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The flat-plane crank (sometimes flatplane) is a type of crankshaft for use in
Inline-four cylinder engines almost all use flat-plane cranks, and thus are not usually identified as such. However, there are a few exceptions with crossplane cranks.
The flat-plane crankshaft is a design that is no longer used in most mass production V engines as it is more prone to vibration and is inherently much louder than a crossplane crankshaft. However, due to its simpler construction requiring less counterweight, it is inherently lighter with a higher rev limit. For this reason, it remains useful in sports and racing cars. Flat-plane crankshafts are generally associated with European sports cars such as Ferrari and
internal combustion engines
An internal combustion engine (ICE or IC engine) is a heat engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer (usually air) in a combustion chamber that is an integral part of the working fluid flow circuit. In an internal comb ...
that has a 180 degree angle between crank throws.
Details
Flat-plane cranks are used in V-configuration engines, generally witheight cylinders
The engine configuration describes the fundamental operating principles by which internal combustion engines are categorized.
Piston engines are often categorized by their cylinder layout, valves and camshafts. Wankel engines are often categoriz ...
. Cadillac introduced a V8 flat-plane crank engine in 1923.
Inline-four cylinder engines almost all use flat-plane cranks, and thus are not usually identified as such. However, there are a few exceptions with crossplane cranks.
The flat-plane crankshaft is a design that is no longer used in most mass production V engines as it is more prone to vibration and is inherently much louder than a crossplane crankshaft. However, due to its simpler construction requiring less counterweight, it is inherently lighter with a higher rev limit. For this reason, it remains useful in sports and racing cars. Flat-plane crankshafts are generally associated with European sports cars such as Ferrari and Lotus
Lotus may refer to:
Plants
*Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly:
** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae
**Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...
V8 engines, and cross-plane cranks with American manufacturers. There are some exceptions such as the Ferrari-designed crossplane crank V8 of the Lancia Thema 8.32 and the flat-plane crank Ford Mustang GT350. The 2023 model year Chevrolet Corvette Z06 will have the largest flat-plane V8 ever seen in production cars at 5.5 litres.
The way in which a flat-plane works within a V8 engine is more like two in-line 4-cylinder engines mated together, with the firing order of each order being in a Right-Left-Right-Left-Right-Left-Right-Left pattern. Being in this in-line configuration allows for the engine to rev much faster, making it more suitable for racing engines.
References
{{Reflist Crankshafts