Composite engine. What is a boxer engine - pros and cons

After the creation of the first internal combustion engine, questions arose almost immediately about its improvement and increase in power. The first engine was single-cylinder, and the simplest solution immediately suggested itself to increase its power - to increase the number of cylinders. But the next steps in the development of internal combustion engines were not so obvious, since these several cylinders can be arranged in different ways - vertically in a row one after the other, at an angle or horizontally. This last option was called the boxer engine, i.e. engine, the cylinders of which are located horizontally opposite (opposite) each other.

Boxer engine options

However, even such a simple technical solution - to place the engine cylinders horizontally opposite each other, can be implemented in several ways. When such a boxer engine is running, its pistons can move in many different ways.

boxer boxer

During the operation of such a motor, the pistons are always at a distance relative to each other, and each works in its own cylinder - if one is located at the maximum distance from the axis of the engine, then the other, neighboring one, occupies a similar position.

This order of work resembles the movements of a boxer, which is why he received the name "boxer". Very often uses similar Subaru boxer engines. The described engine is shown in the photo below.

OPOC, the revival of old ideas

Another construction principle implements a boxer engine of the OPOC type. Today they are beginning to develop again thanks to the investments of the notorious Bill Gates. The device of such an engine is shown in the figure below.


This boxer engine is a two-stroke. The figure clearly shows that there are two pistons in the cylinder, and they are fixed on one crankshaft (in the figure they are indicated as red and blue). Red provides the intake of the mixture, and blue - the release of combustion products. From the design of such a boxer engine, the cylinder head and the valve drive mechanism disappeared. In addition, the advantage of such an opponent is that the pistons work on one crankshaft.

All this significantly reduced the weight of the boxer engine and significantly expanded the scope of its use. Another feature is that it can be either diesel or petrol. It is imperative to clarify that, like any two-stroke engine, it needs to purge the cylinders. For this, an electric motor powered by an external source is used. When the boxer engine enters the mode, the electric motor is turned off and the air supply device turns into a turbocharger.

Considering the design of such a boxer motor, its advantages should be noted: an increase in efficiency provided by the fact that expanding gases press on two pistons, and not on the wall of the combustion chamber, as well as increased force on the shaft. In addition, each piston travels a shorter distance, which reduces friction and, consequently, losses.

Considering other advantages that such a boxer engine promises, it is worth noting that the manufacturer reports that when it is used as a diesel engine, then:

• such an engine is fifty to thirty percent lighter than a conventional turbodiesel;
• such a power unit contains fifty percent fewer parts than a conventional diesel engine;
• takes up fifty to forty-five percent less space under the hood;
• 50-45% more economical.

However, it should be borne in mind that such a boxer power unit is still quite crude, which means that the noted advantages reflect to a greater extent the expectations of its developers.

Boxer tank engine

Yes, there was such an engine, this is the 5TDF, designed for the T-64 tanks, as well as subsequent T-72s and others. Then it provided the necessary power for the given dimensions. A similar boxer engine and its device are shown in the figure below.

As can be seen from the figure, his pistons are located in one cylinder and move in the opposite direction, but each work on its own crankshaft. With a minimum distance between the pistons, a combustion chamber is formed between them, where the fuel is ignited. There is a boxer engine, both petrol and diesel. By analogy with OPOC, turbocharging is used to supply air to the cylinders, as well as remove exhaust gases.

The used principle of the oncoming movement of the pistons made it possible to simplify the design, ensure the power and compactness of the power plant. So, a similar diesel boxer power unit at two thousand revolutions, a volume of thirteen and six tenths of a liter produced seven hundred horsepower, while taking up a minimum of space.

What is good and bad for an opponent?

It should be noted that in the history of the car, many manufacturers at different times used the boxer engine, trying to realize the advantages provided by it. However, at the moment, more often than others, SUBARU uses such engines in its cars.


It should be noted right away that it is the device of the boxer power unit that provides its advantages when installed on a machine:

• low center of gravity of the car, which gives it additional stability when driving;
• reduction of both noise and vibration due to the movement of the pistons towards, due to which the boxer engine is considered quieter than similar in-line engines;
• a significant resource, reaching a million kilometers with proper operation.

