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V6 engine cylinder management, how often do you see V4?

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#21 ·
You will get the V4 all the time if you are under 35 miles an hour and on level ground. Mine shows of all the time when I'm driving around town on level ground under 35 miles an hour. You have to be cruising, and not under acceleration. In city traffic you will probably never have it because you're either accelerating or braking. Any long stretch of road that is level, and under 35 miles an hour is when that works. That's what it's meant for, is to get better mileage while cruising at lower speeds.
 
#22 ·
Nanook_of_the_North said:
You will get the V4 all the time if you are under 35 miles an hour and on level ground. Mine shows of all the time when I'm driving around town on level ground under 35 miles an hour. You have to be cruising, and not under acceleration. In city traffic you will probably never have it because you're either accelerating or braking. Any long stretch of road that is level, and under 35 miles an hour is when that works. That's what it's meant for, is to get better mileage while cruising at lower speeds.
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#24 ·
Mine doesn’t seem to be on too often. Maybe it is my heavy right foot...

The Yukon with the L83 5.3L does tend to slip into V4 mode more often... Granted it has 108 more pound feet of torque, which makes a difference.

Flat ground, at county side road speeds is (40-60) is when I see the LGZ and L83 go into V4 mode the most.
 
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#26 ·
nvblue said:
As noted, I see V4 fairly often on flat roads or slight downhills when holding a very steady accelerator. It doesn't switch on downhills if you are off the pedal, because it assumes engine braking.
If you drive this thing with a light foot, it gets great mileage. I have a ZR2 that is rated at 16/18 MPG. I haven't reset the trip odometer since I bought the truck and it shows an average of 20.1 MPG over 16,000 miles. That includes a good bit of off road and sand driving where the MPG sucks.
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Geez! I’m not a heavy foot and I only get about 17!!! I’ve got the z71 which is rated for 19/24.
 
#27 ·
Devinaschultz said:
Geez! I’m not a heavy foot and I only get about 17!!! I’ve got the z71 which is rated for 19/24.
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Most of my driving is in the 35 - 60 MPH range where this drive train gets great mileage. I also have very little stop and go driving. I've also found mountains help. I only get about 11 MPG up, but 99 MPG most of the way down.
 
#28 ·
I leased a new 2019 GMC Canyon SLT V6 last February. Installed options included Driver Alert Package, Integrated Trailer Control and Trailer Package. We're retired so we only have 1200 miles on it so far. When I came across this post it was a complete surprise since I never heard of (or witnessed) cylinder deactivation in my Canyon. I checked the owner's manual, online and the factory Window sticker - can't find any mention of "cylinder deactivation" for the GMC SLT. What am I missing (no pun intended)? Thanks.
 
#29 ·
My cylinder deact doesn`t show, I have a SL Canyon or what ever the base is. No problems with gas mileage, my 100 miles a day round trip to work / my dic reads 27.7 for last 450 miles. North/south drive at 65 mph,on some days with wind at back the GMC shows over 30 for last 50 miles. Any dic will lie to you but it seems about right at gas pump. 63k on truck after 2 years ownership[bought new]. Dealership changed out the TC at 30k for shudder. Cheers
 
#30 ·
Curler20p said:
I was wondering the same thing. I have only had my 19 Colorado a week and only has 800 miles. I have been watching for the V4 to come on but have not ever seen it. Thinking maybe it needs a break in period before the computer allows it to activate.
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There might be something going on. I had to have a replacement engine different reason. The new engine is acting the way it is supposed to. I am seeing it in v-4 especially down a steep incline. And then it returns to V6 because it is a V6 3.6 dual overhead cam variable valve timing system blah blah blah. 2021 RS blazer. Fully loaded with the nicest engine not a turbo or four-cylinder or whatever. But it can work all six and when you’re going downhill the V4 should kick in. Immediately it doesn’t require a break in period. I don’t know if it was going on with my Core engine. The first engine Jiffy Lube actually broke my first engine because they let me leave without oil so the new engine is working the way it should. Yeah that was fun. So they take a brand new car with very low mileage I was doing a break in oil change. You can do that anywhere it doesn’t have to be at the dealer and dealerships screw up all the time. It’s been more time at the dealership and they were able to cause more damage to the outside of it and got it dirty and crap and put a sticker on it. So yeah I go in for an oil change simple easy and they actually put oil into it and the guy underneath is still draining it we have video clips. In the third video clip you see them putting 4 quarts exactly back into it trying to save their butts but it didn’t work and yes they did pay for all of the parts and cost and the rental and all that because they voided my warranty when they did that. However everything‘s back in place including the warranty. But you should see it come up. It’s just really to save you on fuel efficiency and to save other parts from where and tear. I’m pretty sure that the Colorado in the blazer has similar engines. AV-6 is a V-6 liter change. Might have a slight difference.
 
