2007 Chevy Impala will be first V6 engine that can switch to three-cylinder operation
Sure, it's possible to argue about the long-term benefits of ethanol, but GM's announcement that their new 3.9L V6 engine will be a flexible fuel engine is the less exciting of the two bits of news. The second announcement, that the 3.9L V6 will have cylinder deactivation, is really a good idea that is hard to argue with. This is the introduction of cylinder deactivation, called Active Fuel Management (AFM) by GM, in V6 engines. It has been available in V8s for three years.
Cylinder deactivation is an automatic switch from six cylinders to three when the load is light. This means that, for example, on long, flat highway drives, the engine will not burn as much gasoline. The cylinder deactivation feature will see first use in the 3.9L V6 engines used in the 2007 Chevy Impala, whereas the 3.9L V6 with E85 capability will only be available in the Chevy Uplander fleet models. Chevy announced that "Preliminary testing of the 2007 Chevy Impala equipped with the 3.9L V-6 with AFM indicates an estimated 20 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway – improvements of approximately 5.5 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively."
[Source: World Car Fans]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
starlightmica 10:13PM (5/19/2006)
"first V6 engine that can switch to three-cylinder operation"
Sorry, Honda Odyssey 3.5L V6 with VCM did that as of the 2005 model year, with OHC, no less.
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Robert Brodrecht 10:13PM (5/19/2006)
I like the cylinder deactivation. It'd be nice if it there were a manual override. If I'm driving a mile down the road to the grocery store, I don't need that much pickup. Or if I'm in traffic where I don't really go above 35, it'd be nice to run on 3 cyl. I'm sure if CalCars can hack a Prius to spend more time in EV mode, someone could hack a Chevy to have manual cylinder deactivation. This is all assuming the car doesn't already have these programmed in (maybe 3 cyl until 1/4 WOT or something).
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Mike Barnett 10:24PM (5/19/2006)
Ahem. About your headline:
This is the first *GM* V6 engine with a 3-cylinder mode. Honda has had a 3-cylinder mode ("Variable Cylinder Management") in the Pilot, Odyssey, and Accord Hybrid for quite a while now.
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Walter Marlin 3:33AM (5/20/2006)
Visualize a bicycle tire tube with a much greater elasticity (like a balloon). Now separate the tube into six equal parts. Between each part put a wind turbine. On the wind entrance side of the wind turbine put a PSI (pounds per square inch) pressure release valve. On the other side of the turbine put a one way release valve. The section of the tire with the air plug (used to fill the tire) the PSI pressure release valve will be set for the highest pressure release, the next section lower PSI and lower PSI for each section of the tube. Connect the sections so that a circle is remade. Fill the section with the air plug until the perpetual energy machine runs through each turbine and starts its own sequence. P.S.- this is something I thought of in my mind. I do not know if this will work. It is all in my mind and I have no money.
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theimbroglio 7:55AM (5/20/2006)
That's pretty neat, but 20/29 mpg is still nothing to brag about. Sad.
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Phil L. 10:18AM (5/22/2006)
Walter -
Please dust off a Physics 100 book before filling the internet with everything that is in your mind.
Everyone -
"Cylinder deactivation" and "GM" is a painful combination for those of us who still remember the "8-6-4", GM's first, disasterous attempt at this concept...
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Phil L. 11:00AM (5/22/2006)
Oops -
Make that "disastrous".
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Tim Russell 2:19PM (5/22/2006)
Phil - 8-6-4 failed because the engine controls of the day were not up to the task. Yes it was a disaster just like their diesels were. I don't think they'll make the same mistake twice as they already have DOD on some of their V8's.
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MattK 1:17PM (5/24/2006)
Phil L --
You are comparing early 1980s technology with current technology. Sure, the original 8-6-4 technology employed by GM during that time failed as did its gas-to-diesel ill-fated adventure.
Today is another day, far removed from earlier errors.
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