This feature also assisted in reducing the overall cost of these large engines by maintaining parts commonality with the smaller models.

Inline models were famously "symmetrical," meaning that the blower, exhaust, water manifold, starter, and other components could be mounted on either side of the basic block to fit a particular application.

The less-common Left Hand engines were typically used in buses, because the rotation matched rear-engined transverse installations.

Like most Detroit Diesel two-cycle engines, the 71 Series are equipped with a blower yet still referred to as "naturally aspirated" (SAE designation).

Engines equipped with needle unit[clarification needed] fuel injectors and commonly four exhaust valves per cylinder are indicated by the suffix "N", so for the V8, 8V-71N.

The most popular incarnations of the series 71 engine as used for highway vehicle applications included the inline 6-71, the V-block 6V-71 (both widely used in transit buses) and the 8V-71 V-8.

In addition to motorcoach propulsion, both inline and V types have found extensive usage in school buses, trucks, fire apparatus, motor homes, construction[4] and industrial machinery, a few farm tractors, commercial fishing vessels, and military vehicles and equipment.

[20] Throughout World War II, the 4-71 engine both in locally assembled form (built by Lend-Lease provided American industrial equipment) and from U.S.-supplied kits had been used for Ya-12 light artillery tractors.

[21] After 1945, the 4-71 engine entered production in a slightly modified configuration (deuniversalization, conversion to metric units, a more powerful preheater[22]) to suit the conditions of the Soviet Union–branded "YaAZ-204".