V6 v V8 sound

[Gucci]

Most love the sound of a V8 rumble/burble....me especially. I used to love hearing the 3.9 litre V8 on a Range Rover. I have a 3.7 V6 in the ML which sounds great...but not a deep rumble. But given that it's 0.2 difference - what makes a V8 sound like it does?

 

[CiaranMcKeown]

possibly the extra "stroke" i.e. the extra cylinders firing.

There is a noticable difference but when all is said and done most of what you are hearing is the exhaust stroke so the burble effect is coming from expansion of gas inside the exhaust pipe.

 

[wemorgan]

An inline 6 cyl engine is naturally balanced, which is why it is so smooth and quiet. All other configurations seen in cars are unbalanced. Weights are typically put on the balance shafts to help smooth out the vibrations caused by the unbalanced engine.
So I would guess the different sounds of a V6 and a V8 are originating from the different unbalanced modes of the engine.

 

[grober]

The distinctive classical sound of an (american) V8 comes from its 2 plane crankshaft. There are single plane cranks also (ferrari V8 for example) which don't have that distinctive "wuffle" but more of a single note. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V8

 

[stats007]

An inline 6 cyl engine is naturally balanced, which is why it is so smooth and quiet. All other configurations seen in cars are unbalanced.

A V12 also has perfect primary and secondary balance.

The distinctive classical sound of an (american) V8 comes from its 2 plane crankshaft. There are single plane cranks also (ferrari V8 for example) which don't have that distinctive "wuffle" but more of a single note.

The crank plays a part but it's primarily down to the firing order and valve / manifold design.

 

[television]

With a bass woofer mounted under the rear and a CD of a V8 accelerating linked to the throttle, that would do it

 

[shadowninja]

The distinctive classical sound of an (american) V8 comes from its 2 plane crankshaft. There are single plane cranks also (ferrari V8 for example) which don't have that distinctive "wuffle" but more of a single note. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V8

Indeedy. I am not a fan of the flat plane crank sound.

 

[BTB 500]

Exhaust comes into it, too. Many M-B V8s (particularly older ones) are very heavily silenced as standard.

 

[74merc]

A mate of mine took the backbox off his R129 SL500 and put a straight thru pipe on. It sounded like a big Yank V8 then, but not in my opinion, in keeping with the character of the car.

 

[BTB 500]

My R129 has the centre muffler replaced with straight through pipe - a much better idea (which I got from others here who'd already done that mod).

 

[74merc]

My R129 has the centre muffler replaced with straight through pipe - a much better idea (which I got from others here who'd already done that mod).

How does it sound compared to standard?

 

[BTB 500]

How does it sound compared to standard?

Better. Only slightly louder, more exhaust note when accelerating, but still very quiet when cruising. A cheap & easy mod. too, that doesn't change the look of the car.

 

[74merc]

Sounds good, I'm considering doing that mod to my C280 Sport. It's got such a great sounding engine that it's a shame to muffle it.

 

[mattc]

I like my I6 engine.

Quiet but still surges nicely when I press the go pedal. Always fancied an american V8 but think i will need to find an oil well before i own one.

 

[wemorgan]

A V12 also has perfect primary and secondary balance.

Oops I stand corrected. I forgot that the V12 is essentially two in-line 6 cylinder engines side by side. I was waiting for someone to say that the in-line 12 cylinder is also balanced, but it’s been a few years since such an engine has been seen in a car.

 

[television]

Back in the 50's we used copper pipe all the way through, and tuned them,,sadly we only had 8HP engines then, but good fun

 

[Matt32AMG]

With a bass woofer mounted under the rear and a CD of a V8 accelerating linked to the throttle, that would do it

Didn't Clarkson on Top Gear review something similar? E.g. embarrassed with your car you drive? Then simply hit this switch next to the stereo and it turns your Honda Civic engine into sounding like an American V8 Muscle car. It plays the recording of a Corvette or a Mustang engine or similar to impress the ladies as you drive by.

Gotta say ver yfunny and very sad...Only in America

 

[PAPA]

A v6 can sound beefy, Its just the MB exhaust is to good at its job of making things quiet.

V6 with exhaust.... Wait a few secs into vid......http://www.zippyvideos.com/4292686796277076/flash_short/

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I love the unmistakable sound of a V8, although I think part of it is due to hearing them so rarely, because:

(A) there aren't many V8s about in relative terms,

(B) modern V8s are well silenced, and

(C) the average V8 drivers aren't the type to give it full beans in areas where it will be heard, not like the sort of oiks who share their toonz with us too!!

Despite the greater relative quantity, and because they're not all that common in sporty cars, you don't often hear a V6 wail either. I love them though.

I think V6s sound much better on the outside than on the inside though. A few months ago I asked Mrs D to drive my car so it could pass me, and I got a little too excited when I heard it!! Completely different to inside because you can hear the exhaust note and not just the engine.

Police, Camera, Action was a great way of hearing V6s giving it some as the Omega patrol cars kicking down sound great, and you can be Alasdair Stewart any time you like for very little money with an Omega V6.

Oops, and nearly forgot. My favourite engine/exhaust noise is without doubt a BMW 3.0 straight-6 fitted in a nice E46 3-Series Coupe. A wonderful noise. Surprised I've never had one.

 

[BIGjoe]

Merc do some wonderful sounding diesel 16 litre V8's as used in their trucks and fitted to agricultural and construction equipment, but as with the cars the exhausts need some modification to get the full V8 thunder roll . All the Merc V section big diesels are essentially modular in construction, 12L-V6, 16L-V8, 24L-V12, but funnily enough the V6 sounds like a tin of nails .
My last ML was a V6, which had a wonderful sound when red lined.