However, everything is not always good, there are minuses and shortcomings in the opposition. Of these, it is worth noting:

1. repair of such a motor is very difficult;
2. the engine device is also quite complex, and accordingly, it has a high price;
3. maintenance costs are high, and the maintenance itself is extremely costly and inconvenient, requiring highly qualified performers;
4. increased oil consumption during operation.

Despite the noted disadvantages and shortcomings, a number of cars (the already mentioned SUBARU and some Porshe models) are equipped with boxer power units. We must think that manufacturers accurately weigh their advantages and disadvantages and consciously go for the use of such a motor.

For internal combustion engines, the horizontal arrangement of cylinders is only one of the possible construction options, but nevertheless, in this case, the resulting boxer engine has great potential and significant prospects for use in a car.

Such a power unit as a boxer engine (in particular, the manufacturer Subaru) is similar in principle to a standard, in-line internal combustion engine. What distinguishes it is the specificity of the location of the pistons, cylinders, due to the horizontal (and not the usual vertical) installation of the engine. Therefore, the pistons of the boxer engine are located horizontally, moreover, opposite (opposite) to each other, in pairs. Also, each of these pairs of engine pistons has a pair of camshafts.

At first glance, Subaru's boxer engine is more compact than others of the same power and volume. This illusion is created because it is "flat", evenly fills the engine compartment. At the same time, the motor-plate is short, flat, but wide. Its design is represented by semi-blocks of two cylinders, but in width, in addition to the crankcase with a pallet, like an in-line one, there is also a semi-block and a head.

The first Subaru boxer internal combustion engines were noticed and installed on sports cars by racers. Under them, 12-cylinder engines were later developed, instead of the 6-cylinder ones used.

Benefits of a Subaru boxer engine

Subaru's boxer engine has many advantages:

1. The distribution of mass is symmetrical around the axle, not specifically on it (less load on the rear wheels) - due to the low center of gravity (plus the possibility of its displacement).
2. High functionality, a relatively long duration of work until the first need for repair is the most important plus and argument for installing a Subaru boxer engine.
3. Minimization (or complete absence of vibration), which, when installing a conventional engine, creates considerable discomfort for the driver / passenger.

The first plus (dignity) is most appreciated by the owners of sports cars. Because, with high-speed cornering, Subaru's boxer engine will give more sustainability. In addition, the speed indicators for cars using these particular engines are relatively better than similar ones (especially among 12-cylinder ones).

The second advantage is engine longevity– has been extensively checked/confirmed. Until the need for a major overhaul, the boxer engine will please the car owner with more than one thousand kilometers traveled without problems.

The last (third advantage) is possible, among other things, due to the horizontal arrangement of the pistons working against each other, creating a certain balance, counterweight. Not all models of Subaru boxer engines, unfortunately, can boast maximum vibration resistance. The best way to "resist" vibration loads is a six-cylinder boxer engine (similar to a 6-cylinder variation of an in-line engine). But already the 4-cylinder does not have such successes and significant advantages.

Subaru boxer engine cons

However, in every advantage of Subaru's boxer engine, you can find a small fly in the ointment. Of these shortcomings:

1. The high cost of engine maintenance, the difficulty in selecting the necessary spare parts. And, among other things, it is advisable to trust only professionals who specialize in this in matters of repair of these particular engines.
2. The high cost of Subaru's own boxer engine, explained by the complexity of the design.
3. Also, a large oil consumption is added to the consumable items using such an engine.

Self-repair of a boxer engine is also impossible due to the need for a specialized tool, without which many parts of a non-standard, horizontally located engine cannot be reached.

The spectrum of use of the Subaru boxer engine

The slightly difficult financial situation of a significant mass of motorists does not allow the popularity of Subaru boxer engines to spread. Their application is most widely used in the field of racing, high-speed car models. Because here, the previously mentioned advantages of Subaru boxer engines are much more important and cover the disadvantages of their use.

