Cylinder Deactivation Delete/Disable

[50yr Street Mech]

2013 Honda Pilot 3.5 liter. I de-activated that stupid VCM after the engine kept fouling plugs, and the catalytic converters went south around a measly 100K ! Should have done it earlier. 5 minute job. Engine ran much better after I de-activated it, and sacrificed a lousy 1 MPG . Then I sold that pig at 110K.

 

[CKN]

2013 Honda Pilot 3.5 liter. I de-activated that stupid VCM after the engine kept fouling plugs, and the catalytic converters went south around a measly 100K ! Should have done it earlier. 5 minute job. Engine ran much better after I de-activated it, and sacrificed a lousy 1 MPG . Then I sold that pig at 110K.

You had other issues other than VCM. Normal operating motors don't foul plugs regardless what cylinder deactivation it has. Unless there are a massive amount of others will shared your issues-and the VCM is inherently wide spread bad.
Maybe you just had a "pig".

 

[grasscutter]

2013 Honda Pilot 3.5 liter. I de-activated that stupid VCM after the engine kept fouling plugs, and the catalytic converters went south around a measly 100K ! Should have done it earlier. 5 minute job. Engine ran much better after I de-activated it, and sacrificed a lousy 1 MPG . Then I sold that pig at 110K.

Why can't all the car manufacturers agree on one name?

1. AFM = Active Fuel Management (General Motors)
2. MDS = Multi-Displacement System (Chrysler)
3. VCM = Variable Cylinder Management (Honda)
4. MCD = Multi-Cylinder Deactivation (grasscutter)

 

[rstsco]

Why can't all the car manufacturers agree on one name?

Gotta keep Marketing happy (and employed), while keeping the typical customer in the dark as to what's really happening.

My Corvette has this technology but if I use the paddle shifters it keeps the engine always firing on all 8 cylinders.

You could keep the cylinder deactivation system from engaging on my 2020 Ram 1500 by manually selecting a gear using the buttons on the steering wheel. The first thing I did after starting it was manually select 8, which meant it had the full use of all the gears, but cylinder deactivation would not turn on. (Loved the ZF8 transmission!)

 

[UGASpike]

Why can't all the car manufacturers agree on one name?

1. AFM = Active Fuel Management (General Motors)
2. MDS = Multi-Displacement System (Chrysler)
3. VCM = Variable Cylinder Management (Honda)
4. MCD = Multi-Cylinder Deactivation (grasscutter)

Don't forget DOD = Displacement on Demand

 

[SC Maintenance]

1. Multi-Cylinder Deactivation by eliminating the use of some valve lifters at different times

This one seems to be the only one with consistent issues

2. Variable Valve Timing by using camshaft phasers

VVT is an amazing development. If you don't like it you don't understand how a 4 cycle engine performs. Only some manufacturers have issues, most don't. Its the main reason the modern V6 Accord has as much power as a lot of 60's muscle cars.

3. Direct Fuel Injection by keeping the intake valves dry all the time and no way to wash them off with fuel vapor

I agree to a point, but there is a value in performance and mileage and many manufacturers seem to have no issues. Depends on implementation.

4. Dual Overhead Camshafts because one single camshaft is too simple

4 valves are way more efficient than 2. You can do 4 with one Cam but its just about as complex. Once you have a timing chain going to the head, 1 or 2 is about the same.

5. Start / Stop

I agree on this one. Completely contrived to satisfy some bureaucrats thirst for control.

6. Hybrid Part Time Electric Motor

Totally different concept. I am not a giant fan but honestly in stop and go traffic they really do quite well on gas mileage and an electric motor won't feel the wear like a conventional drivetrain

Overall there are goods and bads / diminishing returns. Anyone wanting to go back to one cam timing, points and a 3 speed is living a false narrative.

 

[HemiBenny]

Why can't all the car manufacturers agree on one name?

1. AFM = Active Fuel Management (General Motors)
2. MDS = Multi-Displacement System (Chrysler)
3. VCM = Variable Cylinder Management (Honda)
4. MCD = Multi-Cylinder Deactivation (grasscutter)

5. NT = Newfangled Technology

 

[barryh]

Why can't all the car manufacturers agree on one name?

