Formula One Engines

[dillongt]

Formula One engines

Since its inception in 1947, Formula 1 has used a variety of engine regulations. The origin of the name Formula comes from the use of a maximum engine capacity and single weight regulation. "Formulas" limiting engine capacity had been used in Grand Prix racing on a regular basis since after World War I. The engine formulae are divided according to era.

How they work

F1 engines are phenomenal pieces of engineering. Producing 900 bhp from a 3 litre engine isn't easy, and with the engine reaching 19,000 rpm at some points it's hard to understand how they work. Until the 1980s, the metal valve springs limited rpm to about 12,000. Since the 1990s, they were replaced by pressured air, allowing for revs over 20,000.

Otherwise, the rpm-level of an engine is determined by 3 things: displacement, stroke, and available air. The displacement is how much air each cylinder can draw in one complete engine cycle, an engine with a larger bore can draw more air/fuel to combust. The stroke is the distance the piston travels in one revolution. If it only has a short distance to travel, then it can rotate more times per second than the equivalent piston with a longer stroke. The more air is available the more fuel can be combusted, keeping the pistons revolving.

To obtain such high rpms the F1 engine uses a number of factors. Firstly they use a very small stroke; the distance the piston moves is small compared to conventional engines. The stroke of an F1 engine is at 45 mm approximately half as big as the bore (90 mm). The engine is also well balanced and extremely precise, this means it has low friction and can rev higher. Because of the short stroke, the engine produces very little torque compared for its power output, but still quite good torque compared to its displacement. Ordinarily this would be a problem, but as F1 cars weigh at least 600 kg and six or more gears are available, very little torque is needed. It also means that below 10,000 rpm the car has very little power, it's only above this where the car can utilise its full power and acceleration.

1947-1953

This era used pre-war voiturette engine regulations, with 4.5 L atmospheric and 1.5 L supercharged engines. Formula 2 cars were allowed, and the World Championship was run under F2 rules in 1952 and 1953, but F1 races were still held in those years. The Indianapolis 500 used pre-war Grand Prix regulations, with 4.5 L atmospheric and 3.0 L supercharged engines.

Power range up to 390 hp

Alta inline-4 1.5 L Compressor

Alfa Romeo V8 1.5 L Compressor

Bristol inline-6 2.0 L

BRM V16 1.5 L

ERA inline-6 1.5 L Compressor

Ferrari inline-4 2.0 L (F2)

Ferrari V12 1.5 L Compressor

Ferrari V12 2.0 L (F2)

Ferrari V12 4.5 L

Lea-Francis inline-4 2.0 L (F2)

Maserati V8 1.5 L Compressor

Maserati inline-6 2.0 L (F2)

Simca-Gordini inline-4 1.5 L Compressor

Talbot-Lago inline-6 4.5 L

1954-1960

Engine size was reduced for 2.5 L. 750 cc supercharged cars were allowed but no constructor built one for the World Championship. The Indianapolis 500 continued to use old pre-war regulations.

Power range up to 290 hp

Alta inline-4 2.5 L

BRM inline-4 2.5 L

Coventry Climax inline-4 2.0 L

Coventry Climax inline-4 2.5 L

Ferrari inline-4 2.5 L

Ferrari V6 2.5 L

Lancia V8 2.5 L

Maserati inline-6 2.5 L

Maserati V12 2.5 L

Mercedes double-inline-4 2.5 L

Vanwall inline-4 2.5 L

1961-1965

Introduced in 1961 amidst some criticism, the new reduced engine 1.5 L formula took control of F1 just as every team and manufacturer switched from front to mid-engined cars. Although these were initially underpowered, five years later average power had increased by nearly 50%. Lap times were better than in 1960 anyway. The old 2.5 L formula had been retained for International Formula racing, but this didn't achieve much success until the introduction of the Tasman Series in Australia and New Zealand during the winter season, leaving the 1.5 L cars as the fastest single seaters in Europe during this time.

Power range 150 - 225 hp

ATS V8 1.5 L

BRM V8 1.5 L

Coventry Climax inline-4 1.5 L

Coventry Climax V8 1.5 L

Coventry Climax Flat-16 1.5 L (never raced)

Ferrari V6 1.5 L

Ferrari V8 1.5 L

Ferrari Flat-12 1.5 L

Honda V12 1.5 L aircooled

Porsche Flat-4 1.5 L aircooled

Porsche Flat-8 1.5 L aircooled

1966-1986

In 1966, with sports cars capable of outrunning Formula 1 cars thanks to much larger and more powerful engines, the FIA increased engine capacity to 3.0 L atmospheric and 1.5 L supercharged engines. Although a few manufacturers had been clamoring for bigger engines, the transition wasn't smooth and 1966 was a transitional year. The appearance of the standard-produced Cosworth DFV in 1967 made it possible for any small manufacturer to join the series with a home-built tub. Supercharging was allowed for the first time since 1960, but it wasn't until 1977 that it became viable, when Renault debuted their new Gordini V6 Turbo. In 1969, Lotus made a few unsuccessful experiments with a Pratt & Whitney turbine fitted to chassis which had also 4WD.

