An engine configuration where all eight cylinders sit in a single straight line along a common crankcase. This design provides exceptional primary and secondary balance, resulting in very smooth power delivery. Because the engine block and crankshaft are extremely long, they are prone to torsional vibration at high RPMs, which is why V8 engines largely replaced them.
Heard on the job
Setting the valve lash on that old straight-eight takes forever because you have to reach all the way to the firewall.
Also heard as
- inline-eight