Ford Expands Cylinder Deactivation to Tiny EcoBoost Engine

Ford Motor Co. has adapted its cylinder deactivation technology for use in the 1.0‑liter turbocharged 3-cylinder EcoBoost engine the carmaker offers in Europe.

The system, which cuts fuel to one of the engine’s three cylinders under low power loads, can boost fuel efficiency by as much as 6%, according to the carmaker. Ford plans to launch the 1.0-liter EcoBoost with cylinder deactivation in early 2018, which the company says will be the first application for the technology in a 3-cylinder engine.

Ford and several other carmakers have offered cylinder deactivation systems for years in larger engines. The technology can disengage or re-engage one cylinder in 14 milliseconds.

Ford engineers in England, Germany and the U.S. worked with their counterparts at Schaeffler Group on the system, which operates at engine speeds as great as 4,500 rpm. Software determines the optimum moment to deactivate the cylinder based on engine speed, throttle position and engine load.

A single-piece camshaft module—similar to the design that debuted earlier this year on Ford’s all-new EcoBlue diesel engine—frees space within the cylinder head for oil channels and valve-switching componentry. A new dual-mass flywheel and a vibration-damping clutch disc minimize engine oscillations when running on two cylinders, especially at lower rpm, and enable a wider operating range, according to Ford.

Intake and exhaust valves are closed when the system is active, trapping gases to provide a spring effect that helps balance forces across all cylinders. Engine components will be tuned to minimize NVH issues and handle the different loading forces resulting from cylinder deactivation.

Ford launched the base 1.0-liter EcoBoost mill in the Focus in 2012 and now offers the powerplant in 11 European models. The compact engine is available in 100-hp, 125-hp and 140-hp configurations. The company says the top-end engine has a higher power-per-liter ratio than a Bugatti Veyron supercar.