Is The Cylinder Body Made of Aluminum Or Iron? Durability Truth

The material selection of the engine cylinder block has always been a hot topic among car owners. The saying "cast iron is durable" and "aluminum is advanced" is widely circulated, but the truth of its durability is not black or white. It needs to be disassembled from two aspects: material characteristics and technological development.

1. Material characteristics: the "hardness" of cast iron and the "technical supplement" of aluminum

The durability advantage of cast iron cylinder body lies in its physical characteristics: high density, high hardness, and the ability to easily withstand high temperature, high pressure, and piston wear. Even under harsh working conditions such as heavy load in commercial vehicles and high boost in performance vehicles, it can operate stably. This material has strong deformation resistance and, combined with mature maintenance techniques, has low repair costs such as boring cylinders and replacing cylinder liners, making old Mitsubishi 4G63 and other cast iron models the "evergreen tree" in the modification circle.

Aluminum alloy cylinder bodies inherently have a hardness deficiency and are prone to deformation at high temperatures, which may lead to an increase in the gap between the cylinder wall and piston, affecting sealing performance. But technological progress has greatly compensated for this deficiency: through processes such as embedding cast iron cylinder liners and spraying alloy coatings, its wear resistance and heat resistance have been significantly improved, and its lifespan can now rival that of cast iron models. At the same time, the advantages of lightweight aluminum cylinder body (which can reduce weight by 20 kilograms with the same displacement) and fast heat dissipation can reduce the overall fuel consumption and engine heat load of the vehicle, indirectly extending the comprehensive service life.

2. Scene adaptation: There is no optimal solution, only the most suitable one

In the household car scene, aluminum alloy cylinder body is a better choice. Daily commuting does not require extreme power compression, and its fuel-efficient and flexible handling characteristics are more in line with needs. Moreover, the durability under modern technology can fully meet the usage needs of tens of thousands of kilometers. However, commercial vehicles and heavily modified vehicles still prefer cast iron cylinder bodies - cast iron models such as the Volkswagen EA888 can be easily modified to over 600 horsepower, which is a resistance that aluminum cylinder bodies cannot match.

Overall, cast iron cylinder bodies still have an advantage in durability under extreme working conditions, but aluminum alloy cylinder bodies can meet the durability needs of the vast majority of users through technological upgrades. Choosing aluminum or iron is essentially a match of needs: for household commuting, the comprehensive advantages of aluminum are considered, while the reliability of cast iron is relied upon for hardcore use.