is not that peppy but after gaining some speed it happiy pulls away. And also its not that efficient in bumper to bumper traffic compared to 1.5 4 cyl cars. But its quite on par with them in highway efficiency

[@stephendodge4086]

I have a Vauxhall Astra K SRI NAV 1.4 petrol with a cvt gearbox with a 3 cylinder engine ,I purchased this car new in 2021 and I believe the engine is a GM engine ( maybe you can confirm this, or not? ) this is the only 3 cylinder car I have ever had or driven and, I have to say that that power it has is surprisingly good and, it's very good on fuel returning on a long journey 56 miles to a gallon.

[@nickstevens3139]

My three cylinder XSR Yamaha 900 has a powerful and very responsive motor. It feels like the motor has a turbo.

[@extralock1045]

Thanks! Yes, I own an i3, it's in my 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage.

[@dannybryant6873]

Father purchased a new John Deere 1020 tractor. 3 cylinder, no turbos, worked fine. Smaller tractor good for pulling a 3 bottom plow.

[@arturpisarek4692]

As I thought, the simulation confirmed that in a 4 stroke 3 cylinder engine, it has one BLIND shaft revolution when it is NOT generating power, therefore it is against the 4 stroke duty cycle principle!

[@Mr.6speed200]

Love❤️❤️❤️ form Bangladesh

[@elwetskie2588]

GOT MITSUBISHI MIRAGE AND IT'S DOING GOOD.

[@mikeallan7814]

Daihatsu.the kind of 3 cylinder engine!!

[@chris5k132]

I drive a 3 cylinder 1litre engine. Its quite peppy and has enough power for my everyday drives.

[@joysirseeya2902]

Very best 👍

[@TheEngineersPost]

Thanks 😊

[@joysirseeya2902]

@@TheEngineersPost your most welcome dear 🙏

[@davidatrakchi2707]

You forgot the Peugeot 3 cylinder turbo charged 130HP engine which is used in the new 308 plus other cars

[@n1k0flow]

Just doing research for 2024 Buick Encore GX

[@alvaromolestinat]

I have a Peugeot 2008 GT with a 3 cylinder engine with 155hp 240Nm. 💪🏻 it’s a little beast!!!

[@robinsattahip2376]

I got 200,000 miles out of a Geo Metro with a 3 cylinder engine and manual transmission.

[@KoKo-ix6ee]

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 Thank you 😎😎😎 Please,I don't understand ,(6)Cylinder engine explain 😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇

[@andyman8630]

Daihatsu were doing rather good 3 cylinder cars in the 80's, like the Charade

[@rafysugiri]

I own a Nissan Kicks e-Power. Its 3 cylinder engine is only used for charging the battery and only the electric motor drive the wheels.

[@cwkchicky]

3 cyl engine need to come with proper crackshaft configuration and weight balancing to make it perfect

[@davix8669]

In other words, the advantages are all for the manufacturer and the cons are all for the consumers for car engines

[@sharvinkrishnan4939]

Do you have pdf version for this.

[@Technotranceism]

I'm surprised they haven't tried to implement a tri-axis engine, with each cylinder at either 60 degrees,or 120 degrees! Lubrication sealing would be a pita, but use of a dry sump system for 2, or all 3 cylinders could possibly work!

[@salvadordollyparton666]

uhh, that's called a radial engine... and they've been around just about as long as multicylinder engines in general... and you either have a wet or dry sump... not this cylinder is dry and this one's somehow gonna be wet, absolutely not how it works.

[@bruucunha]

From my experience, the hyundai turbocharged Kappa 3-cylinder performs way better than a naturally aspirated 4-cylinder 1.6L Gamma engine, at the same fuel consumption. The vibration is mild nuisance tho.

[@QuietStormX]

Inline 4, 6 & V8 ;-D

[@premchawla9641]

Tata punch mai hai 3sulinder engine is it ok for long term

[@philippkuhlmeyer9760]

Yes my first car opel corsa c was a 3 zyl.. it sucked… now i have a opel corsa e opc with 150hp 4 zyl. Of course it is a rocket.. and i also have a opel corsa d 75hp diesel 4 zyl. It can reach 1100km with one tank .. i like 4 Zylinder and above

[@manologomezroldan5149]

Im agree with you

[@YoNabung]

Min share mobil 2 silinder donk😀

[@breaklaw93]

Malaysia has "3 cyclinder engine car" called Proton X50 and X70

[@Graff_Zeppelin]

engine tgdi pulak tu

[@kuyamojetd]

I have a suzuki alto/celerio using an 3cylinder engine

[@ajithkannan4818]

👍👍👍👍

[@sebnemnisanci]

Well, the thing is, my new 1.1, 3-cylindered 75hp car, is performing stronger, faster than my old 1.2, 4-cylindered 80HP car. How do you explain that?

[@Azteckaliber]

I love 3 cylinder engines, but I hate the CVT that's paired with it, Toyota Raize 2022 is our car and it does well for regular city and highway, fuel efficient. but low on power, if I had the money, I'd ship Toyota GR Corola over our place and use that instead. not complaining about the durability, only complaining about the speed and how fast it picks up. there is a manual mode, but that deteriorates the CVT ( no belt problems so far... hopefully )

[@yourordinarygamer6071]

Do the rotary engine please

[@petehira1594]

Rotary' will be most popular once green hydrogen is realized.

[@ajabajmal]

I have a TATA ALTROZ NA petrol with a 3cylinder 1.2L engine

[@oceanthirteen1628]

Not sure about others. You are showing images Mini Cooper S which is a 4-pot car.

[@uditjyotidas2086]

Sir i heard that 1.5l 3cylinder engines produce more torque in the low end than a 1.5l 4cylinder engine....Is it correct sir?

