An internal combustion engine for a vehicle and a method for assembling an internal combustion engine. The engine includes a crankcase; a crankshaft disposed at least in part in the crankcase; a cylinder block connected to the crankcase, the cylinder block defining at least one cylinder; at least one piston operatively connected to the crankshaft and disposed in a corresponding cylinder; an oil tank defining an oil reservoir configured to contain oil therein; and a dry-sump lubrication system comprising a pump module for circulating oil throughout the engine. The pump module includes a pump shaft rotatable about a pump shaft axis; at least one pressure pump mounted to the pump shaft and configured to pump oil from the oil tank; and at least one scavenge pump mounted to the pump shaft and configured to draw oil from a respective part of the engine.

An engine assembly includes a small air-cooled engine and a dry sump lubrication system including an external oil reservoir, wherein the dry sump lubrication system has an overall oil capacity that provides at least five hundred hours of engine oil life.

Vibration is detrimental to an internal combustion engine and its mounting system. It can damage internal parts, attached accessories, and mounting fixtures. Vibration can also cause discomfort to vehicle occupants or equipment operators. Managing, reducing, or eliminating vibration often involves additional cost in the design and manufacture of an engine and/or its mounting system. The subject invention is a unique arrangement of the cylinders of an eight-cylinder internal combustion engine that completely balances the forces produced by the eight pistons. Vibration due to piston motion is eliminated without the use of additional internal balancing devices. Special mounting structures are no longer necessary. This arrangement can be used with equal success in air compressors, liquid pumps, external combustion engines, or any other device using the familiar piston/connecting rod/crankshaft mechanism and requiring eight cylinders.

A car having: two front wheels; two rear drive wheels; an internal combustion engine which is provided with a plurality of cylinders inside which respective pistons slide and with a drive shaft connected to the pistons, and arranged longitudinally in a central or rear position; and a transmission system which connects the drive shaft of the internal combustion engine to the rear drive wheels. The internal combustion engine is oriented vertically with the drive shaft arranged higher than the cylinders.