ORIGINAL: mstrueby
ok ok this seems weird runing on less cylineders would be hard on the motor i would think and u would lose lots of power right. but i would like 2 see this in production soon and how long will it take for the other companys to copy this idea.
This is already being used by the Chrysler Group (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep), GM, and Honda. The Chrysler products that offer this are the Ram 1500, Durango, Charger R/T models, Magnum R/T, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Commander, 300C, Aspen, and if there are any others, they are escaping me right now. GM uses their DOD on the Impala SS, Monte Carlo SS, some of their new trucks, Grand Prix GXP, and they are going to add this to their 3.9L V6 line. Honda I think only uses this on their Odessey minivan, their Accord Hybrid, and I think some of their other hybrids.
The way the system is set up, when you are cruising down the road and don't need full power, half of the cylinders shut down and it saves the fuel. I know in Nodaway county it might not make sense with all the hills, but on the highway, the savings would be more significant. When more power is needed, it reingauges all the cylinders again so you really don't feel the difference from what people have told me. Chrysler's MDS from what I have read is the least noticeable and the most efficient. It is supposed to improve fuel efficiency around 15-20%, whereas the GM DOD only improves it by 8%.