What does engine size mean?
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Senior User
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What does engine size mean?
Hey guys,
What does the engine size refer to? For example, 6.0L PSD engine. What is 6.0 referring to? I know that the bigger the number the bigger the engine, but what is it exactly?
Thanks in advance
What does the engine size refer to? For example, 6.0L PSD engine. What is 6.0 referring to? I know that the bigger the number the bigger the engine, but what is it exactly?
Thanks in advance
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It is the total amount of volume displaced by the clyenders. If it is in the form of 6.0, 5.4, 4.9, 5.0 the displacement (volume) is in liters. so your 6.0 you mentioned has a total cylender volume of 6 metric liters. The more diplacment you have, USUALLY means more power but not always
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It is not the volume the cylinders will hold.
It is the volume that is swept as the pistons are moved from top dead center to bottom dead center for one complete cycle of the engine. It does not include the volume above the pistons at top dead center. Only the swept area of the pistons.
It is the volume that is swept as the pistons are moved from top dead center to bottom dead center for one complete cycle of the engine. It does not include the volume above the pistons at top dead center. Only the swept area of the pistons.
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 338
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From: Hooterville, WI
It is not the volume the cylinders will hold.
It is the volume that is swept as the pistons are moved from top dead center to bottom dead center for one complete cycle of the engine. It does not include the volume above the pistons at top dead center. Only the swept area of the pistons.
It is the volume that is swept as the pistons are moved from top dead center to bottom dead center for one complete cycle of the engine. It does not include the volume above the pistons at top dead center. Only the swept area of the pistons.
I see your point and you're correct. The formula for displacement is based (partially) on the stroke of the engine not volume of the cylinder. You can lengthen the stroke, adding displacement, and never change the cylinder volume in the block itself.
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Hooterville, WI
Using this example it would take 3 2 liter bottles to fill the area of the cylinder from bottom dead center to top dead center of the piston travel.
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Sit. Stay.
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From: Washington State
I know that but my example for was simplicity due to nature of the question. If the OP isn't sure about what engine size means maybe explaining it with terms such as "bottom dead center" might have made the explaination more confusing. 
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From: Wake Forest, NC
Fordguy0131,
Here's a little more detail if your interested. Engine size 101.
Engine Size 101: What Does it Mean? - What Should I Know About Engine Size? - Epinions.com
Here's a little more detail if your interested. Engine size 101.
Engine Size 101: What Does it Mean? - What Should I Know About Engine Size? - Epinions.com
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: SW Indiana melon fields.
I agree with this explanation. It couldn't be any simpler or more correct.
Posting Guru
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There are terms used to describe the relationship between bore diameter and stroke length in an engine. If the bore diameter is bigger than the stroke length the engine is called "Oversquare" and if the stroke length is longer than the bore diameter it is called "Undersquare".
For most engines, stroking means having to replace the crankshaft. Due to the design of a Harley engine with its "Fork and Knife" rods that ride on a common crankpin, you replace the flywheels...
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From: Long Island USA
To be totally exact, figure cylinder area (PI*(r^2)) or in English "PI R squared", multiple by the stroke, and then multiply by the number of cylinders.
I still like Monsta's explanation though
I still like Monsta's explanation though
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Best way to put it
Thanks again
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: So Oregon
Also, just for reference you can multiply the liters by *roughly* 60 to get the cubic inches. So, a 6.0 is roughly a 360. Ford and Chevy's 302 and 305 are *about* a 5.0L in case you're more of a cubic inch kind of person and don't know how it relates to metric.