V-type engine

Abstract

A V-type engine comprises a cylinder block, and first and second cylinder heads mounted on the cylinder block to form first and second cylinder banks arranged in V-shape, the front end face of the cylinder block at the first cylinder bank being substantially flush with the front end face of the cylinder block at the second cylinder head, the rear end face of the cylinder block at the first cylinder block being substantially flush with the rear end face of the cylinder block at the second cylinder block, and the first and second cylinder heads being shaped to conform to the shape of the cylinder block. Each cylinder bank is provided with a row of cylinders extending axially between the front and rear end surfaces thereof. The row of the cylinders in the first cylinder bank starts from a location spaced apart from the front end face and terminates at a location near the rear end face, while the row of the cylinders in the second cylinder bank starts from a location near the front end face and terminates at a location spaced apart from the rear end face so that the row of the cylinders in the first cylinder bank is axially rearwardly displaced from that in the second cylinder bank. An oil-return passage to the crankcase extending through the cylinder block and the cylinder head to communicate the crankcase and the upper surface of the cylinder head is formed at a location between the foremost cylinder in the first cylinder bank and the front end face of the first cylinder bank and/or at a location between the rearmost cylinder in the second bank and the rear end face of the second cylinder bank.