Back to the Future, the 'variable displacement engine.'

[Anonymous]

I was hearing that GM was considering another variable displacement engine.. (remember the Caddy V8-6-4??)

Turns out, our beloved Blue Oval, looked at doing this to OUR engine..

http://www.popsci.com/popsci/auto/artic ... %2C00.html

At first, I thought they were bringing BACK the 300! Reading on, I saw "Ford President Lee Iacocca" Uh.. Nevermind..

Just thought this was interesting.. Feel free to tell me it's not!

AJ RN

 

[Anonymous]

i think the science surrounding the concept is interesting actual reality i think the best well get is a hybrid

 

[Anonymous]

Ironic I read this post and article the same day 60 Minutes airs GM introducing the "new" concept....

 

[Asa]

their new DoD engine is pretty slick actually...
when the cylinders shut down, the valves close, trapping the air inside, since it gets compressed, it wants to expand back again and actually helps keep the inertia of the rotating assembly moving

piston return springs indeed!

 

[80broncoman]

I think the only real downside to a hybird is when the vehicle get to the end of its service life on the battries. Then what? Try to trade it in? I keep hearing that the batteis will run as much as 35% of the cars price. If the fuel savings are what is goning to pay for them then what if 80% of your fuel savings money goes to a battry fund. It doesn't sound like your saving very much at all.
Does this make sense? I dont think it adds up for me.

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I know what you mean about the battery theory. What kind of real benefit exists if the spent batteries end up as some sort of new unrecyleable trash? The best concept I've heard is rather than wasting kinetic energy to heat when braking, store the energy using a generator and battery. I see the real world efficiencies of electric power, but the mixed messages the automakers market and the number of baskets with too few eggs...some things seam simpler with gasoline.

 

[Asa]

The best concept I've heard is rather than wasting kinetic energy to heat when braking, store the energy using a generator and battery.

as far as i know, the hybrids do have generators in their wheels to gain energy back

 

[argo]

I think the most efficient technology already exhists and is in use every day... just look at the diesel/electric locomotive. A diesel engine spins at it's most efficient speed, and is governed to always run that speed, and is coupled to a large generator. Then electric motors at each wheel draw off of the generator to generate torque to drive the vehicle. Diesel/electric hybrid technology has the sophistication to go toe to toe with the greatest Hydrogen Fuel Cell technology on the drawing board, and can made a gasoline Prius and make it look like a fuel waster.

 

[Lazy JW]

I think the most efficient technology already exhists and is in use every day... just look at the diesel/electric locomotive. A diesel engine spins at it's most efficient speed, and is governed to always run that speed, and is coupled to a large generator. Then electric motors at each wheel draw off of the generator to generate torque to drive the vehicle. Diesel/electric hybrid technology has the sophistication to go toe to toe with the greatest Hydrogen Fuel Cell technology on the drawing board, and can made a gasoline Prius and make it look like a fuel waster.

R.G. Letourneau pioneered that technology on earth moving equipment back in the 1930's. It is still a viable option and needs to be developed for automotive use IMHO.
Joe

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I agree with the Hybrid "battery trap.."

I've thought, gee.. Imagine what this will do for the battery market, in 10 years..

I think fuel cells will ulitmately be the way to go... The infrastructure will have to develop, and the price will have to go down, to build them..

You can't call an electric car "envioronmentally" friendly, when it has LEAD batteries.. Almost ALL batteries contain SOME toxic stuff in them.. The old Carbon/Zinc ones were relatively "safe" but didn't produce JACK for power..

In the mean time, LEASE a hybrid, reap the tax savings, and dump it in 3 years just before the batteries fail..

..or drive an '86 F-150, when you can't be on your motorcycle, that gets about the same mileage.. With ONE battery..


AJ RN

 

[Anonymous]

I like the diesel electric idea, although even through a standard driveline a properly sorted diesel is quite impressive regarding emmisions and mileage.

How's about a diesel conversion head for the mighty BB6? (and pistons, etc...)
Or maybe i'm on crack
E

 

[Anonymous]

Hmm..

I doubt there are enough "6's" left for a commercial outfit to want to chase that..

Furthermore, you'd be increasing compression in older motors, so the whole thing would need to be gutted to handle that..


...good money, chasin' bad, I'd assume, Dirty E...

AJ RN
Toledo's ORIGINAL Chromehead

 

[Anonymous]

oh well. guess that means it's time to save up for a cummins...

 

[Anonymous]

Chrysler 300c w/ 'Hemi' has a variable displacement thing going on...

Chrysler calls it the Multi Displacement System (MDS), a cylinder shut-off feature on the 300C that, by company accounting, boosts fuel economy 10 percent on the EPA city cycle. Under light throttle at any speed between 15 mph and 82 mph, a dedicated oil stream to four intake and four exhaust roller lifters pushes a pin in the lifters allowing them to compress rather than stroke the pushrod. The valves stay closed to reduce pumping losses and trap exhaust gases, keeping the cylinders warm. Mash the accelerator, and within 40 milliseconds the pin drops back into place, reactivating the valves. The 4140-pound 300C Hemi scores 17 mpg in city driving and 25 on the highway in EPA tests.

(Stolen shamlessly from: http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp ... e_number=2 )


-=Whittey=-

 

[Anonymous]

Just like Whitey said the new 300 uses it and if you haven't driven one you need to it is impressive and if you didn't know it was there you wouldn't notice it.