Cylinder deactivation module?

Cylinder deactivation module?

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ReverendCounter

Original Poster:

6,087 posts

183 months

Saturday 19th February 2022
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I'm trying to find some info about an installer of modules which temporarily shut down some cylinders under low load, but I can only find ones aimed at the US pick up truck market.

It's just an enquiry based around interest rather than needing one installed, but any pointers please?

stevieturbo

17,535 posts

254 months

Saturday 19th February 2022
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ReverendCounter said:
I'm trying to find some info about an installer of modules which temporarily shut down some cylinders under low load, but I can only find ones aimed at the US pick up truck market.

It's just an enquiry based around interest rather than needing one installed, but any pointers please?
To what end ?

When OEM do it....it is not how you are thinking in just shutting off fuel or spark to a cylinder. It is a fully integrated setup also involving mechanical parts.

ReverendCounter

Original Poster:

6,087 posts

183 months

Saturday 19th February 2022
quotequote all
I just recall some vid or other a few years ago, someone had an installation carried out that was described as being simple and easy to remove, which shut two or four cylinders down of a v8 when it wasn't under any significant load, but there doesn't seem to be anything on the UK market.

Maybe as fuel prices get higher there could be more interest.

stevieturbo

17,535 posts

254 months

Saturday 19th February 2022
quotequote all
ReverendCounter said:
I just recall some vid or other a few years ago, someone had an installation carried out that was described as being simple and easy to remove, which shut two or four cylinders down of a v8 when it wasn't under any significant load, but there doesn't seem to be anything on the UK market.

Maybe as fuel prices get higher there could be more interest.
No, because without shutting down airflow through the cylinders, it would play havoc with any closed loop fueling corrections, and in turn any emissions related devices.

As said, it is not a simple process a DIY'er can do simply by shutting off fuel or spark to some cylinders.


https://www.rangetechnology.com/blog/post/what_is_...

ReverendCounter

Original Poster:

6,087 posts

183 months

Saturday 19th February 2022
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The process I saw featured in the vid wasn't carried out by a DIYer, but thanks for the additional info.

Mammasaid

4,335 posts

104 months

Saturday 19th February 2022
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VW Group do it with their 1.4 ; 1.5 TSI engines

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/09/zas-20110...

ReverendCounter

Original Poster:

6,087 posts

183 months

Saturday 19th February 2022
quotequote all
Thanks - seems there's quite a few manufacturers do this, but at the same time, seems there are plenty of drivers who want to bypass it as well.

stevieturbo

17,535 posts

254 months

Sunday 20th February 2022
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ReverendCounter said:
Thanks - seems there's quite a few manufacturers do this, but at the same time, seems there are plenty of drivers who want to bypass it as well.
Are you asking how to shut down cylinders yourself ?

Or how to bypass the systems so they do not shut down ?

ReverendCounter

Original Poster:

6,087 posts

183 months

Sunday 20th February 2022
quotequote all
stevieturbo said:
Are you asking how to shut down cylinders yourself ?

Or how to bypass the systems so they do not shut down ?
I'm trying to get info about a UK outfit who install these systems but it's not looking like they operate anymore.

paintman

7,765 posts

197 months

Sunday 20th February 2022
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I don't recall which one, but one of the outboard boat engine manufacturers have/used to have a similar device on some of their engines which drops two cylinders at idle/low revs.
Has caused confusion with people asking on websites thinking that their engine has a fault.


Perhaps the UK firm stopped doing it/went out of business as there was little call for it?

ReverendCounter

Original Poster:

6,087 posts

183 months

Sunday 20th February 2022
quotequote all
paintman said:
Perhaps the UK firm stopped doing it/went out of business as there was little call for it?
Seems like it. My thoughts are, if fuel costs continue to spiral then maybe at some point it might be a more attractive proposition to have something installed that could do the job properly if it was possible - or maybe the UK outfit came up against issues and decided to close down, given the points raised re: the complexity.

stevieturbo

17,535 posts

254 months

Sunday 20th February 2022
quotequote all
Doing such things will make almost negligible difference to fuel used.

If you want to use less fuel...go easier with the right foot. It is 100% tried and tested, and basically free.

Some car makers choose to do such things to reduce emissions....rarely does it ever actually decrease fuel consumption in the real world.

Any claims it does...are about as honest as their overall mpg claims. Complete and utter lies.

ReverendCounter

Original Poster:

6,087 posts

183 months

Sunday 20th February 2022
quotequote all
stevieturbo said:
Doing such things will make almost negligible difference to fuel used.

If you want to use less fuel...go easier with the right foot. It is 100% tried and tested, and basically free.

Some car makers choose to do such things to reduce emissions....rarely does it ever actually decrease fuel consumption in the real world.

Any claims it does...are about as honest as their overall mpg claims. Complete and utter lies.
Interesting, on face value it would seem to be a decent proposition. Thanks.

GreenV8S

30,489 posts

291 months

Monday 21st February 2022
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ReverendCounter said:
Interesting, on face value it would seem to be a decent proposition. Thanks.
Where do you imagine the saving coming from? Unless you're cutting off the air flow somehow, the pumping and friction losses are essentially unchanged between a lightly loaded cylinder and a deactivated one.

Panamax

5,106 posts

41 months

Monday 21st February 2022
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Cutting the fuel injection on its own takes you nowhere worthwhile. You need mechanical interventions as well,
  • to lift the relevant valves and reduce pumping losses,
  • to switch the exhaust system to a different route for exhaust scavenging.
And on top of that you also need to be able to deactivate different cylinders from time to time in order to even up wear.

anonymous-user

61 months

Monday 21st February 2022
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OE cylinder de-act round-robins the shut down cylinders to maintain even temperatures and to prevent piston ring polishing (rings need firing loads to work!) and excessive oil consumption. They also de-activate valves to avoid excessive pumping losses and to prevent a lean exhaust AFR that messes with fuel control and destroys catalyst efficiency.

if you really want to "turn off cylinders" just cut the power to some of the injectors, but the engine will wear out, burn oil and misfire like a good un......