1. AFM = Active Fuel Management (General Motors)
2. MDS = Multi-Displacement System (Chrysler)
3. VCM = Variable Cylinder Management (Honda)
4. MCD = Multi-Cylinder Deactivation (grasscutter)

ACT = Active Cylinder Technology (VW group)

 

[joekingcorvette]

The first thing I did was purchase the RANGE cylinder deactivation unit which stays plugged into the OBDII port on my 2014 Corvette. The mileage is currently at 35,000. I read hundreds of articles stating you can hurt your valve train and the torque tube as well as the rubber couplers and bearings. It's also harder on the transmission and other parts. I am not a Corvette expert however I believe this is money well spent and the cost is only about $200.00. I also read the less expensive units can be purchased for around $100 or less. I always felt it was worth it because gas is fairly inexpensive compared to drivetrain and engine parts. These units work on several GM models and I will probably remove it if I ever sell the Corvette. The cylinder deactivation can be performed by a competent technician but I chose to do it the easy way and buy the RANGE device.

 

[rszappa1]

Remember the v8 6 4 ???? what a mess...

 

[STW]

I was thinking about new(ish) vehicles to purchase and which ones that would potentially last 300 to 500k. With turbos, high pressure fuel pumps, and cylinder deactivation that seems to really limit my choices.

I recently heard some people mention disabling "cylinder deactivation" could almost restore the lifespan of previously proven engines (Honda 3.5, gm 5.3, Dodge 5.7 etc...).

How many people on the forum have deleted their "cylinder deactivation" and l would curious know the mileage on the vehicle?

2012 Honda Pilot , VCM disabled after 110K, still going strong after 210K, Great runner. 268K on 2006 honda pilot, Never had VCM .

 

[amateurbob]

2012 Honda Pilot , VCM disabled after 110K, still going strong after 210K, Great runner. 268K on 2006 honda pilot, Never had VCM .

This is information l am hoping to here about. So far the results for disabling cylinder management have mixed at best.

 

[millerbl00]

Honda Cylinder deactivation is engrained in the engine. You can disable it, but it will affect other sensors, and the injectors will run rich. Best to buy a vehicle without it at all. A hybrid bypasses a lot of problems and simpler.

 

[PandaBear]

Not at all. I actually enjoy finding diamonds in the rough but l also don't know everything. I know Toyotas 3.5 does not have cylinder deactivation yet and their hybrids are second to none. I seen multiple 3.5l engines and hybrids over 300k. I am very open to vehicles that have a proven longevity history.

Do you have any recommendations?

Not knowing how much space you need. My parents have been getting great reliability out of the pre Skyactiv Mazda 2 and 5 both. I did mod the Mazda 5 rear control arm from a -1.5 deg camber to a more natural -0.5 deg camber to reduce tire wear.

 

[amateurbob]

Honda Cylinder deactivation is engrained in the engine. You can disable it, but it will affect other sensors, and the injectors will run rich. Best to buy a vehicle without it at all. A hybrid bypasses a lot of problems and simpler.

That's what l am sensing the vibe is with most (but definitely not all) contributors. I was hoping we could get around it.

 

[PandaBear]

Honda Cylinder deactivation is engrained in the engine. You can disable it, but it will affect other sensors, and the injectors will run rich. Best to buy a vehicle without it at all. A hybrid bypasses a lot of problems and simpler.

Yes if you know what to look for, but there are no hybrid battery that would last 500k miles as well. So without knowing what is the goal of reaching 500k, it may or may not be worth it depending on the cost.

I can budget a replacement engine and make a lot of cars reaching 500k too, but that's not how typically people look at the definition.

 

[millerbl00]

I can't think of any modern car today that will make 500k, 250k, yes
But not 500k. I'd be happy with 200k after my Honda died at 29k.

 

[amateurbob]

I can't think of any modern car today that will make 500k, 250k, yes
But not 500k. I'd be happy with 200k after my Honda died at 29k.

When l was looking at used cars, those that were at least bare bones maintained made it to 200k to 250k.

One strategy l tried was going to a used car site and sorting by highest Mileage first. I know it's not perfect but it's a decent data point to add to the equation.

From this l noticed a fair amount of Nissan vans have high mileage (over 300k).

 

[97K15004WD]

2012 Honda Odyssey 3.5L. VCM disabled with muzzler. 75K miles later still going strong. Mileage is 252k, and no more alternators dying due to oil leaking onto them. Prior to muzzler, three alternators due to oil leaking onto them (seal was replaced mutliple times but did not seem to help, or last very long).

 

[millerbl00]

I wouldn't go by used cars on car lots. How many times have the engine and transmission been replaced??