What's the Difference Between a 4 and 6 Cylinder Engine?

In a four-stroke engine, a series of movements causes fuel to be converted into forward motion.  All else being equal, the difference between a 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder engine is that the latter produces more power.  This is due to the two extra cylinders that create additional piston thrust.

In a basic engine design, pistons travel down cylinder sleeves or chambers, allowing intake valves to open.  Intake valves let fuel and air enter the cylinders, while rising pistons compress these gasses.  Spark plugs ignite the compressed gas, causing explosions that drive the pistons back down.  The next rise of the pistons coincides with exhaust valves opening to clear the chambers.  The timing piston is staggered so that one pair rises while another falls.  Pistons are connected to rocker arms, which turn a crankshaft;  the crankshaft turns the wheels, thereby converting fuel into motion.

In a 4-cylinder engine, there are four pistons rising and falling in four chambers.  A 6-cylinder engine features six pistons and produces a theoretical 50% more power than the same 4-cylinder engine.  While a 4-cylinder engine might hesitate when you press on the gas, a 6 cylinder will tend to be more responsive, with greater get-up-and-go.  The 4-cylinder engine is standard in smaller cars, as the relatively light weight of the vehicle makes it an economical choice with plenty of power for average motoring needs.  Many models include a 6-cylinder engine upgrade option.