Cylinder deactivation is a technique used in multi-cylinder engine cars to improve fuel economy and engine efficiency. Also known as Active Fuel Management (AFM), this trick is popular among car manufacturers, including Chevrolet, Cadillac, Lamborghini, Mazda, and Mercedes Bends. Typically, it involves the deactivation of a set of cylinders, such that their pistons don’t add effort to the attached crankshaft. Although they displace up and down – as they should – they don’t burn any fuel or release any exhaust fumes like the other piston cylinders.

However, not all cars are fitted with this technology. A variety of car brands such as Ford and BMW and a few Toyota models don’t employ this technique. For brands that have, this tactic can be initiated and turned off, which generally takes a few engine processes to effect.

¿Puede apagar la desactivación del cilindro?

To initiate cylinder deactivation, it’ll require a few variables; including the current gear engaged, the torque produced by the engine, the vehicle speed, and the engine speed.

Una vez determinados estos parámetros, el motor está listo para la desactivación. El tiempo de encendido de los cilindros inactivos se reduce significativamente y las válvulas de intercambio de gases se desactivan y cierran. En este punto, se activa la desactivación del cilindro.

However, as Pat Goss, a court-qualified general automotive expert and the Motor Week automotive magazine author suggests, you can’t downright turn off cars with cylinder deactivation, but it’s possible. He remarks that turning it off is a chronology of processes that build on one another. It requires a re-tuning of the Engine Control Module (EMC), an electronic control unit managing a series of actuators on internal engine combustion. You can also re-tune the Body control module (BDM) and reprogram the electrical system controlling the valves to moderate the Variable Valve Timing (VVT) systematically. While abruptly deactivating a cylinder turns off fuel injectors, the opposite is usually true. Turning off cylinder deactivation is possible but not as easy as activating cylinder de-activation.

Cómo deshabilitar la desactivación del cilindro en su vehículo

Hay dos formas prácticas de desactivar la desactivación del cilindro.

• Installation of an active fuel management disabler. It’s an electronic device that is plugged into the ODM-II port. It works by programming the computer to not switch to the four-cylinder model.

• Installation of an active fuel management delete kit. Before installing this kit, you need to upgrade to a non-AFM camshaft to prevent a misfire code. Besides, you will need to turn the AFM system off by custom tuning or to use a computer programmer.

¿Encender la desactivación del cilindro ayuda a su motor?

While cylinder deactivation has become common in the modern-day automotive industry, it also has its ugly side. This technique can have nerving effects on your engine and can reduce its lifespan. However, the consequences can’t be as much for modern engine designs because engineers now design them to withstand the effects. They aren’t indomitable either. The disadvantages of cylinder deactivation include:

I. Formación de pulsos de presión dentro del riel común

La desactivación repentina de los cilindros apaga abruptamente los inyectores, lo que genera pulsos de presión en el sistema Common Rail. En casos severos, esto hace que el inyector Common Rail se averíe e inhiba la optimización del uso de combustible.

II. Vibraciones desequilibradas

Sacar algunos cilindros de la ecuación de generación de par crea espacios hidráulicos que provocan vibraciones desequilibradas en el motor. Un motor diseñado para equilibrar eficientemente seis cilindros tendrá un equilibrio deficiente con cinco cilindros o menos. Esto se debe a que los diferentes cilindros del motor están diseñados para adaptarse a diversas fuerzas primarias y secundarias. Un motor de tres cilindros se adapta a las fuerzas primarias y secundarias, mientras que un motor de cuatro cilindros solo posee fuerzas secundarias desequilibradas. Por lo tanto, iniciar la desactivación del cilindro interrumpe el equilibrio de vibraciones del motor.

III. Esfuerzo de cilindros activos para generación de par y balanceo de inyectores

By the law of nature, anything that’s overworked usually wears off faster. Initiating cylinder deactivation puts a load of torque generation on active engine piston cylinders. It can be detrimental in most engines’ injector balancing, particularly those with modern Common Rail Direct Injections, if equipped with Engine Management System-controlled combustion.

Conclusión

Turning off cylinder deactivation is possible in most Active fuel management-enabled cars. However, you may require performing a few simple crucial steps to disable it in your vehicle. One way of doing this is using an AFM delete kit, which replaces the AFM components with standard engine parts. Another simple way that doesn’t require you to do engine dissembling is installing the AFM disabler in the OBD-II port to prevent the computer from switching over to the four-cylinder model.