V Engine, Inline Engine, and W Engine Explained in a short video. Do you know what’s the difference between V and Inline Engine? The primary difference between an inline (or straight) engine and a V engine lies in the physical arrangement of the cylinders and the resulting balance, size, and maintenance requirements. Inline Engines: All cylinders are arranged in a single, straight line along the crankshaft. V Engines: Cylinders are divided into two banks, angled away from each other to form a “V