In addition, they are installed, of course, in Subaru car models. Also, Porsche often resorts to installing these particular engines in their cars.

boxer engine- a special type of power plant, reminiscent of a traditional internal combustion engine, in which the cylinders have a special arrangement - horizontal. In the people, such units are known as "boxers". The motor received such a nickname due to the fact that the pistons move either away from each other or towards each other. In this case, the pair of pistons is in one position, for example, from below.

The very first sample appeared in 1938 thanks to the efforts of the Volkswagen automobile company. Then the unit was a 4-cylinder boxer, the volume of which was 2 liters. The maximum power of the power plant reached 150 horsepower.

The boxer motor has become very widespread. Today, such eminent automobile concerns as Subaru and Porsche are engaged in the production and installation of the unit. Previously, it was possible to find the engine on models from Toyota, Volkswagen, Honda, Ferrari. Similar installations are used in motorcycles, Ikarus buses and some military equipment (for example, tanks).

The principle of operation of the boxer engine and its device

To fully understand what a boxer engine is, you need to familiarize yourself with its structure. As noted above, this is an internal combustion engine, which has a special structure - a pair of pistons moves in a horizontal plane (not up and down, but from left to right). The second, adjacent, is in the same position.

The number of such cylinders varies from 2 to 12 (their number is always a multiple of two). The most common samples have 4 and 6 cylinders. For sports cars, 8- and 12-cylinder engines were developed. Professionals note that the principle of operation of 2- and 4-cylinder boxers is no different from traditional engines. Those that have six cylinders have their own characteristics.

Types of boxer engines

The principle of operation of a boxer engine also varies depending on the features of its device. Even such a simple unit can have several variations in the operation of the pistons. Therefore, the following types of motors are distinguished:

1. boxer boxer often used in the production of Subaru vehicles. How does a boxer engine of the claimed type work: the pistons are located at a predetermined distance opposite each other, for example, if the first is fixed at a certain distance from the axis of the engine, then the second will take a similar position. Moreover, they are located each in a separate cylinder. The described principle of functioning resembles a boxing match, hence the name of the type.
2. OROS has a completely different principle of construction and the order of operation of the pistons. Such devices are two-stroke. One cylinder has two pistons at once, which are attached to one crankshaft. The first is responsible for the intake of the mixture, the other for the timely exit of combustion products. This design does not have a head, which is often found on the cylinder block. The advantages of the OPOS boxer engine are that the pistons function in favor of a single crankshaft. This type of device has a small mass and is smaller in size. Consequently, the scope of application has significantly expanded. In addition, this engine can run on different fuels - diesel or gasoline. Finally, here are the main benefits:
   • pistons travel a much shorter distance, as a result of which the friction force is significantly reduced, which negatively affects wear resistance;
   • efficiency increases, because harmful gases do not affect the combustion chamber, but put pressure on the pistons;
   • the motor is 30-50% lighter than usual;
   • the boxer engine has fewer parts (50% on average);
   • profitability;
   • lack of a valve drive system.
   • the motor takes up much less space under the hood.
   However, it is worth remembering that the ERF is at the development stage, so many unforeseen problems may arise during operation.
3. tank engine(5TDF, designed specifically for the T-64 and T-72). The resource of the boxer engine is designed for military equipment of large dimensions. Here the pistons share one cylinder and move in the same direction, but each has its own separate crankshaft. The place where the fuel ignites (combustion chamber) occurs when the gap between the pistons becomes minimal. As with OROS engines, air is admitted into the cylinders, and unnecessary gases are removed by turbocharging. The counter stroke of the pistons made it possible to design a compact but powerful unit. The power plant has a maximum number of revolutions of 2000, and a power of 700 horsepower. The volume, respectively, reached 6 and 13 liters.

Benefits of a boxer engine

Each element in the automotive body has its own advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of a boxer engine are as follows:

• lowering the center of gravity of the vehicle, which positively affects its stability;
• the resource of the motor will certainly increase (if operated correctly, it reaches about 1 million km);
• due to the special interaction of the pistons, the level of vibration and noise reduction is reduced.

