Contenu
The abbreviations V-6 and V-8 do not refer to a model or make when youre talking about a vehicle. Instead, V-6 means the car has a six-cylinder engine, while a V-8 has an eight-cylinder engine.
Identification
A V-6 engine has three cylinders on each side. Each side is angled away from the center of the engine in a "V" shape. V-8 engines are arranged in the same way, but these engines have four cylinders on each side.
Significance
An engine will have more horsepower if it has more cylinders. For example, a six-cylinder engine is more powerful than a four-cylinder engine, but an eight-cylinder engine is even stronger than the six-cylinder.
Considerations
V-6 and V-8 engines are installed differently under the hood. V-6s are installed so the cylinders are perpendicular to your fenders -- if you are looking at the engine with the hood up, the cylinders are on the right and left of the engine. V-8s are much larger and are put in sideways -- the cylinders are parallel to the fenders at the top and bottom of the engine.
