Here’s an amusing experiment to try with your car enthusiast friends: ask them to choose their preferred number from a selection of 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12. Next, have them count from 1 up to their chosen number. It’s likely that true piston enthusiasts will recite their favored firing order from memory, seemingly disregarding mathematics in a dyslexic-like manner. It’s understandable, as we all have that one friend who understands that the Big Bang isn’t the origin of everything, but rather two pistons firing simultaneously.
As it turns out, most combustion engines must synchronize various specific laws of physics in order to function properly without self-destruction. This is a detail that may not make sense to the average user who lacks an engineering mindset. Let’s be honest: just because we operate a device doesn’t mean we know exactly how it’s constructed, how it operates, or why it was designed in a particular way instead of another.
Consider the simple four-cylinder engine as an example. It consists of four pistons, four strokes, at least four pairs of valves, four spark plugs, and four connecting rods. All of these components work together to rotate the crankshaft. It’s fairly straightforward: the pistons move up and down, the connecting rods exert pressure on the crankshaft bearings, and miraculously, the wheels turn.
What confuses those who are not technically inclined is the movement of the pistons: while pistons 1 and 4 ascend, the other two descend, and vice versa. That’s perfectly fine; they move in pairs, maintaining a nearly perfect balance. As we know, the motion of the pistons is determined by the explosion of fuel inside the combustion chamber. This creates immense pressure, pushing the piston away from the cylinder head and setting everything in motion.
And here’s the fascinating part: the ignition of the cylinders occurs in a specific order: 1-3-4-2. Remember the prank for your gearhead friend? That’s what they would say, but why isn’t it the regular, universally accepted sequence of 1, 2, 3, and 4? Because of physics, that’s why. The crankshaft endures tremendous stress when the engine is running, and it requires precise alignment to remain intact despite the significant forces attempting to fracture it.
The seemingly illogical order of 1-3-4-2 is necessary when balance is a top priority. Excessive stress on either end of the crankshaft would result in abnormal levels of vibration, rapidly deteriorating the engine. It’s not something we’d want to deal with every six months – rebuilding or replacing the entire engine.
Photo: YouTube/Garage 54
However, what would be the issue with having an inline-four engine running in a sequential order of 1-2-3-4? Well, it would cause vibrations and uneven heating of the motor. But can a car still function with this modified setup? Yes, it can, as proven by the daring team of mechanics from Siberia, Garage 54.
Indeed, they accomplished it: they took a Lada engine and modified its internal components to operate in this ascending order instead of the standard firing order. This task could be accomplished with the right equipment, such as a modified crankshaft and a synchronized distribution system. However, readily available crankshafts adapted for this specific configuration are not currently offered by motor manufacturers, so the Russians had to create one themselves.
This process was relatively simple – they cut the crankshaft in half, rotated one half by 180°, welded it back together, and that was it. Of course, it was easier said than done. With the realigned crankshaft and some adjustments to the camshaft to prevent valve-piston interference, the mechanics from Garage 54 successfully completed the modification. Precision tools were not used, and smoothness was not a top priority, as they are known for their daring experiments, especially during the harsh Siberian winter.
Photo: YouTube/Garage 54
After setting up the distributor correctly, the Lada engine eventually starts running. Vlad Barashenko, the regular host of the channel, claims that this unconventional setup offers similar performance to the traditional architecture. However, it is not as easy to operate due to the strong vibrations that can be detected even by a seismograph. But that’s not the main focus.
Just because something shouldn’t be done doesn’t mean it can’t be done, and this is exactly what the enthusiastic group of mechanics has once again demonstrated. The sequential firing order may not be the most practical configuration, but it does work. Admittedly, their test vehicle is a Soviet-era Lada, so the altered crankshaft doesn’t add much discomfort to the already rough ride. However, the purpose of this experiment was not to cater to the demands of the automotive industry, but rather to prove that not everything is fixed, especially when it comes to cars.
According to the Source autoevolution.com