Cons of a boxer engine

If the boxer engine has advantages, then there are certainly certain disadvantages:

• costly self-service - requires the involvement of professionals;
• expensive and complex repairs, because the components are distinguished by their increased cost;
• the high cost of the power plant;
• design complexity;
• increased oil consumption during operation.

Despite the disadvantages described above, many automakers equip their models with just such units. Development companies carefully weigh all the pros and cons before using just this type of motor. The main plus is great opportunities and broad prospects.

So, all the negative aspects, in fact, come down to expensive maintenance, which may affect the choice of most motorists not in favor of the presented units. However, large manufacturers (Porsche, Subaru) believe that quality requires a large investment in service.

For example, a Japanese automaker is not going to return to traditional internal combustion engines, because they believe that in this case they will take a technological step back. Since car models have proven themselves only in the best way, the level of sales does not depend on the prices for service.

Difficulties in the repair and maintenance of a boxer engine

It is important to note that often the positive aspects of these engines are noticeable only in power units that have six cylinders, but 2- and 4-cylinder ones are not much different from traditional internal combustion engines.

If you need to carry out some manipulations with this type of engine, then you definitely need to contact the specialists in a car service. You can only change the oil yourself. It is better to entrust even the replacement of candles to professionals, beginners can easily damage the cylinder head. Complete repairs are carried out only at special service stations.

Timely and systematic decarbonization can extend the service life. This procedure involves cleaning the surface of the combustion chamber, valves and pistons from carbon deposits. The operation is carried out in the autumn season or in March, when it is also very reasonable to check the engine oil.

In the material, we examined what the concept of "boxer engine" means, described the principle of operation, possible pros and cons. We hope that this will help determine the choice of not only the motor, but also the future car model on which a similar power unit can be installed.

When choosing a new one or buyers pay special attention to the engine installed in the vehicle. And they are interested not only in power and torque, but also in the type of construction itself.

Among all the engines available and used on modern cars, it is the boxer power plants that sometimes cause the most questions.

Many have heard of boxer engines, but not everyone understands exactly what they are, what strengths and weaknesses such motors have and where they are used.

Features of boxer engines

Before talking about the principle of operation of a boxer engine, you need to find out what this same boxer engine means and what features it is characterized by.

Boxer motors or boxers are called a variety of power plants, which are in many ways similar to classic or traditional internal combustion engines. But, unlike other internal combustion engines used on cars, the arrangement of the cylinders in the boxer version is not quite standard. Here they are horizontal.

A distinctive feature of such automobile engines is the non-standard camber angle of the working cylinders. It is 180 degrees. In this case, the pistons carry out their movement in a horizontal plane, while being mirrored relative to each other. That is, these pistons reach their top dead center at one moment, simultaneously. It is this nuance that is considered the main distinguishing feature of boxers in comparison with more traditional or classic V-shaped internal combustion engines, where the pistons move synchronously. When one of them reaches its top dead center, the other reaches its bottom.

This arrangement made it possible to obtain a low center of gravity, to reduce the height of the motor itself. That is, the boxer engine can be confidently called flat, which allows it to take up much less space in the engine compartment.

Also, the use of a pair of gas distribution mechanisms at once can be attributed to the distinctive points, although the crankshaft is often still one.

Among motorists, the name boxer has become popular. This name for the opposite is explained by the fact that the pistons move as if into each other, that is, towards. In this case, a pair of working pistons are located in the same position.

For the first time, boxer engines became known back in 1938. Engineers from the German company Volkswagen have made their efforts to develop a new type of internal combustion engine. At that time, they introduced a boxer engine with 4 cylinders and a displacement of 2.0 liters. The maximum power of such an installation reached an impressive 150 horsepower at that time.

Gradually, boxer internal combustion engines began to actively spread. As a result, they were installed on:

• cars;
• sports models;
• motorcycles;
• buses;
• military equipment, etc.

Currently, boxer installations are not very popular. And there are objective reasons for that.

Design and principle of operation

When studying the device of the boxer, it is worth noting that it differs from other internal combustion engines precisely in its structure. Here, a pair of pistons carries out its movement in a horizontal plane. That is, it does not happen from bottom to top, but from left to right.

