Boxer engine secrets — what makes them so special?

History of boxer engines

The first boxer engine appeared in 1896, and its creator was Karl Benz. An interesting fact is that this type of design has never been widely used in Mercedes-Benz cars. Boxers were most eagerly reached by aircraft manufacturers, and only later flat engines appeared in cars and even motorcycles. The flat design facilitated air cooling, making it compact in size. In the case of Porsche, the first boxer engine appeared in the 1948 356. As for the Subaru, the first model with this type of power unit was the 1966 Subaru 1000.

Boxer engine - how does it work?

The boxer engine has two rows of cylinders lying opposite each other, and the pistons move in opposite directions. Each cylinder has its own crankpin, which distinguishes them from flat V-engines with a 180 degree opening angle. It is the spigots that make each pair of pistons move in opposite phases. Thanks to this, they almost do not generate vibrations. For decades, boxer engines were air-cooled, but eventually liquid cooling emerged, which was forced by the need to provide more precise temperature control and better management of catalyst warm-up.

An important point in any engine is the lubrication system. What solution does the boxer engine have? The design of the system consists of a dry sump, which separates the oil from the rotating shaft, minimizes aeration and ensures better oil supply. Such a solution is found in engines used in sports cars. In cars for less extreme applications, manufacturers use wet bowls, which are lighter and cheaper.

Boxer engine vs. inline and fork motors

Is a boxer engine a good engine compared to classic designs? Most of all, yes! The most important difference is the low center of gravity, which is possible to achieve due to the flat construction. The inertia of the rotating masses translates into a better smoothness of acceleration. However, there is no rose without thorns - boxer engines are wider than classic units, which limits the space, for example, for suspension.

Boxer engine - advantages, disadvantages

The most important advantage of boxer engines is the almost complete absence of vibration, which translates into a high work culture, which is found only in the most expensive limousines. For classic engines, manufacturers have to use different solutions that reduce vibration. At the same time, the use of two heads and two collectors makes the boxer more expensive to manufacture. The specific layout also means that you also have to pay more for the service. It is generally accepted that the boxer engine is mainly used in sports cars, because drivers of traditional cars, designed for everyday, urban driving may have problems appreciating its advantages.

Porsche boxer engine - legendary performance

Porsche is a brand that has actually been using boxer engines from the very beginning of its activity. The manufacturer first did this in the 356, and later in the 911. In 1974, the first Porsche 911 Turbo appeared. Interestingly, only in the late 90s of the last century, the Germans began to use liquid cooling. A new generation of engines went to the Porsche 911 of the 996 series, which was presented in 1997. For hardened fans of the 996 brand, it was controversial not only because of the cooling system, but also because of its appearance. Modern Porsche boxers have advanced timing control, direct fuel injection and advanced lubrication systems. The hallmark of the Porsche 911 is that the engines are mounted centrally at the rear. The manufacturer combines them with manual and automatic transmissions and rear-axle or all-wheel drive.

How does this work in practice? The sound of the Porsche boxer is metallic and increases with turns. The well-designed and precision-built design provides smooth and almost linear acceleration. The technological solutions used in the latest 911 generations combine the need to meet increasingly stringent emission standards with exciting performance and durability.

Subaru boxer engine - the same goal, but a different philosophy

The Subaru brand is famous for the production of rally cars. This image is given to the Impreza model, which celebrated triumphs on the circuits of the World Rally Championship. However, the design here is completely different, since Subaru cars retain their practical qualities. The engine is located in front and works with all-wheel drive. The entire system is positioned longitudinally, low and close to the vehicle's axis. Subaru relies on naturally aspirated or turbocharged, four-cylinder engines, which it mounts in sedans, station wagons and SUVs.

For the Subaru, the low center of gravity provided by the boxer engine was supposed to work primarily on loose surfaces (e.g. gravel). The turbocharger along with the intercooler are mounted on top of the engine. Hence, Subaru cars with turbocharged units have characteristic air intakes on the hood. They make it easier to cool the entire system. Engines designed for sporty driving accelerate best in the medium to high speed range. The Subaru boxer has a fairly distinctive sound that is pulsating and bass.

Porsche and Subaru - the most important differences in design and approach

One design, but two different approaches. This is how you can briefly describe the differences between Porsche and Subaru. The Germans focus on track driving and repeatability of performance. The Japanese are focused on ensuring maximum stability in any road conditions. Porsche builds engines to have efficient cooling and lubrication, which works well in extreme track conditions (such as long-distance races). Subaru, in turn, combines performance with a modular design that makes the engine used in different body types.

Where and when does a boxer engine work best?

The fact of using boxers in motorcycles, airplanes and sports cars definitely makes it easier to answer this question. The boxer is ideal wherever you want a combination of performance and good handling. The low center of gravity, compact construction and vibration balancing make boxers applicable in sports, provided the whole is well designed. As a rule, boxers have larger capacities, and in the era of increasing restrictions on exhaust emissions, manufacturers choose rather smaller capacities. Therefore, they will never become as widespread as three- or four-cylinder in-line engines.

Boxer - Facts and Myths

Due to the fact that boxers are nevertheless an exotic construction, many myths have grown around them over the years. First of all, you need to know that not every flat construction is a boxer. The sound of the boxer depends on the length of the exhaust manifolds and the overall tuning of the system. Although they are built to reduce vibration, this does not necessarily mean that they will be quieter. Another frequently raised issue is the weight of the engine. Here the sentences are divided, but, as a rule, there are no large weight differences.

In terms of reliability, it is difficult to judge in practice whether boxers are more or less viable, for example, than inline engines. At the same time, surely many people have in mind the failed diesel engine from Subaru, which broke down so much that the salons did not want to accept such cars in the settlement, even after replacing the engine with a new one. The overall durability of this type of engine depends on how they are designed and whether the owners take care of regular service. Any negligence can take revenge and cost dearly.

Boxer engines in motorcycles

Examples of the use of boxers on motorcycles cannot be overlooked either. The manufacturer that has specialized in this is BMW Motorrad. Although in his case boxers are mainly associated with the touring and off-road GS series, they are assembled even in machines designed for sports driving. As in Porsche, they were initially air-cooled, and now they are liquid-cooled and have volumes above one liter.

The second motorcycle manufacturer that has a boxer engine in its offer is Honda. However, unlike BMW, it is not widely used, because it is assembled only in luxury tourism Gold Wing. It has a six-cylinder boxer with a capacity of 1833 cc and can be equipped with a DCT automatic transmission.

In motorcycles, as in cars, the boxer primarily provides a low center of gravity. It also has a rather specific appearance, because in the case of BMW, the cylinders protrude on the sides of the one-wheelers. This makes it difficult, for example, in the BMW R18 cruiser to get a position with fully straightened legs, which is characteristic of this type of machines with V-twin engines.

summary

The boxer engine is undoubtedly an interesting design that provides a satisfying and exciting driving experience. He has enough power to choose Porsche from USA For example, on track day. If you are interested in such a car, you may want to consider bringing it from the United States. In Poland Importing cars from the USA is very popular, and Americans love fast and powerful sports cars, although they do not belong to cheap ones. In Bryki from America we professionally import cars from the USA, including cars with boxer engines. We will find the best offer for you, we will quote the vehicle and bring it to Poland.

Allow yourself a bit of madness, whether you want to drive a Porsche on the track or prefer to splurge on the Subaru Party in an amateur rally. An interesting choice is also the Subaru Forester, which is a completely different approach to the design of SUVs.

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