I know this has come up before, but the threads just kind of died without any real leads. I can’t find anything offered on-line

Anyone know if there is a software DOD system available. As was noted in a previous thread, the PCM already does this when in "overheat more" - it shuts down cylinders to reduce heat output. Seems like it wouldn’t be a long way to go to do this in response to engine load.

With a V-10, it seems the options for incrementally removing unused power are huge. Cylinder cycling in a variety of balanced reductions seems like a no brainer. What am I missing.

Some of us out here actually seek to improve mileage on the V-10!

 

As you mentioned, this has been discussed some in the past, invariably leading to a dead end. The V10 doesn't have computer controlled (solenoid-actuated) valves like the 5.4, so any cylinder you don't ignite still has to do the work of compressing gas in the cylinder, which will prevent you achieving any better mpg.

One fellow even went so far as to experimentlly force his V10 into limp mode so that it would run on only 5 cylinders, but found his mpg was a couple mpg worse.

If you have any good ideas lots of people would love to hear them!

 

IMO dropping cylinders is a dumb idea. Every time you hit a hill on the highway your going to be going from 6 to 8 (Chevy V8) and back and forth. The way most everyone drives on the highway at 80mph plus all the time I don't see how it would be able to operate on 6 cylinders.

This dropping cylinders is like the Hemi craze a year or so ago, just a marketing thing. One of the best ways to get good gas mileage is to drive 65-75 mph on the highway instead of 80+, keep the tires pumped up and maintain your vechicle or buy a Honda civic

 

I can't tow my 30ft TT with a civic - or maybe...just maybe... Actually I've seen a video of a guy doing just that. Yugo sized vehicle goes thru frame towing what must have been 25+ foot long TT - smoking and grunting up a hill. Next thing you know the vehicle comes skidding down the hill backward, engine screaming, passangers screaming... wrecks in a gully! UNREAL!

Anyway, I don't drive 80+, and a lot of the time the engine could benefit from shutting down cylinders. Especially on a V-10 where killing offseting cylinders occasionally could save the fuel that would have been injected. Even a 5% gain could really add up.

And your idea of V-8 down to V-6 isn't quite right. Instead, the engine management system could shut down two pistons every other rotation, or something like that. A phased shutdown based on conditions.

But alas, a post above explaind the missing mechanical aspect of the V-10 for this. Still having to compress the air only contents of the cylinder costs energy. Wonder if you could find a way to inject just enough fuel to make up for the costs of compression? But that would likely limit benefit greatly.

 

The new chevy motors are basicly the same principal 4-6-8 as tried in the seventies by GM with modern electronics thrown into the mix.

I can guarentee you even if your V10 had this set-up to save gas there is no way you will be able to use it pulling a 10,000lb+ trailer.

I would be interested to hear how the Chevy Suburban or yukon works with this type of technology. I just don't see how you could save much gas if any with a 6500lb. SUV.

A Honda Civic would have no problem pulling your 33" trailer............ down a 12% grade with a tail wind. Stopping or slowing at the bottom may be a problem

 

I'll have to see if I can find the link to that video. I laughed so hard I cried!

 

Here is a copy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_Xygo2054Q

The sound is as good as the video!

"He's burning a bit rich..." as the cyclist watches.
Then the "chug-chug-chug" of a dying engine...
Then listen for the sound of the engine cranking...
Then the grind as the driver tries to put it in park while being dragged down the hill....
Then... well, you can listen.

Priceless!

 

Thats funny vid. Don't think its running rich its overheating and about to blow.

Reminds me of the time I saw a ford escort pulling a 19 or 20' fiberglass boat that must have weighed around 3500lbs.

Also saw a ford taurus wagon on the highway pulling a tandem axle fiberglass CC boat a grady white about 21' long must have weighed at least 4500lbs total. People are nuts. I have also seen and heard of guys launching their boat and the car starts sliding down the ramp.

Crazy People.

Thanks for sharing the vid.

 

Well, they aren't solenoid actuated valves, but solenoid DISABLED valves... Meaning a solenoid/servo moves something and the valves no longer open.

Anyway, the reason cylinder on demand doesn't go anywhere in this forum is that it doesn't get you anything, without being able to disable the valves on the shutdown cylinders.

 

I've said it many...many...many times before...that IMHO...FORD should offer this DoD fuel management system in ALL there V6, V8, and V10 engines. That is car, SUV, and F-Series.

Why? Well...if a person can save 2-10% based on there own driving abilities, then that is some kind of savings. IMO...any kind of savings is a GOOD thing!

The V10 should also have the option of FFV just like the 5.4L in the F150. Again...just another option for the Owner. OBTW: No added cost for the FFV option on the F150.


biz

 

The new system isn't really like the old 4-6-8 setup at all... other than it deactivates cylinders. And this time it only goes from 8 to 4 (no 6).

It's impossible to tell how much, if any, the DoD (GM calls it Active Fuel Management- AFM) saves in fuel. GM doesn't offer you a choice- all engines in the 1500 class have AFM. You have to go to the 2500 (a totally different chassis) to get away from it.

I can tell you that AFM/DoD seems pretty worthless to me. Even with the larger 6.0 engine, the only time our Suburban drops to 4 cylinder mode is when the wind is at your back on flat land or down-hill runs. But I guess that little bit of time in 4-cylinder mode might save a drop or two of gas.

 

Quote: I've said it many...many...many times before...that IMHO...FORD should offer this DoD fuel management system in ALL there V6, V8, and V10 engines. That is car, SUV, and F-Series.

Why? Well...if a person can save 2-10% based on there own driving abilities, then that is some kind of savings. IMO...any kind of savings is a GOOD thing!

The V10 should also have the option of FFV just like the 5.4L in the F150. Again...just another option for the Owner. OBTW: No added cost for the FFV option on the F150.



I priced an 06' SD w/V10 on fords site a while back and I thought I saw and option for Flex Fuel. I also heard ford was making all engines compatable with flex fuel by a certain year.

Why would you want extra parts on the motor (DoD) for that could fail just to save 1/2 mpg at the most and then run E85 fuel in the V10 which will give you at least a 2-3 mpg decrease in fuel economy and the E85 costs more than reg. gasoline and is harder to find.

A gas station about 15 miles from my house started selling E85. People were buying the fuel for a while until they realized they were getting less mpg and the fuel costs more. I saw on the news they took a GM V6 car and did a MPG test for E85 vs. reg gasoline. The car got 2-3mpg less on E85 than reg gas. Imagine what the V10 would eat over the V6.

Not trying to attack you. Just food for thought.

E85 is sort of a sham IMO. They want to reduce our dependency on foreign oil. How much of the oil from Alaska, Texas, the Gulf and other U.S. wells ends up going overseas because they can get more money for it over there than to sell it to U.S. consumers. Politics apply. I heard the U.S. use somewhere around 15% of its own oil and the rest is gotten outside the U.S.

 

YES! That is what I am talking about in regards to FORD needing that system on all its V6, V8, and V10 engines. If it helps just a little, then it should be offered.

Heck...if it never activates with a person's particular application...then what is the harm? But when it does...it saves $$$.


biz

 

If they put the DOD on I hope its an option. All you need is more electronics for the dealer to try and figure out how to fix when it goes bad.

 

That, I can definitely agree with, even though E85 is not even available anywhere near here... but setting up a still becomes attractive

They might get a tax credit for producing an FFV vehicle, so the added cost is absorbed.

Because of recently discussed issues with the balancing shaft, I wonder how a 5-cylinder V10 feels in the cab? Which cylinders do you turn off?