How Much Does A Car Engine Weigh? - Vehicle Freak

• Emma Davies

Updated on September 14, 2022

Engine removal may not be something you have ever had to think about before, but there are certain situations where it may be necessary to take the engine out of your vehicle.

Whether you are planning to switch the engine for a new one without the help of a mechanic or you need to repair a part and want more space to work. But how much does a car engine weigh?

The weight of the car engine depends on the materials used, displacement, and the number of cylinders. The figure ranges from 145 pounds all the way to 800 pounds.

A 2-cylinder engine weighs between 145 and 220lbs and a 3-cylinder can be slightly heavier, weighing between 165 and 240lbs.

The popular V6 engine often weighs between 300 and 450lbs and the monster 10 and 12 cylinder engines can weigh up to 800 lbs.

Diesel engines also tend to be heavier than gasoline engines as they are made more robust to support the extra power created.

Factors That Determine Car Engine Weight

The weight of a car engine is influenced by various different factors. You may think it just depends on how many cylinders there are or even the type of vehicle you have – sedan, SUV, pick-up, and so on – but many different factors contribute to the overall weight of a car engine.

Material

Aluminum weighs significantly less than cast iron. If you are driving a vehicle with an aluminum engine block, the engine will be much lighter than one with a cast-iron block and components.

Traditionally, car engines were made from weighty cast iron and this is why the engines in older vehicles tend to be much heavier than those in more modern cars.

Model

As we previously explained, newer vehicles often have an aluminum engine block, especially if they have a gasoline engine. However, it is not just the materials used that mean modern engines often weigh less than those found in older models.

Technology has progressed so much over the years that engines can be smaller but still able to create just as much (if not more) power than a heavy cast iron engine.

Many engine components have been shrunk down over the years, they still work just as well but are not required to be as big and heavy as before.

Smaller engines in newer car models have become more urgently needed as the climate crisis worsens, fuel prices continue to rise and governments have put policies in place to reduce the amount of C02 emissions.

It is important to note that not all modern cars have lighter engines. Whilst, on the whole, engines may be becoming more lightweight, for some vehicles, it is the opposite as additional sensors, accessories, and components are installed to improve the overall performance of the vehicle.

Size

Of course, the overall size of a car engine will hugely impact its overall weight. When referring to ‘size’, when it comes to car engines this means the total volume occupied by the engine cylinders, along with the car’s internal combustion system.

If your car has a large size engine – sometimes referred to as the engine capacity or displacement – then the engine will weigh more than a smaller alternative.

Cars with larger engine displacement usually have more space for fuel and air and you could expect them to be more powerful than a lighter engine, especially in older models.

However, in more recent years, vehicle manufacturers have been implementing new technology to enable smaller-sized engines to deliver higher amounts of power. As technology improves, it is becoming possible that smaller engines can create more power than their larger counterparts.

Fuel

Diesel engines weigh more than gasoline engines. Drivers of diesel cars are more likely to have a heavier engine because more of the components will be made from cast iron, instead of aluminum.

Gasoline vehicles often have their engines made up of light-weight aluminum as less power is required to ignite the fuel. However, diesel vehicles need to be made of sturdy materials to cope with the higher levels of pressure within the engine.

How Much Does a Car Engine Weigh?

Now you know the different factors that play a role in determining the weight of a car engine, let’s get into the numbers. The more cylinders used inside your car engine, the greater the total weight. The majority of passenger cars will only have a 2-cylinder.

However, high-performance vehicles, like pick-up trucks and SUVs often use more cylinders. When you look inside the engine, vehicles that are using several cylinders will have them arranged in a V-shape (this is where the V-8 engine gets its name, for example).

Here is a list of the different weights of engines using different numbers of cylinders:

• A 2-cylinder engine weighs between 165 and 220 lbs. Examples of vehicles using a 2-cylinder engine include the 2014 Alfa Romeo MiTo, 2015 Suzuki Celerio Diesel, and the 2020 Fiat 500 Sport.
• A 3-cylinder engine weighs between 145 and 240 lbs. Examples of vehicles using a 3-cylinder engine include the Mini Cooper Clubman, Toyota GR Yaris, and the 2018 Ford Focus.
• A 4-cylinder engine weighs between 200 and 350lbs. Examples of a vehicle using a 4-cylinder engine include the 2014 Toyota Prius, the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and the 2014 Hyundai Elantra.
• A 5-cylinder engine weighs between 300 and 350 lbs. Examples of a vehicle using a 5-cylinder engine include the Audio Quattro, Ford Focus RS, and the 1976 Mercedes W123.
• A 6-cylinder engine often weighs no more than 450 lbs. Vehicles with a six-cylinder engine include the Subaru Legacy, BMW M2, and Chrysler Slant 6.
• An 8-cylinder engine weighs between 400 and 700lbs. Eight cylinder engines can be found in the Aston Martin Vantage, Ford Mustang GT, and the BMW M5.
• 10 and 12-cylinder engines weigh approximately 800 lbs, sometimes more. Vehicles using a 10 or 12-cylinder engine include the Dodge Viper V10, Audi R8, and the Lamborghini Gallardo.