Opposites always have a pair of cylinders, and their number varies from 2 to 12. The most common engines are equipped with 4 and 6 working cylinders. If we are talking about sports cars, then they are provided for 8 or 12 cylinders.

If we talk about how the boxer engine works, then here experts do not see a significant difference in comparison with traditional internal combustion engines. Only the working 6-cylinder versions have a number of distinctive features in terms of the work carried out.

An important role here is played by the horizontal placement of the working cylinders. Due to this, vibration is significantly reduced and a smooth ride is ensured. This is due to the fact that when the installed pistons move in the opposite direction relative to each other, they mutually neutralize vibrations. This ensures a smooth increase in power, there are no strong jerks. Plus, this factor has a positive effect on the rate of wear of the motor.

Opposites also have a great effect on the stability and quality of car handling, since the horizontal placement of the cylinders used allows you to install motors closer to the car chassis. This contributes to a low center of gravity.

Varieties

In many ways, the principle of operation and some design features depend on the specific type of boxer power unit.

There are several main categories of horizontally opposed engines:

• boxers;
• OROS;
• tank engines.

Boxers are the most widely used in equipping passenger cars. The main user of such motors is the Japanese car company Subaru.

In such a boxer, the pistons are located at a certain distance relative to each other and stand opposite. If the first piston is fixed at a certain distance from the motor axis, then the second one will occupy the same similar position. In this case, in the motor, each piston is placed in its own separate cylinder. By visualizing the operation of such a motor, one can imagine a duel between two boxers. Hence the corresponding name.

As for other engines of the OROS type, here the design principle and the order of work carried out by the pistons are somewhat different. These are two-stroke power units. One cylinder has 2 pistons at once, fixed on one crankshaft. In this case, the first is responsible for the intake of the working air-fuel mixture, and the second at the same time removes the formed combustion products in a timely manner.

A feature of OROS engines is the fact that there is no head, which is usually installed on the cylinder block. The advantage of such a unit in the operation of the pistons is only on one crankshaft. The boxer is small in size, requires less space and has a small mass. This made it possible to use the motor in various fields and on various vehicles.

The OROS can run on two types of fuel, i.e. diesel fuel and gasoline. Its advantages also include:

• pistons travel a slightly shorter distance when doing their work, which significantly reduces friction and minimizes wear;
• increased efficiency, which is due to the absence of harmful effects of exhaust gases on the combustion chamber. They carry out pressure on the working pistons;
• when compared with classic engines, the mass of the OROS will be 30-50% less;
• a boxer motor of this type uses fewer elements. When compared with in-line and V-shaped, the difference will be 40-50% on average;
• such power units are quite economical;
• The design does not use a valve drive system;
• less space is required to place the unit in the engine compartment of the car.

But not everything is as rosy as it might seem at first. This type of engine is under development and gradual improvement. It is too early to talk about any real and global success, since there are a number of hidden and unforeseen problems that arise during operation.

Now as for the third type of boxer engines, which is called a tank engine. This is a power plant marked 5TDF. The motor was created specifically for tanks of the T-64 and T-72 series.

The tank enemy has an impressive resource, since it was originally designed for installation in large military equipment. The pistons share one cylinder and move in the same direction, although each has its own separate crankshaft.

A place for ignition of the air-fuel mixture is formed by creating a minimum gap or gap between the two installed working pistons. As in the case of OROS, here air enters the cylinders, and the exhaust gases exit due to the operation of the turbocharging system.

Due to the counter stroke of the working pistons, the engineers managed to create a power unit that is compact in size, but impressive in its power. The maximum for a tank enemy reaches 2 thousand. The power of the unit is 700 horsepower. The working volume of the engine can be 6 and 13 liters.

Tank opponent can operate on gasoline and diesel fuel. This is a domestic development, which at one time managed to impress. But at present, TDF is no longer produced.

Advantages and disadvantages

To fully reveal the features of this motor, you need to look at its strengths and weaknesses.

