Everyone knows that the Porsche 911 is one of the top sports cars in the world, if not the best, flat out (we’ve resolved to be more humble in 2014).
To paraphrase a classic line, however, “Behind every great sports car is a great engine.” The 911’s engine has gone through many iterations, sure, but what exactly are the elements that elevate it above what you’d find in a Yugo? What are the engineering concepts that would never be found in a Mack truck?
This post will detail some of the more significant elements of the 911 engine, all in preparation for our January 18 Cars & Coffee event where we invite you to enjoy a cup of our delicious coffee and learn about the 911 engine in the 2014 model. There’s nothing like articulating the virtues of a machine that’s been refined for 50 years, all to produce one of the effective sports cars ever built, and then hearing that engine thrum to life right in front of you.
So, to the knowledge.
Air cooled, at first
More than 820,000 911’s have been sold since the 50th anniversary in 2013. The engine was air-cooled for the first 35 years of its life, which means that it didn’t use liquid canals throughout the engine block and around the cylinders to absorb and remove heat generated by engine use. Instead, the air-cooled engines use lots of densely packed fins to route air through the engine.
The advantage of an air-cooled system is that it weighs much less than a water-cooled equivalent, and is especially effective with flat-six cylinder engines. A car built to race can always benefit from being as light as possible, so for the first 3 and a half decades, it was an easy call. Air-cooled engines work best with leaded gasoline, so as the fuels have become less rich, leaner and definitely unleaded, the transition to water-cooled systems in 1998 was a necessary to prevent overheating issues.
Flat-six engine configuration
A flat-six engine arranges six cylinders horizontally in two rows of three. Each row pumps away and then toward the center much as a boxer will pound his gloves together before a fight. This synchronized motion means that energy is produced very steadily and consistently, resulting in smooth revs.
It also means the engine will be wider than most engines, and thus is better placed in the middle or rear of the car so as not to interfere with the turning of the front wheels. A final benefit is that the engine is shorter than other engines, which means a lower center of gravity, which is better for handling.
And the future
Today, most of the changes happening in the 911 are to everything except the engine (electric steering instead of hydraulic, more aluminum in the body, PDK transmission, etc.) but you will find slight tweaks that affect the engine itself. The engine now shuts off at red lights to save fuel. Hydraulic engine mounts transfer the inertia of the engine going into turns.
That’s because the 911 is good. It drives fast, weighs less, thinks more, and thrills your brain more than anyone in a Yugo could ever imagine. Stop by Leith Porsche on the 18th, just for fun, to drive one around and get to know it. We think you’ll be glad you did.
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