[@bimble7240]

Yes they do.

[@wanyie285]

MY PROTON X50 AND KANCIL ENJIN L5.

[@christianrazvan]

"it cost less to purchase and maintain" yea right:))) And why they don't make 4 cilinders with 1 litre?

[@timdryden3778]

yamaha late '70s thru 80's xs 750& 850

[@brunotantan2833]

My grandmother end grandfather have car that is Toyota wigo with 3 cylinder 1.0 engine

[@felixalvinreyes9846]

Still the best 4 cylinder .

[@karanmadan1048]

One powerfull cylinder is enough.Most prefer smooth. Seeing this engine going in dark ages in some years. Don't know about heavy vehicle.

[@martinnovak9618]

Well, I had a lot of experience with VW platform engines. Four cylinder engines always produced mooooore torque, are more silent and definitely more reliable then same volume three cylinder. Actually I use 1.2l petrol 4-cylinder and by my experience I will never exchange it for 3-cylinder! By the way for comparison, in my private car I have 2l 4-cylinder diesel with 200hp and even the car is 1,5x heavier, AWD and is older, has lower consumption and less emissions. What a stupid EU regulations!

[@drbelli]

i own a 3 cylinder car, a citroen C3 that has 1 bad cylinder... just because, Vive la fking France HOHOHO

[@leifandersen2756]

It would never happen in USA where they like V8 engines very much!A V3 in a truck, no!

[@sorac1]

i owe the yaris gr and would not change it for any other car... super b on power and petrol..

[@Hardeepsingh...]

Second

[@leifandersen2756]

No eco boost engine for me.

[@driftking6071]

I thought the Renault Clio had a i4 and sandero and logan

[@asusrog4802]

and devel sixteen prototype v16 (4 turbo) 5000 hp faster 310mph

[@asusrog4802]

nissan note e12 not i3 i4 turbo dci 1,5 90 HP 200n\m

[@Tommysmess]

You forgot to mention geo metro 1.0 3 cylinder

[@jamesscott1189]

More vibration? I'll stay with 4 cyc., or v 6......no 3 cyc

[@wandameadows5736]

some 5 cylinders are extremely reliable, the problem with 3 cylinders in an suv is the size, they are way to small & will not be reliable long term

[@gwilliamwallace]

Gag

[@bibinabrahamalex3780]

1st 😌🤍

[@johnlucala1532]

V3, engine?? Seems complicated system..

[@rajashakergoud9339]

Translate telugu sir

[@GaneshKumar-fh9xn]

ఇది మీకు అర్ధం కాదు బ్రో. చాలా హై టెక్నాలజీ. ఈ 3 సిలిండర్ల ఇంజిన్లు మన దేశంలో మారుతి సుజుకి లో ఎప్పట్నించో ఉన్నాయి . యావత్ ప్రపంచం లో తయారైన మొత్తం 3 సిలిండర్ల కార్ల కంటే ఎక్కువ కార్లు మారుతి సుజుకి తయారు చేసింది, ఇంకా చేస్తుంది. వీళ్ళు మన దేశాన్ని ఈర్ష్య తో పరిగణించరు . మారుతి సుజుకి మొట్టమొదట 3 సిలిండర్ల ఇంజన్లతో కారు తయారు చేస్తే యావత్ ప్రపంచం హేళన చేసింది. ఇప్పుడు మన మారుతి సుజుకి యొక్క సక్సెస్ చూసి వీళ్ళందరూ ముక్కు మీద వేలు వేసుకుంటున్నారు బ్రదర్.

[@aaront100r]

Bombardier aka CanAm fucked up their triples by making them 180°

[@narcissistinjurygiver2932]

develop a cheap source of Hydrogen and make fuel cheap again. go back to larger more reliable engines

[@leifandersen2756]

I would never buy one .A 1 l engine with a Turbo,not for me.Poor engine vipped to death by a turbo ?

[@SASMacDroid]

Yea that's what i thought until i drove a 1.0 ecoboost Fiesta and i own one 😂poor engine still goes off like a rocket and has 135.000km on it with only the turbo being swapped once

[@ilkererol1986]

I hate their vibration and sound

[@chief1960]

25,000 plus tax and delivery and its at leasts 27,000 for 3cly its a rip off .CHEEP,t his country is to big for three cilinder cars, They will fail, as a FAD

[@dinahtherst8633]

Kind of like GM's piece of garbage 5-cylinder motor? GM made it purposefully backfire and sputter; a defect which would eventually caused a failed catalytic converter. GM did the same with 4 cylinder motors. Time to vote with your wallet people

[@piconano]

Cylinder and all combustion engines are obsolete. Long live electric motors. Nikola Tesla said it best; "The present belongs to you. The future is mine". What a visionary genius...!

[@antsonsunny9100]

Ok

[@ravenclawgamer6367]

Yep. But electric motors also have some shortcomings, like they run out of Torque at higher RPM(s). Or require insane cooling systems (yep, more insane than combustion engines).

[@knrz2562]

NO electric motors have their problems to overheat explode leak or run shortages There's many ways to power them though whether it be nuclear hydrogen fuel cells lithium or solar panels But gas is more cheaper all gone is the era of strong gas diesel engines I think the v10 naturally aspirated is UNMATCHED

[@knrz2562]

@@ravenclawgamer6367 correct!!!

[@petehira1594]

Unless they allow a nuclear battery which virtually never needs charging, Electric remains stagnant Combustion engines are the future V8 V10 V12 with green hydrogen. Tesla hasn't done anything special and battery tech is still the same electric motors are the same as old 1930s and I believe he just used "aaa" joined together to make the battery packs.