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The total volume swept by the pistons between their extreme positions inside the engine cylinders.
Reviewed 05.10.2026 · Version 3 · Scope: General
It is expressed as a volume, usually in cubic centimetres or litres. It describes the geometric size of that swept volume, not the volume of the fuel tank or the number of cylinders.
In a hypothetical engine with four cylinders, each with a swept volume of 400 cm³, total displacement is 1,600 cm³.
It helps identify engines and understand what information a technical designation provides when comparing versions.
Greater displacement does not by itself guarantee more power or higher fuel consumption. Nor does it directly indicate the compression ratio.
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