Let's start with the most relevant advantages of boxer engines. Its merits include the following points:

• what a really boxer engine is good for is the best variation of the layout. The motor is always located low, which is much better than classic internal combustion engines. This allows the center of gravity to be lowered. This improves stability and controllability;
• the boxer is also the best among competitors due to being actually on the same level with the transmission. This feature makes it possible to minimize losses during torque transmission;
• a weighty argument in favor of a boxer engine is the minimum level of vibrations even when the car is moving at maximum speeds. This advantage is explained by the location of the cylinder-piston group. Thus, the engineers created the perfect balance and were able to guarantee the effective damping of all potential vibrations. From this, the engine runs smoothly, there are no jerks;
• design features and balance made it possible to use not 5, but only 3 bearings for the crankshaft. Due to this, he became shorter and lighter;
• among all its competitors, the opponent is the undisputed leader in terms of providing passive safety. Even under the condition of a strong frontal collision, the motor will not penetrate into the passenger compartment. When hit, it simply falls without causing damage to the driver or passengers. A similar feature managed to save more than one thousand lives;
• if you properly maintain the boxer engine, regardless of the type of fuel used, the boxer can boast of a huge resource. With proper attitude, such an engine serves about 1 million kilometers. To achieve this result, you just need to change the oil and other consumables on time, and also not subject the unit to excessive extreme loads.

Although the list of advantages turned out to be impressive, the boxer engine also has its significant drawbacks. And these minuses in many ways are able to block all the available pluses.

1. Expensive self service. The car owner of a car with a boxer engine will be able to perform only a number of simple procedures in the maintenance process. Most of the work will have to be carried out with the involvement of specialists. And this is an additional cost for the maintenance of the vehicle.
2. Expensive and complicated repair. The complexity of the repair provokes an increase in the cost of services. The spare parts for the opponents themselves are quite expensive. Plus, you have to look for competent specialists. There are very few professionals in the field of boxer motors. And those who work with such power plants ask quite a lot of money for their services.
3. Complicated design. To perform certain work and change some consumables, sometimes you have to partially disassemble the engine. This is problematic and inaccessible.
4. Conditional compactness. Although such motors were made small and placed low, they still require quite a lot of space under the hood.
5. Active consumption of oil. In opponents, it is extremely important to monitor not only the condition, but also the amount of oil. The motor has a good appetite for lubricant. If starvation begins, it will lead to extremely negative, serious and costly consequences.
6. Removable cylinder liners. The fact that they are removable is a positive thing. But to replace the sleeves, a number of complex measures for the partial disassembly of the motor have to be carried out. If this is not done, soon the engine will begin to consume oil even more actively, which will eventually lead to a quick failure of the entire boxer engine.
7. Acute shortage of qualified craftsmen. For Russia and the CIS countries, this is one of the main problems. Many people would love to buy a car with a boxer engine. But a large number of questions are raised by the fact that there are no good craftsmen. There are those who take on the maintenance of opponents, but the quality of their work leaves much to be desired. Qualified craftsmen are expensive, and they do not work in every city.

Boxer engines can be called internal combustion engines with excellent capabilities and bright prospects. There is still room for improvement. Therefore, automakers who are really interested in boxer engines are constantly trying to come up with something new, introduce fresh ideas and fight against objective shortcomings.

Application area

Given all the information reviewed, the presence of significant advantages and objective disadvantages, a logical question arises as to which machines can be found with a boxer engine.

It should be fair to say that cars are not as often equipped with boxer engines as traditional in-line or V-shaped power plants.

But there is one car company that has been successfully and actively installing these types of engines on its models for more than fifty years. Moreover, it is largely thanks to this manufacturer that the segment of boxer motors is developing. This is Subaru, which is based in Japan, but its cars are successfully sold all over the world.

But there are several more cars and vehicles that are equipped with such power plants. These are the following vehicles:

• some models of the Volkswagen concern;
• several cars from the Porsche brand;
• Soviet-style motorcycles Ural;
• motorcycles Dnepr;
• Ikarus buses coming from Hungary.

