W8/12/16/20 rev limit

[Visionist]

V8s, V10s & V12s love to rev, depending on who made them. V16s I'm not sure.

What about W configurations? Could a W16 rev, for instance rev to 8000rpm? Or would it go bang?

[crosseyedlion]

All of the engine types completely depend on the engine configuration ie. port setup, valvetrain, bore/stroke/rodlength, component weight (any can be made super light to make power through speed, others made stronger (heavier) and produce the same power through torque) cam timing etc...

Basically, it's all up to the design specification. A Renault F1 V8 could spin up to around 28k if unlimited, the v10 up to 25k. Yet a big really old tech v8 would struggle to safely get past 5k but produce greater levels of torque. You can get revvy or lazy versions of any engine.

My old v12 didn't exactly thrive on revs, but It certainly made power.

[GroundEffect]

It's about mean piston speeds component inertia. If your accels get too high they do fail. Also, an engine like a V12 is very well balanced (first and second order) so it doesn't need heavy balancing shafts or cranks to compensate...therefore, higher speeds possible.

I'm not sure about W-engines and how they are balanced. Anyone got the info?