4/19    ME question. What is the difference between an engine of different
        styles but of the same volume displacement.  Like, what is the
        difference between a 3.0 liter inline-4 and a 3.0 liter inline-6.
        How is 6 cylinder better than 4 in terms of performance and
        efficiency?  Same question for a 3.0 liter inline-6 vs. a 3.0
        liter V-6.
        \_ The smaller the engine, the more efficient.  The larger the engine,
           the more powerful.  Therefore the most efficient engine doesn't
           exist and the most powerful would fill the universe.
        \_ More cylinders == higher revving.  Fewer cylinders == more torque.
          \_ ???? The Honda S2000 is a 4 cylinder that revs very very high.
             What are you smoking ? -eric
          \_ Fewer cylinders does NOT give you more torque.
          \_ For the same engine size, it tends to.  Look at twin bikes.
                \_ RIDE BIKE!
        \_ and where do valves come in?
                \_ In the engine compartment, normally installed at factory.
        \_ This is all wrong.  Fewer cylidners means higher revving because
           there is less rotational mass in the camshaft, valve lifters, etc.
           4 vs. 6 vs. 8 and inline vs. V refers to the stagger of the pistons
           and firing orders, etc.  So you get different power strokes per
           rotation of the cam.  The 8 will be smoother and deliver more
           power strokes per rotation.  The 4 can produce similar power but
           demands higher RPMs to do so.  If you had an inline 8, then the
           camshaft would lift 2 cylinders at a time, in 45 degree increments
           which means any 2 would be at the bottom, half-up, half-down, and
           about to fire...it makes no sense.  You could fire 4 together but
           there would be a long compression stroke with no power delivery.
           This is the kind of stuff that V, inline, 4, 6, 8 determines...
           Not horsepower.  Horsepower is purely determined by the surface
           area of the piston getting shoved down...the bigger the piston,
           the better except for mass and interia...it all balances out.