There is no need to talk about some kind of global distribution of this type of engine. Although the sales volumes of the same Subaru cars with boxer power plants are impressive.

Recently, boxer motors have again attracted the attention of engineers and developers. Regularly conducted research, all kinds of tests. Specialists strive to improve and modernize such engines. Moreover, a group of American specialists, whose work is financed by Bill Gates, is directly related to the refinement of OROS-type motors.

What will come of all this is hard to say. But the fact of interest in opponents hints to us that the problem of obvious shortcomings will soon be solved. In this case, in-line and V-shaped internal combustion engines will have a real and serious competitor. If the opponent gets rid of his shortcomings and retains his key advantages, this will allow him to take a huge step forward.

But so far everything is at the level of partial rumors, conjectures and conjectures. Whether it will really be possible to significantly change boxer motors in the near future is a difficult question.

How to avoid costly repairs

Given all the shortcomings, we can conclude that boxer motors are expensive and difficult to repair. The main costs are associated with the purchase of spare parts and payment for the services of repairmen. If the engine is maintained in good working condition, you will not have to spend a lot of money on it.

This is the main mission of a car owner who wants to buy a car with a boxer, but is afraid of the potential costs of its maintenance. There are several rules, the observance of which will allow you to get the maximum benefits and face the minimum manifestation of the shortcomings of the boxer type of engine.

1. Periodicity of maintenance. Strictly follow the regulations, carry out maintenance according to the manufacturer's recommendations. In the conditions of our roads and climate, it can be slightly reduced. If the machine is operated under severe conditions, a minimum of 15% must be deducted from the stated service interval.
2. Qualified craftsmen. Although there are not many experienced boxer engine specialists, it is quite possible to find them. Trusting the engine to qualified craftsmen will greatly increase your chances of long-term trouble-free operation of the boxer propulsion system.
3. Careful selection approach. Since the opposition is very demanding in terms of engine oils, here you must strictly follow the recommendations of the automaker. Choose oils recommended by the factory. Relevant information is provided in the instruction manual. If it is impossible to buy just such a brand, then focus on well-known manufacturers with a good reputation. Buy lubricant for the boxer motor only in trusted stores, where there are all guarantees and quality certificates. This will help you avoid buying fakes.
4. Refuel at good gas stations. This advice is relevant for all types of engine, not just boxer ones. Good fuel ensures efficient operation of the engine, increases its resource, and reduces the risk of pollution. Even if you pay more for fuel than at cheap gas stations, you can still save money. This will manifest itself in the form of reliability and the absence of the need to repair the engine due to the negative impact of low-quality fuel.
5. Cooling system. Although boxer engines are equipped with a fairly efficient cooling system, even it will not cope with excessive engine overloads. Do not overload the opponent. And for the system itself, choose only high-quality consumables.
6. Engine wash. It should be carried out periodically, and not on an ongoing basis, as many might think. But even a rare cleaning of the engine will normalize heat transfer and prevent overheating. Hence the long service life of the motor, the preservation of its motor resource and the absence of problems.

You should not believe the stereotype that supposedly the operation of a car with a boxer engine is much more expensive than the maintenance of a car with a traditional in-line or V-type internal combustion engine.

This is clearly seen in the example of Subaru cars. Their spare parts are relatively inexpensive, consumables also do not cost huge sums of money. Even a person with a low income can maintain such a car. Everything directly depends on the quality of service and proper care. If you properly maintain the car, carry out planned work on time, and also do not provoke extreme overloads, the engine will not require a lot of money.

Boxer motors are of great interest, given their strong qualities. To some extent, their shortcomings are embarrassing. But they are rather conditional. Any engine can lead to huge financial costs. This is a question directly to the owner and his attitude towards his car.

As soon as the first internal combustion engine was created, work began almost immediately to improve it. As the main task, the developers have identified for themselves such as reducing the overall dimensions of the motor itself, increasing its power and increasing the stability of the car. Thus, the first boxer engine appeared, which solved a sufficient number of problems, but not all.