#31 ·
retiredgeek said:
I leased a new 2019 GMC Canyon SLT V6 last February. Installed options included Driver Alert Package, Integrated Trailer Control and Trailer Package. We're retired so we only have 1200 miles on it so far. When I came across this post it was a complete surprise since I never heard of (or witnessed) cylinder deactivation in my Canyon. I checked the owner's manual, online and the factory Window sticker - can't find any mention of "cylinder deactivation" for the GMC SLT. What am I missing (no pun intended)? Thanks.
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I’ll tell you something really cool that your key fob on your Colorado. On it there is an option to open your trailer but if you push it down while everything is locked up it’ll just come down for you and if you push the lock button down all the windows will come down for you this is without any starting of the vehicle. Yes it’s silly it’s on the key fob it’s funny I thought it was interesting but your car should be doing this as well. Your engine should be able to switch between cylinders for fuel efficiency power etc.
 
#32 ·
Hopefully it does it as little as possible. If it's anything in design like it is on the 5.3 it's a total $hit show. My sons truck (Silverdao) with 38K on the clock and two months over the warranty just cost $5K+ to delete that crap after it became UN-drivable. It was fine one minute and then it was not. Lots of others having the same problem.
 
#33 ·
SFLTruck said:
Hopefully it does it as little as possible. If it's anything in design like it is on the 5.3 it's a total $hit show. My sons truck (Silverdao) with 38K on the clock and two months over the warranty just cost $5K+ to delete that crap after it became UN-drivable. It was fine one minute and then it was not. Lots of others having the same problem.
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Not the same design. Pushrod motor vs. DOHC, and the LG series 3.6 was designed from the ground up to have it integrated in, whereas the LS/LT V8s it was adapted and the special lifters tend to be the weak point. I'm not saying their might not be some long term durability impacts of having 2 cylinders go cold (although it really happens rarely) but it should not be as problematic as on the older 5.3s.
 
#34 ·
Said lifters are in the trash along with the Camshaft. New delete tune and it's running like a champ again. I agree different setup but I'm still not a fan of cycling cylinder temps, but as you noted at least it doesn't do it often so that's a plus.
 
#37 ·
FWIW these are the conditions under which it operates (per a GM derived service manual I have):

- Engine has been running for greater than 30 seconds

- Between 700 and 2800rpm

- Oil pressure is between 27-66 psi

- Coolant temperature is between 100-264°F

- Oil temperature is between 61-263°F

- Throttle angle is 6% or less

- Ignition voltage is greater than 11 V

- Transmission is not in first, second, or reverse gear

- Vehicle speed is greater than 15.5 mph

- Brake booster pressure is greater than 6 psi

- Vehicle is not in fuel shut of mode

- Vehicle is not in heater performance mode

- Vehicle is not in tip in bump acceleration mode

- Vehicle is not in oil aeration mode
 
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#38 ·
I have NEVER seen anything but "V6" displayed on the dash of my 2019 LT. Since I generally drive with a light foot on level roads, I had assumed the V4 "feature" was either removed during a software update or never was enabled in the first place.
 
#40 ·
V4 showed up on my display the other day for the first time (2019 Z71 owned from new since June 2020) and at first worried me that something was wrong with the engine. But reading this thread helped me understand it's normal. I've got V4 to show up a couple more times with gentle driving in the right conditions.
 
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