Why is the engine in the 3 backwards

[Mazda3ofKent]

why doses the 2.3 sit like that

 

[KYREDP5]

You mean the intake mani up front and exhaust in back?

 

[goldwing2000]

It's not the only car that's set up like that but first guess is that you don't have all the exhaust heat washing over the engine.
Also, it simplifies the exhaust system because you don't need a flex pipe.
It puts the intake manifold where it can get the most benefit from incoming cooler air.

I'm sure there are a host of good reasons but the real question is:

What difference does it make?

Here's a better question:

Why does Honda put their transverse engines in with the front of the engine on the driver's side instead of the passenger side like every other OEM?

It's just one of those cosmic rhetorical questions that will bug you to death but doesn't really matter much.

 

[AzMz3]

It's not the only car that's set up like that but first guess is that you don't have all the exhaust heat washing over the engine.
Also, it simplifies the exhaust system because you don't need a flex pipe.
It puts the intake manifold where it can get the most benefit from incoming cooler air.

I'm sure there are a host of good reasons but the real question is:

What difference does it make?

Here's a better question:

Why does Honda put their transverse engines in with the front of the engine on the driver's side instead of the passenger side like every other OEM?

It's just one of those cosmic rhetorical questions that will bug you to death but doesn't really matter much.

No flex pipe???? Are you sure about that????

 

[Da 6]

I always liked the rear exiting exhaust....not an engeneer or anything but if you are moving foreward wouldn't it be least resistanse on the engine to blow the exhaust gasses away from the engine instead of against the momentum of a moving engine?

If you ask me the engine is sideways and the chassis should be twisting from left to right when launching off the back wheels (evil)

 

[goldwing2000]

No flex pipe???? Are you sure about that????

I didn't say that the 3 doesn't have a flex pipe (it does), I'm saying that a rear-exit exhaust means you don't need a flex pipe. You can use a pivot joint at the donut gasket with spring bolts instead.

Because the 3 has the 1st cat in the manifold, it moves the connection point further away from the engine so pivot joint isn't feasible.

 

[trbomp5]

Also Hondas are in there backwards because their motor turns backwards from all other motors. (I've had 3 hondas)

 

[RHAGEL]

I think part of it is due to safety. For frontal crash compliance, this may be a factor.

 

[goldwing2000]

Also Hondas are in there backwards because their motor turns backwards from all other motors. (I've had 3 hondas)

Yeah... but why do the motors turn backwards? (scratch)

 

[jersey_emt]

Yeah... but why do the motors turn backwards? (scratch)

Because it's a Honda!

 

[trbomp5]

Yeah... but why do the motors turn backwards? (scratch)

Got me, I heard once, but I cannot remember.

 

[wongpres]

why doses the 2.3 sit like that

This is from a Mazda3 press piece (but also applies to Mazda6 2.3l):

Section - Environment: Innovation and Care

- Reversed intake-exhaust layout, with intake at the front of the engine and exhaust at the rear, shortens the distance to the catalytic converter, allowing for a direct attachment to the stainless steel exhaust manifold. This in turn promotes fast catalytic heat-up for superior emissions performance.

 

[Mikey444]

I think another reason, which I think would be one from experience is that when the car is towed, the towing thingy wont hit or rub against the exhaust pipes, happened to are Altima, the big pipe ended up having a hole in it.