This might be too technical a question for but I think I’ve missed something fundamental perhaps in geometry or physics so it might not be:
V6 and V12 engines often have cylinder banks at 60 degrees from one another, and V8 and V16 usually have them at 90 degrees from one another or an additional balance part is added.
Why is this? How is a V6 at 60 degrees smoother than one at 90 degrees? Is this even correct? Are there situations you’d want to use the ‘wrong’ one deliberately except to reuse a factory?
In: Engineering
There has been some successful 90 degree V6’s, the one in the first gen Acura Legend used that design, though it did require some adjustments to reduce vibration:
“The engine utilized a 90 degree V-angle to the crankshaft in preference to the taller but more common 60 degree design, with a compression ratio of 9.0:1. The crankshaft had crankpins offset 30 degrees to provide a low profile engine that fires smoothly and evenly.“
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