16V or 8V - whats best

moonrakerz

Strider590 wrote: »

The only other real difference is that 8v's tend to be chain or pushrod driven, 16v tend to have complex cambelt systems.

If a headgasket goes on an 8v it's also a lot simpler to repair.

Ford have only just phased out their "Endura" engine. 8V, push rod - very basic, could be a bit rattly - BUT - very reliable, could be "fixed" by any one with a screwdriver and a hammer !

captainawsome

hi everyone, i'm new here and this is my first post so please be gentle. lol.

16v engines were developed to improve emissions and economy, but from my experiance you cant tell the difference in MPG, they're very similar if different atall. If your not an enthusiastic driver (or if the engine was under 2L) i would get the 8v, probably cheper to buy and insure and half as many valves to cause you a problem, is one way to view it.

Also i personally wouldn't be put off by a 1 year old car having 2 owners, there are many reasons why this may be. A 1 year old car is under warrenty anyway so if anything caused a problem it would be sorted, hope this helped a little.

Stigy

Strider590 wrote: »

Pretty much.

The only other real difference is that 8v's tend to be chain or pushrod driven, 16v tend to have complex cambelt systems.

If a headgasket goes on an 8v it's also a lot simpler to repair.

Really? What source is that from? Not wanting to sound awkward, but I do find it a bizar analogy.

I find fewer and fewer cars using chain driven engines, and next to none using Pushrods.The last pushrod engine I recall was the 1300cc Ford engine used in the likes of the Fiesta and Ka (Although modified, it was fundamentally the same unit as was in the Anglia). I would imagine diesel engines are easier to come by as chain driven units, because they're harder wearing and chains tend not to need replacing (as with Bigjl, I'd have a chain any day over a belt, purely to not have a belt to replace every 60,000 miles or so!).

As far as petrol engines go, I know Ford still used 8-valve engines in their Ka until recently, and these replaced the pushrod lumps and as such were chain driven. Other than that the only other manufacturer I know use chain drive is Nissan, but their engines are all 16-valve now I believe.

moonrakerz wrote:

Ford have only just phased out their "Endura" engine. 8V, push rod - very basic, could be a bit rattly - BUT - very reliable, could be "fixed" by any one with a screwdriver and a hammer !

Indeed. As I mentioned above, not bad for an engine from the 50s that's only ever been modified to adapt to the market over the years! I have a Fiesta now, and love the fact that there's nothing engine wise that is likely to cause concern! As you say, they can be rattly and usually are. Mine more so than others, given that it is a 1994 model, meaning tappets are manually set, and haven't been looked at for some time. Not the most fuel efficient of engines, if you compare it was modern 1.3-litre engines, but does me well!

Other than big American V8s, I don't think there are any Pushrod engines still in development, are there?

Strider590

^^ Indeed, what don't you understand?

AFAIK there are very few 8v engines about anymore and I thought the main purpose of the cambelt was to accommodate the complex requirements of 16v engines, where chains or pushrod designs were entirely impractical.

As for headgasket, the head of a chain/pushrod engine is far simpler to remove/replace than that of a cambelt driven one. In addition your 8v engine probably isn't surrounded by piles and piles of electronics, making it easier to remove from the car if it needs to be skimmed.

jlrtech

Strider590 wrote: »

The only other real difference is that 8v's tend to be chain or pushrod driven, .

really ? , your miles off the mark there . chain driven ! lol . my 306 is belt , my wife's grande punto is belt . both 8v :rotfl: ... very poor advice your giving out there

spaceboy

By chain driven are you refering to the timing chain/belt? If so that's bull, 8v engines have been predominantly belt for ages now. With newer cars there's a few more chains, and BMW have always used chains. But to say 8v will be chain is utter rubbish.

Strider590

^^ You'll note I used the word "tend", wonderboy.
It's impossible to generalise because there are too many manufacturers doing too many different things!

The reason they "tend" is that 8v engines have been largely phased out from around the time when cambelts became the norm.

Manufacturers have to make 16v engines now, the general stupid public think more is always better and I can't see many willing to buy brand new 8v engines..... Not after we made such a huge fuss over 16v, with badges all over the back of cars for decades, it'd be hard to push an 8v.

jaydeeuk1

The 16v 1.8 in wifes mr2 car is chain. As is the 1.33 16v is my IQ.
Friend of mine used to have a 16v 1.4 corsa which he loved. Had to give car to his sister and was given same car but an 8v 1.4 version and hated it, found it sluggish and unresponsive compared to the 16v. Get the 16v, its a newer and better design. If it wasn't, we'd all still be driving 8v cars.

Stigy

Strider590 wrote: »

^^ Indeed, what don't you understand?

AFAIK there are very few 8v engines about anymore and I thought the main purpose of the cambelt was to accommodate the complex requirements of 16v engines, where chains or pushrod designs were entirely impractical.

As for headgasket, the head of a chain/pushrod engine is far simpler to remove/replace than that of a cambelt driven one. In addition your 8v engine probably isn't surrounded by piles and piles of electronics, making it easier to remove from the car if it needs to be skimmed.

I agree about the Head Gasket replacement, as it stands to reason that because you have a smaller area of engine, it'll more than likely be an easier job. There's obviously going to be exceptions though!

Regarding Pushrod engines, as I said, the only relatively modern usage I recall was in the Ford Escort/Fiesta/Ka. Other than that, Austin used OHV Pushrod lumps in days gone by. As for belt driven 8-valve engines, well, I can name a damn sight more belt driven ones than I can chain or pushrod! I'll name a few. Assuming we're not just talking about new cars, although some of this still applies...Vauxhall Astra/Corsa, Fiat Punto, Peugeot 106/205/206/306/405, Renault Clio, Citroen ZX/Saxo.

If anything chain driven cars are often larger cars than belt driven ones. Obviously there's always exceptions such as the Nissan Micra and Toyota Aygo, but being 8 or 16valve has never dictated which is which. Even using the word "tend" doesn't really work, unless speaking solely about the Head Gaskets. Belts have been the "norm" since the at least the mid-90s, with the majority of standard family cars using them.

datostar

Chain cams aren't exactly bulletproof. They stretch, sprockets 'hook' and tensioners wear out. Whilst they're not a service item like a belt is, they can have problems of their own.