OK- this is a three part question!

[Brucelee]

Correct!!!!!!!!

Do you read gizmag also?

No prize, sorry! Just GLORY!!!!!!!!!

[Adam]

I didn't know Karl Benz invented the "pancake" motor!

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by Brucelee

Correct!!!!!!!!

Do you read gizmag also?

No prize, sorry! Just GLORY!!!!!!!!!

Hi,

Naw, I bet he's just the fastest with a Search Engine - see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal-combustion_engine

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[CJ_Boxster]

I must admit, i did use wikipedia for questions 1 and 2. 3rd question i just typed the words First boxer turbo engine and copied the text from the #1 search result and paste it here.

[MNBoxster]

@CJ_Boxster,

That's OK, that's what the Internet is for - the Information Age...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[Brucelee]

Its all good, that is how we learn.

BTW- if you haven't checked out gizmag, it is GREAT if you love technology of all kinds.

[z12358]

I was just thinking the other day... What are the pros/cons of a boxer engine vs a vertical move (standard) engine? I would think that horizontal movement would be less stable (less robust) and more prone to failure as you have gravity allways pulling the cylinders downwards and off their axis of movement. How does the boxer engine compensate against this pull? Ideally, one would want the cylinders moving perfectly up/down to avoid this gravitational bias.

Could this also be at the root of the RMS and/or IM shaft problems we've discussed here? Just a cummulative effect of the slight gravitational pull over millions of cylinder cycles. Just wondering...

Disclaimer: I know nothing about mechanical engineering, so my question may be very stupid.

Z.

[Cloudsurfer]

There are several inherent advantages to the boxer engine layout. One being they are more balanced, especially in flat 6 and flat 12 configurations. Of note, the only engines that are perfectly balanced without counterweights and/or balance shafts are the straight 6, V-12, flat 6 and flat 12. This makes for a smooth running engine without parasitic loss from counterweights and/or balance shafts whch also tends to minimize engine wear and promote durability (this trait can be somewhat questioned in Porsche flat 6 and Ferrari flat 12 motors, but Subaru does VERY well with this).

When you start factoring in the forcres than a reciprocating, internal combusion engine undergoes, the 1G of gravity pulling the engine and its internals downward is a very minscule percentage of the lods that combusion forces place on the engine internals. Also, keep in mind that gravity is pulling on every part of the car and engine in a linear, constant force.

The other main advantage has to do with the motor's mass in the car. By placing the bulk of the mass low in the car, it promotes a lower center of gravity, which helps chassis balance and handling.

It is unfortunate that we are still fighting with IM and RMS failures in these motors after so many years, not to mention what is supposed to be stellar German engineering, however as a group, these motors have proven to be very reliable.

Patrick

[Ronzi]

One of the characteristics of the boxer configuration is that it puts the mass of the engine very low in the chassis. Not that big a deal in a pickup truck, but in a sports car it can make a difference.