Cylinder cut out

No the Prius doesn't drop cylinders to increase MPG the way some cars do, I think the 1.8L hybrid engine is efficient enough that it would not help, and would probably decrease efficiency, anyway.

I don't know if that information would be on the data bus for the ScanGauge to read if you had a car with that feature, such as the Honda Accord V6. Honda sites might know, maybe they have an Xgauge for it.

 

Guess you could say that we have a 4-cyl cutout when we glide (no fuel consumption).

 

And yes, the Scan gauge notices that.

 

The correct term is cylinder deactivation. From the title and the first post, I thought the OP was talking about a cylinder that literally cut out and stopped firing.

GM likes to use the buzzword "Active Fuel Management" for this technology, which is quite annoying as they usually use it when marketing monstrosity class SUVs.

 

Just pull a spark plug wire or coil in this case

 

Yes, four at a time.

Uh, yes, and the driver too.

Bob Wilson

 

Cutting out 1 or 2 cylinders on a 4 cylinder engine would make for a pretty raggedy feeling engine.

It would also be a smaller benefit when you have an eCVT and the engine management system we do.

The purpose of cutting cylinders out on a V8 is to move the remaining cylinders to a higher efficiency region on the BSFC map, something a Prius already does a very good job of with the eCVT and engine management.

 

That's for sure. I drove a 4-cylinder 3-speed automatic 1989 Ford Escort hatchback. Then it decided to become a 3-cylinder about 5 miles after getting a 65k service. It wasn't terrible as long as it had some throttle, but at or near idle it was pretty awful.