AP story - mile increase - idea or snake oil?

[trooper8]

Saw a story last week on a guy/inventor reported to save significant fuel with a device that shut off several fuel injectors at cruising speed. His was fairly primitive with switch on dash.

The big 3 have played with this concept, usually by also deactivating the valve operation (complicated). If it worked, turning off a couple injectors would be fairly easy to do.

One argument I've heard is the wasted energy requied to compress the dead cyls, but they would also give back some of that compressed air spring energy after TDC.

Anyone played with the concept? Anyone want to try?

What, if anything, would this do to the computer's perception of operation? Would it take corrective actions? Could that be defeated?

hmmm...:scratch:

 

[aldive]

I have considered trying this concept.

 

[trooper8]

you're the guy

I have considered trying this concept.

I think you're the one to give it a go. I haven't made it thru 72 pages of Quest For 30, but it seems you've gone a long way down this road already.

I basic testbed of 3 switches to turn off injectors 1 at a time would be fairly easy. Which 3? Have to think about that. You'd learn something. If sucessfull, consider getting more elaborate turning several off at same time, override for high throttle (hills), auto off based on low throttle setting or speed sensor...etc.

BTW - I'm over 45 and I've tried driving the Exploder like a granny, run syn fluids, and I'd kiss the hot exhaust manifold if I ever saw 20+mpg! I feel like a really proved a point to my wife when I squeeze 18!

 

[Turdle]

Better figure a way to turn spark off to those cylinders also.

This concept works with a 90 degree v8, however, I am not to optimistic of it working well in a 60 degree v6.

 

[dogfriend]

The Prius does this except it turns off all the cylinders at the same time. It will power the car from the battery, or if you are clever, you feather the pedal just enough to coast without using any power.

I have a ScanGauge2 so I can monitor rpm. At speeds below 42 mph, the rpm will go to zero and the fuel flow (measured in gal/hr) goes to zero. At speeds above 42, the electric motor/generator (MG1) will turn the engine at 960 rpm but the fuel flow goes to zero. The reason it turns the engine at higher speeds is to protect MG1 from overspeeding since the two motor/generators and engine are all linked mechanically.

 

[Turdle]

 

[Turdle]

My idea would require intense engineering, But I believe it could be accomplished

Power comes from a air compressor and clutch, as the air supply depletes a clutch will activate the compressor

This air is routed to the heads-not unlike the fuel is supplied to the fuel rails and injectors-
However-the high pressure ( low volume) air is instead distributed to 2 way "air injector" valves, ( think of fuel injectors ) which open and close the intake and exhaust valves.
This would not only allow an infinite duration and lift combination, but would also allow intermittent cycling of each cylinder.
The PCM could decide instantly when more power is required, and "turn on " each cylinder as needed. The non firing cylinder's valves would be held open during the compression stroke--

If you do not think air could be fast enough for this-
consider that formula 1 engines now rev so high that conventional springs would resonate themselves into fragments-
They use air bladders for valve springs - ( as far as I am aware)

OK,
I was just thinking out loud---

 

[aldive]

This concept is the future. Its great that we are thinking out loud.

Keep on keeping on ....

 

[MustangP51]

What about the compression strokes? Wouldn't you need some way of releasing the pressure in the cylinders along with no spark and no fuel?

 

[BIGHVM]

A fantastic idea, in theory, I would love to see if it can be pulled off. the injectors being turned off is one thing that would work, spark waste is not an issue as we all have waste sparks with coil packs. Thats as far as I see this going, to make the cylinders not work for the duration really would require some intense work!

Great theory and if you get this off the ground, I would love a ride in your Ex!

 

[trooper8]

sparks

The spark plugs can shoot blanks all they want. Much of the energy used to compress the non-fueld air would be returned after TDC, like an air spring. Some would be lost, but how much?

Ever play with an airhog toy with compressed air engine?

I'd turn off 1 cyl on each side on the V6.

Like I said at the start, this was a TV story carried by AP on a guy doing this sucesfully.

A fantastic idea, in theory, I would love to see if it can be pulled off. the injectors being turned off is one thing that would work, spark waste is not an issue as we all have waste sparks with coil packs. Thats as far as I see this going, to make the cylinders not work for the duration really would require some intense work!

Great theory and if you get this off the ground, I would love a ride in your Ex!