Now that would be a monster of an engine if all of those cylinders fired under one hood. Those are the combined numbers if I put our two people haulers together. All that power and torque for transporting a handful of people at average speeds of around 35 mph!
I'm always amazed at the technology and reliability of current day internal combustion engines. I'm not even taking about those super advanced engines in an exotic German or Italian car. This is just our day-to-day, run-of-the-mill, mass produced cookie cutter cars.
Both of these cars can go around 12,000 miles between oil changes. The don't need water or any other fluids added on a regular basis (well, besides gas of course).Both these cars are categorized as ULEVs (Ultra Low Emission Vehicles??). The only routine maintenance I perform on them (every month or so) is check and fill any air in the tires if needed. They are not new either. One of them is over 5 years old and other around 3.
Hell, the 5 year old one can even turn off 3 of its 6 cylinders when the engine computer determines it doesn't need all the power! Yeah, I sound like a baby in awe, but as I said, whenever I think about how often I don't have to think about whether or not the car will start the next time I crank the engine, I continue to be amazed...and thankful!
Thank you technology. Thank you human brain. Thank you mother necessity.
(If Murphy has his way, one of them is going to breakdown tomorrow)
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