VW V5 engine

[RB Will]

I just wondering after seeing one earlier quite how a V5 engine works. In my mind it says that this type of engine is completly unstable and a stupid idea. Do any of you know how they design the engine so it is stable and smooth? I mean is it just like any other engine or is one side weighted differently or do the cylinders have different displacement to even up the force on each side of the engine.... someone help me!

[nighthawk]

iirc the engine has equal displacement for all 5 cylinders.

The VR engines are a very narrow Vee and use a single cylinder head.

I've never had the v5 in pieces but i'd suspect it uses a balance shaft to smooth out 2nd order harmonics.

[Mr2Mike]

RB Will said:

I just wondering after seeing one earlier quite how a V5 engine works. In my mind it says that this type of engine is completly unstable and a stupid idea. Do any of you know how they design the engine so it is stable and smooth? I mean is it just like any other engine or is one side weighted differently or do the cylinders have different displacement to even up the force on each side of the engine.... someone help me!

It's not a true V engine. Cylinders 2 and 4 are simply offset slightly from the other three, making it more like an inline 5 cylinder than a V.

[deltaf]

Also has a 121 degree firing angle, usual firing order is 12453.
Actually is a very stable engine with regard to harmonics too and sounds the dogs danglies with no exhaust!

[RB Will]

thanks a lot guys I can see how it works now, are there any particular benifits to this design over say an inline 4/6 or a v4/6

[deltaf]

Its got more firing pulses than a 4cyl in every cycle, is smoother and sounds awesome with no silencers.

[Pigeon]

...also it's shorter and more compact than the inline, but unlike the true V doesn't involve the hassle of two complete separate heads and associated bits.