I was thinking about the commercials for the Chev Impala V8 where the EEC shuts down 4 cylinders when highway cruising...to improve fuel economy.

How hard would it be to implement this for the Mustang GT?

I'm thinking this must be a software only implmentation.

Is it possible to get an after-market 'upgrade' to implement this?

If not, is it possible to get the source code for the EEC to see what this would involve?

 

it's beyond me.. but I would imagine it's a little more complicated than that.. I don't know if the crank has to be designed a specific way so that it will balance.. and the firing order is going to be paramount.... it's an interesting question... and I think Ford is even working on that for future vehicles...
But... if you're drivin' it like you stole it... you'd never even drop down to 4

 

While I like your idea, it seems DOD is actually a little more complicated than that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_Fuel_Management

 

Multiple displacement engines involve more than software. It uses a special hydraulic lifters and a control module. When the need comes to shutdown half the cylinders, pressure is applied by the control module to the special lifters and they shutdown both the intake and exhaust valves. This happens to the outer two cylinders on one side of the engine and the inner two on the other side. The software only determines if the load and conditions are favorible to decrease the diplacement.

So, in short, you would need software + hardware.

 

Aha, thanks for the response everybody.

I was thinking it could potentially be just a matter of shutting off fuel flow and spark.

I guess not.

Re my other question...I imagine manufacturer's keep their software a closely guarded secret...does anybody know if it's at all possible to get the source code for EEC systems?

 

Good luck, Jack, but if you do manage to, I'd be interested in seeing it.

 

Good luck, man

 

Or wait for the 2009!