Most car owners never really think about how much their car engine weighs. The only time this would be a consideration is when they would be looking to remove the engine from the car to effect some modifications or repairs – so how much does a V8 engine weigh?
The average weight of a V8 engine is 507 lbs, with most falling within the 400-600 lbs range. The weight depends on the size and material it’s made from. A V8-engine SUV or pickup would be bigger and heavier than one for a normal car, as the engine bay can accommodate a larger engine with the power needed to drive the heavier car.
Let’s take a drive and a dive into the world of V8 engines and learn more about what they weigh and how different size V8 engines would weigh more than others; and we will also check out the biggest heaviest V8 engines ever made!
What Factors Influence The Weight Of A V8 Engine?
Engine size and year of manufacture, displacement, and material are the three main factors determining the engine’s weight.
Older engines are typically heavier than the more modern ones, and this is because they use lighter and stronger materials to reduce the car’s overall weight and add more power and speed. An engine cast from the iron will be heavier than one cast from aluminum or using aluminum components.
As technology has developed and new and lighter materials like aluminum have been incorporated into engine building, V8 engines have become lighter and more powerful over the years.
Consider that the Cadillac L Head engine made in 1914 weighed 595 lbs, while the North Star V8 in 1995 weighed between 400lbs – 450lbs. Using aluminum instead of cast iron can easily reduce the engine’s weight by 100 lbs or more.
Where performance and speed are needed, manufacturers will opt for the lighter materials used in pistons, camshafts, and valves to lower the overall engine weight while still providing top-end horsepower through the drive train.
While cast iron is cheaper to use, it adds weight, and carbon fiber has limited use in engines and is used mostly in body construction to reduce weight, so the next best option for cutting pounds in a car engine is aluminum.
Mercedes’ V8 older V8 engine weighs around 450 lbs while the modern version of this V8 engine weighs 100 lbs less as it’s made from aluminum.
The size of the cylinders or displacement also affects the engine’s weight. For example, Buick’s 215 cubic inch V8 engine will weigh between 120lbs and 175lbs less than their LS1 346 cubic inch V8 engine, which weighs 450lbs.
This is because the larger diameter cylinder holes and longer piston travel require larger external housing to accommodate them. Another consideration is the materials these components are made from.
Like the engine casting, lightweight materials like aluminum and even titanium in some very high-end performance V8 engines can reduce the overall weight.
If you watch Formula 1, you will know that every ounce saved adds much more speed, and the same is true for modern V8 engines.
How Much Does An Average V8 Car Engine Weigh?
In the US, V8 engines are plentiful, and one of America’s most beloved pieces of machinery, the American Muscle car, remains in high demand because of the love affair between people and V8 engines; there is a vast selection of these engines available.
After collecting data from V8 engines available in the US, we found the average weight to be a hefty 507 lbs. While some engines tipped the scales at over 700 lbs and others were as light as under 300 lbs, the majority typically fell within the 400-600 lbs weight bracket.
In larger SUVs and pickup bodies, these engines can weigh up to 1000 lbs depending on displacement, fuel type, and construction material, and this weight would not include the transmission and fluids, so this is known as the dry weight of the machine.
Which V8 Engine Is Heavier – Petrol Or Diesel?
Another consideration regarding the weight of a V8 engine is the fuel type; diesel engines are heavier than petrol engines.
A gallon of petrol weighs around 6.3 pounds, while a gallon of diesel weighs 7.1 pounds. This is because diesel as a fuel is heavier than petrol.
Diesel engines deliver more power, making cast iron, which can handle the greater forces and pressures inside the engine. Typically, diesel engines are made
What Do Some Of The Most Powerful V8 Engines Weigh?
| Engine | Horsepower | Estimated Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Ferrari 3.9L Twin Turbo V8 (F8 Tributo) | 710 HP | 429 lbs |
| McLaren 4.0L Twin Turbo V8 (720S) | 710 HP | 434 lbs |
| Dodge 6.2L Supercharged HEMI V8 (Hellcat Redeye) | 797 HP | 720 lbs |
| Chevrolet 6.2L Supercharged V8 (Corvette ZR1) | 755 HP | 529 lbs |
| Ford 5.2L Supercharged V8 (Mustang Shelby GT500) | 760 HP | 444 lbs |
Not all powerful engines are heavy, and manufacturers always look for ways to improve performance on all levels, from consumption to speed and power.
Most V8 engines weigh between 400lbs and 600lbs for standard performance V8 motors, but when it comes to high-performance engines, they can be heavier or even lighter!
Some high-performance V8 engines, like Chevrolet’s ZZ632 Crate Engine, fall inside that 700lb weight. This engine is designed for racing, not street cars, and weighs in at 680lbs.
While many would equate size with power, this depends on the car the engine will control, and a good example of a lighter V8 is the Koenigsegg Agera 5-liter V8 engine. Putting out 1030Hp, this engine weighs in at just 434lbs!
The SSC Tuatara twin-turbo V8 pushes 1350 HP with a regular 93 octane, and this V8 only weighs 427lbs and can propel this car to over 300mph!
One of the most powerful engines around is the 6.2 liter Hemi which is found in the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat; even though it will reach 60mph in just 2.1 seconds with 717 HP, this engine only weighs 500 lbs.
Another monster engine was Cadillac’s 500 V8 engine. This was an 8.2-liter V8 engine that weighed in at 595 lbs!
One of the lightest V8 engines ever produced is made by RPE Engineering. This is a naturally aspirated V8 racing engine delivering 431 HP and weighing in at just 231 lbs!
Conclusion
Everyone loves a V8 engine, the sound and the power make them a popular choice in many cars across the US and the world, and whether they are racing engines or everyday runners, you will find their weight will be from around 400lbs and upward.
In the top-end echelons of these engines, you may find a few that exceed that 700lbs barrier and others that come in under 400lbs, but those are the exception and not the rule.