Initially, the civil automotive industry did not accept the boxer type of motor, and it was installed exclusively on military equipment. The first civilian car, where a new type of engine was installed, was the Beetle from the Volkswagen concern. Over time, when more than 20 million of these cars were produced, the idea of ​​​​using an opposition engine was adopted by brands such as Porsche and Subaru.

Opposition engine - design differences

Despite the fact that the scheme of the boxer engine, in principle, is one, there can be two options for its execution. This is due to the fact that the same technical solution, namely the horizontal arrangement of the cylinders, is implemented in different ways.

Boxer engine

Such a motor is designed in such a way that the pistons are constantly located at a certain distance from each other - when one is at the maximum distance from the engine, then its “neighbor” occupies exactly the same position. This type of boxer engine got its name because of the similarity of piston movements with the movements of a boxer. It is this motor that the Subaru concern very widely uses in its cars.

Motor "OROS"

Such an engine is arranged somewhat differently. Its revival has begun quite recently, helped in no small measure by the investments of Bill Gates.

This is a standard two-stroke boxer engine, in each cylinder of which there are two pistons that move towards each other. All pistons are mounted on the same shaft. One of them is designed to let the combustible mixture into the combustion chamber, the second - to remove exhaust gases. This arrangement allowed the designers to abandon the drive mechanism for the valves, as well as the cylinder head itself. It is worth noting such an advantage as the operation of all pistons with one crankshaft.

Are there any advantages to a boxer engine

Like any other type, a boxer engine has advantages and disadvantages, which are due to design features. Despite some negative sides, the advantages of this type of motors are very numerous.

There are disadvantages too

What does a boxer engine mean in terms of its merits is clear to many, but nevertheless there are a number of disadvantages due to which such a motor is not yet installed on all cars produced today.

Some features of modern opponents

Since its development and installation of the first boxer engine on a Volkswagen in 1938, this type of engine has undergone major modernization. Four-cylinder engines are currently the most widely used - they are the most environmentally friendly, compact and economical in terms of fuel consumption. In many ways, this was the result of many years of painstaking work of engineers who embodied a sufficient number of unique developments in such motors:

The high reliability and power of the boxer engine is also evidenced by the fact that this particular type of engine was installed on the Soviet T-64 tank, and later on the T-72. Only such a boxer engine, the principle of which has changed little since then, was able to provide high power with its relatively small overall dimensions. For reference, only he could give out about seven hundred horsepower at 2 thousand revolutions and a volume of 13.6 liters. You can learn a lot of interesting facts about the work of opposition motors by watching the video:

How to Avoid Costly Boxer Engine Repairs

Any boxer engine has pros and cons, which is quite natural. To avoid problems, the elimination of which may require very serious material costs, it makes sense to heed the advice of specialists and operate the car with a boxer engine installed correctly. The first thing you should pay close attention to is the exact observance of the terms of maintenance, which should be carried out at specialized stations and only by qualified personnel.

Great care should be taken when choosing engine oil. Preference should be given only to well-known brands, the purchase should be made either in specialized stores with an impeccable reputation, or in branded service centers. Using a low-quality product can cause a lot of trouble for an overly economical driver. The same can be said about the quality of fuel. Fuel containing a large amount of "unauthorized" additives seriously reduces the life of the engine, leading to the need for costly repairs.

Many car owners who purchase vehicles with a boxer engine have heard about a high-quality and efficient cooling system, so they don’t really get hung up on this moment. You should not drive the engine mercilessly, especially in the warm season - the most advanced cooling system may not be able to cope with its task. To a large extent, it contributes to difficult cooling and the absence of periodic engine washing - the accumulated dirt on the motor significantly complicates heat transfer, contributing to excessive heating.

Despite some difficulties, the boxer engine proved to be excellent, significantly increasing driving comfort and safety. It should be noted that the prevailing opinion about the extreme high cost of owning a car with such an engine is clearly exaggerated. For example, consider the Subaru brand, which has long produced cars with this type of engine - they have never been among the cars with excessively expensive maintenance, and many cars with standard engines cost their owners much more. Significant savings on fuel also affect here, which is much less required - depending on the specific car model, fuel savings can reach up to 50%.