When it Comes to Your Engine, Size Really Does Matter

Buying a new car comes reveals of host of complicated questions. You have to determine how it will be used to find the right fit, select the proper make and model you want, and  figure out what type of mileage per litre of petrol you'll need. You'll need to do your research to determine the car's history and get all of the correct paperwork in order. Then there's the extras, like the colour of the vehicle and whether you want heated seating.

Before you get into all of that, though, there's one variable that must be considered first, as it determines many other features of the car: the engine size.

Why Does the Engine Size Matter?

The engine size of a car determines just how powerful it can be. In most cases, a smaller engine won't be as powerful as a larger engine. This is not always true, of course, because of additional factors like turbo chargers.

The power of an engine is measured in horsepower, a term that was coined in the 19^th century when inventors of steam engines compared their inventions to the horses they rode. Several different types of horsepower are often referred to, but in the UK, we often use brake horsepower to measure engine power, or BHP.

Engine power can influence your vehicle in several different ways, including:

• Increasing or decreasing its ability to tow

• Determining the speed of acceleration

• Determining a higher top speed

• Affecting fuel economy

When you go to purchase a car, you may notice that the engine is often described with a number before it. For example, you may come across 1.4-litre, 1.5-litre, or 2.0-litre engines. In most cases, these numbers will tell you how large and powerful the engine actually is, but not in all. For example, a 1.4-litre engine in a modern car may be small, but it may still be able to produce the same level of power as a 2.0-litre engine on an older car. This is due to improvements in technology over the years that have made smaller engines more powerful.

How Cylinders and Pistons Relate to Engine Power

Inside your engine there are cylinders. Inside those cylinders, there are pistons. These pistons move up and down, from top to bottom, inside the cylinders, sucking in air. The amount of air it can suck in depends greatly on how big these car parts are around and how far up and down they move inside the cylinders.

There can be a total of two, four, six, or even eight cylinders in your engine, and each of those pistons work together to inhale in as much air as possible. Why? Because gasoline can't burn in the engine without the right amount of air. In fact, there has to be at least 15 parts air to every 1 part of gasoline for the gasoline to burn.

The more air the pistons can suck into the engine, the more power potential the engine has. When you see a car for sale that has 1.4 litres, this means that with all of the car parts working together, 1.4 litres of air can be inhaled. The more pistons available to do this job, also known as displacement, the higher the maximum potential power of an engine.

The amount of fuel in the cylinders is essential as well because of the ratio of fuel to air that is needed. Let's say you have a 2.0-litre engine with four cylinders. This means that there is 2.0 litres of space in all of the cylinders altogether. To ensure a proper ratio of air to fuel, each cylinder will have about 250ml of fuel it can burn at one time.

Engine Size and Results

• Engine Size can Affect Performance- More powerful engines have a better chance of accelerating better, maxing out at higher speeds, and towing much more easily. It's important to note, though, that having a larger engine doesn't mean this will automatically be possible. Other factors, like the age of the engine and the weight of the car can disrupt the estimated maximum power of the engine.

• How it Affects Fuel Economy- In many cases, the more displacement an engine has and the larger it is, the more fuel it will burn. This is because more fuel will need to be pumped into the cylinders. This can greatly increase the fuel economy of a car. This isn't the only fact that can affect your fuel economy, though. The way you drive, how you use the car, and whether or not you've kept up with basic maintenance can also influence the amount you spend on petrol.

Why you Might Want a Larger Engine

Larger engines may be more costly to keep running, but they offer a number of benefits that some drivers will want.

• Caravan owners and those who have to travel long distances often will benefit from large-engined cars, as they have the capacity to maintain fuel economy over long distances.

• Cars with larger engines are generally much more powerful, and they tend to make a lot of noise. This is an important factor for those who enjoy fast cars.

• Larger cars, like the Range Rover, are very heavy by themselves. Those who enjoy these large cars will appreciate bigger engines because these Land Rover parts make it possible for the vehicles to get enough energy to move quickly and maintain their speed.

Drivers don't always need a larger engine, though. Modern 1.0-litre engines are often big enough to support driving on the motorway while still allowing for easy town and country driving.

The size of the engine in the car you're thinking of buying will determine how you can use it, the performance you'll get, and the fuel economy you'll enjoy. Keep in mind, though, that modern engines and those that are older are very different. Technology has come a long way, and modern engines can produce more power even when they are smaller.