I-4 cylinder engines are hard to balance because of longer power pulse
intervals and tend to cause vibration as they get larger in displacement. A
2.4 is considered large displacement. I-6 and V-8 engines have closer power
pulses and tend to be much smoother; V-6 engines are somewhere between the
others. Don’t remove the balance shaft chain. The balance shaft simply
rotates, is virtually frictionless and counterweights the long intervals
making the "big 4" engine very smooth. The ECOTECH 4-cylinder turbocharged
engines used in IHRA Drag Racing put out over 1200 horsepower with the balance
shaft turning!
Jim O’Neill – Chino Autotech Inc., Auto Club SoCal AAR
SAE Int’l SoCal Section Board of Governors,
Vice Chair, Service Technology Programs
NASTF Service Information/Communications Committees
Auto Value/Bumper-To-Bumper CSC Nat’l Council
ASE CMAT-L1, CA. Smog Check Technician
AMI AAM Accredited Automotive Manager