What Does Intelligent Cylinder Deactivation Technology Mean?

[VanJayla]

Intelligent cylinder deactivation technology refers to a system where, when the engine operates under medium to low load conditions, certain cylinders are deactivated (put to sleep) through a series of methods while the remaining cylinders continue to function normally. This helps reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. When higher power output is required, all cylinders are reactivated to ensure sufficient power delivery. Below are relevant details: 1. Application of Intelligent Cylinder Deactivation Technology: This technology is typically used in multi-cylinder, large-displacement engines such as V8, V10, and V12 engines. The advantage of variable cylinder technology lies in its ability to shut down some cylinders during low-load operation or deceleration, using only the remaining cylinders to reduce fuel consumption. 2. Fuel Efficiency of Intelligent Cylinder Deactivation Technology: When the vehicle requires high power output, such as during rapid acceleration or climbing, the system automatically reactivates all cylinders to provide adequate power. This balances both fuel economy and performance, achieving intelligent power management. Additionally, when some cylinders are deactivated, the system increases the workload of the remaining cylinders, indirectly improving their fuel efficiency and reducing overall fuel consumption. Typically, this can save around 8% in fuel consumption.

[LaAubrey]

This technology is actually quite clever—it automatically shuts down several cylinders when the engine doesn’t need to work at full capacity. For example, when cruising steadily on the highway or coasting downhill, an eight-cylinder car can switch to running on just four cylinders. The key components here are controlled by electromagnetic valves and rocker arms, which immediately cut off fuel and air intake when detecting a light throttle press. But what’s truly impressive is the computer’s algorithm, which can switch to fuel-saving mode in just 0.2 seconds—so seamlessly that I don’t even feel any jerkiness. It’s much faster than older cylinder deactivation tech, saving a lot of fuel in traffic jams while still delivering strong power on long drives without feeling sluggish.

[OJonathan]

Tried a car with cylinder deactivation last week, and the pedal feel was particularly interesting. During cruising, I glanced at the energy flow diagram—four cylinders automatically switched to two with a coasting mode. When stepping on the gas to overtake, all eight cylinders instantly reactivated, delivering seamless acceleration. The manufacturer's claim of 15% fuel savings isn't exaggerated—my long-distance test showed 8.2L/100km, compared to 11L for older models of the same displacement. Just note that at idle, the system won't deactivate cylinders to protect the engine, so fuel consumption remains unchanged when blasting the AC in summer.

[VonSarah]

In the repair shop, we often encounter car owners asking whether the cylinder deactivation feature can harm the engine. In fact, the crankshaft and connecting rods are reinforced, and the oil passages are equipped with one-way valves to withstand frequent switching. However, two things should be noted: frequent short-distance driving can easily cause carbon buildup in the deactivated cylinders, so it's best to occasionally drive at high speeds. During maintenance, the air filter should be replaced promptly; otherwise, inaccurate intake monitoring can lead to switching delays. GM and Volkswagen's cylinder deactivation vehicles are particularly sensitive to low-quality oil, so low-ash oil must be used.

[ValerieAnn]

Currently, there are two mainstream approaches: General Motors' Cadillac Tripower physically disengages the valve lifters via electromagnetic control of the cam pushrod detachment, enabling seamless switching between four modes. Honda's VCM system, used in Acura, employs rocker arm locking pins to determine valve operation, which is 1.7 kg lighter than GM's system but offers slightly lower control precision. In real-world experience, the difference is minimal. However, GM vehicles allow manual deactivation of the cylinder deactivation feature, which lets you lock the V8 in full-open mode during mountain runs—a feature I personally prefer.