Y motor

Napier Lion VII

60 ° / 60 ° Y-motor

Motorbike with Y-engine

A Y-engine is a reciprocating engine in which three cylinders or rows of cylinders are arranged at (usually) the same angles around the crankshaft (e.g. 40 ° / 40 ° between the individual cylinder banks ). Symmetrical Y-motors (i.e. 120 ° / 120 ° / 120 °) are better classified under radial motors .

The Y-motor is often also referred to as the W-motor . The Volkswagen AG called several different engine concepts based on double VR engines substantiate, but also as a W motor.

Examples of classic W-engines with three rows of cylinders at the same angles (Y-engines) are the motorcycle racing engine of the French motorcycle manufacturer Alcyon from 1904. With it, the three cylinders had an angle of 45 ° to each other. But the Volkswagen Group also built such engines: the 60 ° / 60 ° Y12 engine of the Audi super sports car prototype "Avus Quattro" and the 60 ° / 60 ° Y18 engine from Bugatti. Other examples are the twelve-cylinder Napier Lion with 60 ° / 60 ° cylinder bank angles, the Y18 engines from Isotta Fraschini ( Asso 750 and Asso 1000 ) and from CRM Spa Motori Marini ( 18 D / SS BR-2 with 40 ° / 40 ° Cylinder bank angles and 2100 hp) and the 60 ° / 60 ° Y12 Formula 1 engine from Guy Nègre (see W engine ).