Power range 390 to 500 hp, turbos 500 to 900 in race, in qualifiying up to 1300 hp

Alfa Romeo V8 1.5 L Turbo

Alfa Romeo V8 3.0 L

Alfa Romeo Flat-12 3.0 L

Alfa Romeo V12 3.0 L

BMW inline-4 1.5 L Turbo

BRM H16 3.0 L

BRM V12 3.0 L

Ferrari V6 1.5 L Turbo

Ferrari V12 3.0 L

Ferrari Flat-12 3.0 L

Ford V6 1.5 L Turbo

Ford-Cosworth DFV V8 3.0 L

Ford-Cosworth DFY V8 3.0 L

Hart inline-4 1.5 L Turbo

Honda V6 1.5 L Turbo

Maserati V12 3.0 L

Matra V12 3.0 L

Repco V8 3.0 L

Renault Gordini V8 (never raced) 3.0 L

Renault Gordini V6 1.5 L Turbo

TAG-Porsche V6 1.5 L Turbo

Tecno Flat-12 3.0 L

Weslake V12 3.0 L

Zakspeed inline-4 1.5 L Turbo

[edit]

1987-1988

3.5 L formula / 1.5 L turbo

1989-1994

3.5 L formula.

Power range up to 750 hp

1995-2004

3.0 L formula.

Power range 650 to 950 hp

2005

3.0 L V10, 4 valves per cylinder

2006

For 2006, the engines must be 90° V8 of 2.4 litres maximum capacity with a 98 mm maximum circular bore, which imply a 39.7 mm minimum stroke. They have two inlet and two exhaust circular valves per cylinder, are normally-aspirated and must have a 95 kg minimum weight. Previous year's engines with a rev-limiter are permitted for 2006 and 2007 for teams who can't obtain a competitive V8.

Pre-cooling air before it enters the cylinders, injection of any substance other than air and fuel into the cylinders, variable-geometry intake and exhaust systems, variable valve timing are forbidden. Each cylinder can have only one fuel injector and a single plug spark ignition. Separate starting devices are used to start engines in the pits and on the grid.

The crankcase and cylinder block must be made of cast or wrought aluminium alloys. The crankshaft and camshafts must be made from an iron alloy, pistons from an aluminium alloy and valves from alloys based on iron, nickel, cobalt or titanium. The complete rules are available from the FIA Formula One world chamionship regulations, 2006 Formula One technical regulations (pdf), chapter five, 15 december 2005.

This is leading to a power reduction of around 20% from the three litre engines. For example, Toyota F1 announces an approximately 740 hp output at 19000 rpm in its new RVX-06 engine [1], but real figures are of course difficult to obtain.

Ferrari

Type: 500/F1

Year: 1952

Number of cylinders: 4

Configuration: straight, 90/78, 2OHC, 2 valves per cylinder

Capacity: 1985

RPM: 7500

Power: 170-180 bhp

Type: Tipo 046/1

Year: 1996

Number of cylinders: 10

Configuration: 75 degree vee, 40 valves

Capacity: 2998

Power: 750 bhp

Type: Tipo 052

Year: 2003

Number of cylinders: 10

Configuration: vee, 40 valves

Capacity: 2997

BMW

Type: BMW M12/13 1.5 L4T

Year: 1981-1987, 1987-1988 (Megatron)

Number of cylinders: 4

Configuration: straight, turbo, 72 degree left (1986)

Capacity: 1500

RPM: 10500

Power: 557-640 bhp, 770 bhp (1984), 850 (1985)

Type: BMW P83

Year: 2003

Number of cylinders: 10

Configuration: 40 valves, 2 camshafts per row of cylinder, 90 degree vee

Capacity: 2998

Honda

Type: RA271E A-series

Year: 1964

Number of cylinders: 12

Configuration: 60 degree vee

Capacity: 1495

RPM: 11000-12000

Power: 220-230 bhp

Type: RA273E (B-series)

Year: 1966-1968

Number of cylinders: 12

Configuration: 90 degree vee

Capacity: 2991

RPM: 11000

Power: 400-410 bhp

Type: RA100E

Year: 1990

Number of cylinders: 12

Configuration: 72 degree vee

Capacity: 3493

RPM: 13000

Type: RA000E V10

Year: 2000

Number of cylinders: 10

Configuration: 88 degree vee

Weight: 110 kg

Capacity: 3 litres

Power: 800 bhp

Type: RA001E

Year: 2001

Number of cylinders: 10

Configuration: naturally aspirated, 4 pneumatic valves, aluminium block, electro-hydraulic throttle

Capacity: 3 litres

RPM: 18500

Power: 795 bhp

[zeem35]

great piece of info bro

keep posting

[GihanFX]

wow up to 1300 BHP ... thanks for the info Dillon...keep it up

[dillongt]

thanx bro...