Ditch The 3 Cylinder?

[Aviator]

Seen some comments about the so called "metro 3 cylinder" causing vibrations like having a dead cylinder.
Just to clear some issues 1 cylinder, 3,5 7, or anything else does not matter in the case of rough running or concerns for vibration.
It is all down to the crankshaft design.There is 360 degrees in a circle so no mater how many cylinders whether 1 cylinder or anywhere to a million as long as the crankshaft to piston timing is evenly divided the engine can run smooth as glass.

 

[CheeseheadEarl]

Not exactly. Remember this is a 4 stroke engine. A 3 fires 2 in one revolution, 1 in the next.

There are ways to smooth em out, but they're not an inherently balanced design.

 

[Ty]

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine_balance

I was going to get intentioned balancing just for fun but I definitely died to let wiki do it. Scan down to the 3 cylinder section. The numbers preferred to in the paragraph refers to the type of balance that sentence is referring to.

 

[JDub]

I read they are using a weighted flywheel instead of a balance shaft inside the engine to reduce cost and complexity.

 

[zelio]

Seen some comments about the so called "metro 3 cylinder" causing vibrations like having a dead cylinder.
Just to clear some issues 1 cylinder, 3,5 7, or anything else does not matter in the case of rough running or concerns for vibration.
It is all down to the crankshaft design.There is 360 degrees in a circle so no mater how many cylinders whether 1 cylinder or anywhere to a million as long as the crankshaft to piston timing is evenly divided the engine can run smooth as glass.

I have owned one 3 cylinder engine vehicle in the 1990s but I can't claim to understand what you are talking about. However, I do know I loved that car. It was a total delight to drive and I am looking forward to owning a 3 cylinder Elio. :-) Z

 

[olddog1946]

Don't knock it til you try it !!! I've heard that somewhere before..can't remember where, but since the motor isn't built yet and won't be finished in the next day or two, why are we so sure it will be a vibrator??? Give it a chance !!

 

[imageon]

Since this is a built from scratch engine. With all the new tec. Pretty sure it will be mike out to the enth degree.
Smoooooooth as glass.
MK

 

[Tomg3rd]

Lots of 3 cylinder motorcycle engines out there and they run just fine. I'm sure the Elio will be OK.

 

[Jeff Porter]

I have owned one 3 cylinder engine vehicle in the 1990s but I can't claim to understand what you are talking about. However, I do know I loved that car. It was a total delight to drive and I am looking forward to owning a 3 cylinder Elio. Z

I owned a 3-cyl car in the 90's too! Subaru Justy. Dang thing would overheat if stuck in traffic, even in the dead of winter. It really needed the air moving through to help cool it.

 

[jtmarten]

Seen some comments about the so called "metro 3 cylinder" causing vibrations like having a dead cylinder.
Just to clear some issues 1 cylinder, 3,5 7, or anything else does not matter in the case of rough running or concerns for vibration.
It is all down to the crankshaft design.There is 360 degrees in a circle so no mater how many cylinders whether 1 cylinder or anywhere to a million as long as the crankshaft to piston timing is evenly divided the engine can run smooth as glass.

3cyl can be made smoother by utilizing a balance shaft or a heavier flywheel/harmonic balancer. They are not inherently smooth. If you want a smooth engine, a V12 provides the smoothest geometry.