Ford announced that it will launch in 2017 a system of a cylinder deactivation and tuned for the 1.0 EcoBoost three-cylinder Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo …

In 2015, Ford presented a research project on the ability to disable one of the cylinders of its modern seems like yesterday and already has spent four years with us- 1.0 three-cylinder EcoBoost. The clear objective is to reduce gasoline consumption, reducing in practice the effective displacement up to 660 cm3, like those first Smart. According to the results presented in the congress, by Ford, Schaeffler and Luk, consumption would fall between 4 and 6 percent. The decline in consumption is the highest priority currently in engine development, especially the financial penalties to be imposed on manufacturers exceeding the limits of CO2 that will gradually setting in principle 95 grams / km in 2020.

Off cylinders is nothing new, the first time we drove a Cadillac, It was later Mercedes on their V12 V8 and optionally (ZAS called it), then abandon the idea. He returned via Volkswagen group, even dared implanted in Lamborghini, but also in engines not exceeded of cylinders. Specifically, it applies the turbo 1.4 TSI ACT, which disconnecting two of the four cylinders, although only more powerful versions: Lower consumption is usually considered an "bonus" by paying more, it is easier to argue the premium system for their horses.

Ford 1.0: even or odd?

All previous engines have cylinders spare and also are even. 1.0 engine Ford has only three cylinders and has been a technical squandering get it to work with roundness and finesse with which it does. In fact, the flywheel is not a simple "millwheel" made of cast iron, either as an engine, the 1.0 EcoBoost engine flywheel that he had "booted" a piece to unbalance. Only connect it to the rest of the engine and put into operation the whole balance was achieved. Even so, the three-cylinder them that peculiar sound is fashion vibrating and the frequencies with which the explosions are produced when we are all accustomed to the cadenced four cylinders, one for each of the famous "four times" of a motor.

The fact eliminate one source of explosion, from a two-cylinder tricilíndrico according to different driving circumstances, it had to assume a headache technicians. Technicians who have gone to a specialist as Schaeffler to eliminate such wide variability in vibration. His response to ensure the smoothness of rotation of the motor has been to develop a dual-mass flywheel, combined with a pendulum and a clutch damper specially adapted. Of course, no use at all times and studies advised only operate off between 2,000 and 4,000 rpm (noise / vibration and limitations in the design of the actuators respectively).

Disabling both explosion and valves of the cylinders is achieved that the other cylinders should provide more work, more open butterfly and therefore to reduce pumping losses calls, work in areas of better performance, reducing consumption. Of course, this is only possible when called moments "low load"When the engine is not applied to the maximum, you need the three cylinders in action. In a realistic use, these moments can be a third driving time typical round-trip to work.

Two cylinders or cylinder and a half?

Unlike the usual approach to defuse the central cylinder (which has seen four-cylinder engines of competition), the development shown Ford would also allow sequential deactivation of each of the cylinders so that function as a "cylinder means". Of course, the number of mechanisms put into play would make it more expensive than a simple disconnection of a single cylinder (plus accessories to ensure lubrication). According to Ford, in either case the noise emission would be similar to the conventional engine. What Ford will be chosen for the series? Imagine: disconnect only one cylinder, it costs forty percent less and achieves ninety percent savings against disconnection sequence.

Ford seemed to want to show off at that Congress of Vienna of 2015 Engines, where for years the engineers of their theoretical and practical ramblings boast. Like other manufacturers, especially Volkswagen, we can see already that this meeting is revealed as a promotional springboard to launch the series of its new mechanics. Andreas Schamel, director of advanced engineering and Ford engines, then noted that the cylinder deactivation was only one way in which improvements were investigating. We will continue waiting to test the first installment of this engine with cylinder deactivation, shown introducing the 2017 Festival, but it was a prototype Focus referring to the figures.

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