Are Diesel Engines Heavier Than Gas Engines?

Diesel fuel weighs more than gasoline, so you would be right to wonder if diesel engines are heavier than their gasoline counterparts.

Diesel vehicles have a compression ignition engine which, in order to ignite the diesel fuel, uses a compression ratio approximately double that used by a gasoline engine.

The compression ratio is linked to the amount of power made by the engine and diesel creates much more power than gasoline. Therefore, a diesel engine needs to be bigger to create enough power to ignite the fuel and power the vehicle.

As gasoline engines do not need to create as much power as the diesel alternatives, they also do not need to be made of strong and sturdy materials. A gasoline engine may have its components made up of light-weight aluminum, as well as heavier cast iron parts.

However, using aluminum for a diesel engine would not be a great idea and most engine parts in vehicles using diesel are made of dense and sturdy materials like cast iron or even ceramic.

Aluminum alloy may also be used to make certain components of a diesel engine but a gasoline engine will likely have a higher proportion of aluminum parts and weigh significantly less.

FAQs

How heavy is a Tesla motor?

Electric cars have a much lighter motor than cars powered by a diesel or gasoline engine. Electric cars are charged and do not use fuel, therefore their engine is more of a battery pack and does not need to use the same components as a traditional combustion engine.

The Tesla motor weighs only 70 lbs. This is significantly less than even a 2-cylinder engine, which can weigh anywhere between 165 and 220 lbs.

How do you weigh a car engine?

If you need to know how much your car engine weighs and cannot find the information in the owner’s manual or from the manufacturer, you can weigh it yourself. There are several methods you can use to weigh a car engine.

However, car engines are very heavy and you may need industrial apparatus to lift them from your vehicle.

One way to weigh a car engine is to take your car somewhere with a commercial scale (a junk yard, for example) and ask the staff there to help you weigh it.

Lift the engine onto a trailer, note down the weight, and then just weigh the trailer. Subtract the second measurement from the first and you will be left with the weight of your engine.

How heavy is a V12 engine?

V12 engines vary in weight but the average is around 650lbs. However, there are vehicles with 12-cylinder engines that weigh as much as 800lbs. Often vehicles with a V12 engine will have two V6 assemblies of the cylinders in the engine.

V12 engines are among the heaviest car engines used today and this larger engine gives vehicles an impressive power boost.

How heavy is a V4 engine?

If you have a car with a 2.0L four-cylinder engine, the weight of the engine will be approximately 300lbs. The weight of 4 cylinder engine will vary depending on what materials are used and the age of the age.

In more recent years, automobile manufacturers have been creating more lightweight engines to help with performance and efficiency.

How heavy is an engine?

Engine weight varies between different car models. The number of cylinders within an engine will influence its weight, as will the material it is made of, the fuel it uses, and the size.

A small 2-cylinder engine will weigh between 165 and 220 lbs, popular V-6 and V-8 engines are heavier, with a six-cylinder weighing no more than 450lbs and an 8-cylinder weighing between 400 and 700lbs.

Cast iron diesel engines weigh significantly more than aluminum gasoline engines and the engines in older models are often heavier too.

Conclusion

Engine weight varies between car models. Even vehicles using the same number of cylinders will not necessarily have an engine that weighs the same. Many factors influence the weight of a car engine: the size, fuel used, materials, and model year all determine the overall weight of a car engine.

Smaller engines have traditionally been less powerful than their larger counterparts. However, as the years have progressed and technology has improved, small engines can really pack a punch and can easily compete in the power stakes.

Bigger no longer means better when it comes to car engines, not when we are talking about engine weight that is. A V8 or 10-cylinder engine may be able to create more power but manufacturers are creating lightweight engines that can deliver impressive performance too.

There is not one weight for all car engines, however, you can expect a 2 cylinder to weigh between 165 and 220lbs, a V6 to weigh approximately 300-450lbs, and the larger v10 and v12 engines to weigh up to 800lbs.

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