Diesels and selective cylinder shut down

[jtisdale]

As we know, our 2nd gen 24 vavles have the ability to shut down 3 cylinders when cold out to aid in warming the engine. How old is this technology, and what other diesels use it (big rigs, or industrial type etc. )? Anybody have a clue why it isnt used on the 3rd gens w/ common rail?

Thanks

 

[Scrappy]

3 cyl. mode

Supposedly with the third gen fuel injection system, it is not required to keep cylinder temps up.

 

[Blakers]

I believe it is used on the 3rd gen trucks. At least mine goes into a idling lope at times when warming up on very cold days. Most seem to do it.

 

[rbattelle]

Originally posted by Blakers

I believe it is used on the 3rd gen trucks. At least mine goes into a idling lope at times when warming up on very cold days. Most seem to do it.

I disagree with Blakers on this. I don't think there is any 3-cylinder mode on the 3g trucks. I think the lope is an unsteady engine control condition brought on by mis-firing cylinders in extreme cold. But these are just opinions... no one has been able to definitively say yes or no.

 

[nickleinonen]

Originally posted by jtisdale

As we know, our 2nd gen 24 vavles have the ability to shut down 3 cylinders when cold out to aid in warming the engine. How old is this technology, and what other diesels use it (big rigs, or industrial type etc. )? Anybody have a clue why it isnt used on the 3rd gens w/ common rail?

Thanks

not for cold engines, but on the electronic 16-7fdl GE locomotive diesel engines, when the engine has been at idle for a few minutes, it will selectively cut cylinders out at idle and gets a nasty sounding lope but it is for emission controls. cut cylinders out, and less particulate matter is produced



and for cold EMD 2 cycle locomotive engines with governors, you can kill one side of the engine when you start it up by removing one 5/16" bolt and tying the linkage for the engines left side into no fuel. it actually runs pretty smooth on one side, and prevents smoking out the shop with the thick blue they will blow when ice cold

 

[jtisdale]

Thanks nickleinonen, thats the kind of info I am looking for.

 

[damar]

This technology has been around since at least 1998. My son had a Detroit 60 Series in 1999 and it had what's called Optimized Idle. One of the options was 3 cylinder idle. It cut in any time it was set on high idle, like overnite for heating or air conditioning, or just any time high idle was selected. Cuts fuel consumption and makes the engine work a little harder to help keep cylinder temp up. Sounds strange but automatically went back to 6 cylinder as soon as high idle was disegaged.

 

[A Johnson]

As Nickleinonen has said, this is used on alot of bigger engines. Cummins uses it on the v-series 12 and 16's. They just use a check valve of whatever PSI they decide they need and cut off one bank during low power or idle situations. Engines for the most part run very smooth. I was told Consolidated Freightways used it when they first started running v-8 903's to cut one bank during idle, but I don't know how true this is.



I don't know if Cummins is using it in any automotive at this time other than Dodge.



A Johnson

 

[barbwire]

Also

If I understand correctly. When our engines go into the 3 cyl. mode, it is not just the same three cylinders that shut off. I guess that that all six take turns shutting down alternately. FWIW