We recently heard the next-generation small-block V-8 engines coming from GM will have a unique cylinder-deactivation capability that can reduce or activate from one to eight cylinders. GM revealed this information during the debut of the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Current-generation GM pickups use an active fuel management system that reduces the number of active cylinders from eight to four.
According to Green Car Reports, the new technology came from a Silicon Valley startup company GM Ventures purchased in 2012 that designed engine control software that could make an existing V-8 significantly more fuel efficient.
Originally called Dynamic Skip Fire, the Tula Technology system yields huge fuel-economy improvements — up to 15 percent over engines without cylinder deactivation GM said when it purchased Tula. Renamed Dynamic Fuel Management, the system will be used on the two V-8 engines that will power the 2019 Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 when they hit dealerships later this year.
If you want to know how the system works, we found a video that explains it in more detail. We expect we'll be hearing much more about this technology in the future as it is likely to spread across all the full-size SUVs and pickup trucks, and far beyond. Check out the video below.
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