2011 Chevrolet Cruze Incorporates Fuel Saving Variable Displacement Oil Pump

[xcel]

Delivers the precise amount of oil under any and all driving conditions.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Aug 29, 2010

One of many Cruze incremental engine technologies to improve fuel efficiency is the variable displacement oil pump. The pump body pivots (blue lines) causing the vanes (red lines) to move resulting in just the right volume of oil being pumped. When less oil is pumped less energy is needed which ultimately saves fuel. The variable displacement pump is standard on the Ecotec 1.4L turbo engine.

The oil pump in the engine of the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze takes a laid-back approach to its work, delivering the precise amount of oil needed during all driving conditions. That requires the engine to work less versus a conventional pump and ultimately saves fuel.

A standard feature in the Cruze’s Ecotec 1.4L turbocharged engine, the variable displacement oil pump reduces the displacement during engine warm up and high speed conditions. The volume of oil from the pump varies with rpm by changing the pump’s displacement through a pivoting control chamber mechanism and sliding vanes. A fixed displacement pump would typically bypass the extra oil internally.

“By lowering the volume of oil we reduce the amount of energy, or torque, required to pump the oil, without taking necessary lubrication away from the engine,” said Mike Katerberg, assistant chief engineer for the 1.4L. “Reducing the torque demand reduces fuel consumption. It’s a simple, durable, maintenance-free design that we have used in our transmissions for years and more recently in our hybrid vehicles.”

The Ecotec 1.4L turbo is standard on Eco, LT and LTZ models and helps the Cruze Eco, with a standard six-speed transmission, achieve an expected segment-leading estimated 40 mpg on the highway.

The benefits of the variable displacement oil pump increase when used with other technologies such as variable valve timing which operate using oil pressure. Variable valve timing adjusts the engine valves' opening and closing timing for optimal performance, fuel efficiency and emissions across the rpm band – including greater low-rpm torque.

The all-new 2011 Chevrolet Cruze will begin arriving in U.S. dealerships this September, starting at $16,995, including destination. Priced to compete in the compact-car segment, the Cruze offers more interior room, more miles per gallon in the Eco model, and more standard safety features than any of its competitors.

[SentraSE-R]

I get the impression that the Cruze engineers worked a lot harder than the Volt engineers.

[MaxxMPG]

I don't think it's a matter of the engineers not working hard enough. I think it's "the new GM" philosophy of striving to be competitive to the point of being at or near the front of the pack. Variable oil pumps are nothing new, but the old GM would have left it out to save a buck on production costs.

I was just reading earlier today about Pontiac engineers having a 32 valve four cam DOHC version of their 389 V8. In 1962. Almost 50 years ago.

The engineers can do it. They can make it reliable and demonstrate it to management. And then it gets killed due to cost. Why spend 50% more on an engine when the old iron version is selling just fine?

This hidden feature in the new 1.4L engine is another indicator that things are changing inside GM. And hopefully, the engine (and the car it powers) proves to be as reliable and refined as it needs to be to compete in today's fierce global marketplace.

[GreenBlues]

I saw this article somewhere else and in it even the engineers stated that the mpg savings for this were minimal. It made me think of complexity for little gain.

[Kurz]

Originally Posted by GreenBlues

I saw this article somewhere else and in it even the engineers stated that the mpg savings for this were minimal. It made me think of complexity for little gain.

I also read Maintance free.
Though of course I wonder if it truely last as long as the engine will.

[southerncannuck]

Originally Posted by GreenBlues

I saw this article somewhere else and in it even the engineers stated that the mpg savings for this were minimal. It made me think of complexity for little gain.

Like the "death of a thousand cuts", many incremental improvements will add up.

[paratwa]

Originally Posted by southerncannuck

Like the "death of a thousand cuts", many incremental improvements will add up.

Agreed. Honda's Lean Burn method improvements may have been called "minimal" at some point but the effect is VERY noticeable. I still don't understand why more cars don't use it.

[Right Lane Cruiser]

Originally Posted by paratwa

Agreed. Honda's Lean Burn method improvements may have been called "minimal" at some point but the effect is VERY noticeable. I still don't understand why more cars don't use it.

Emissions, primarily. It is very costly to clean up emissions from lean burn engines.

[PaleMelanesian]

Specifically, NOx emissions. As the air-fuel ratio goes lean (to the right), look at the NOx emissions. Emissions is the reason lean-burn Honda's were never available in California where the air regulations are tighter.


http://www.fuelsaving.info/air_bleed.htm

[Nevyn]

This feature may not help much. However, as was said somewhere else, it's not about the "magic bullet" of fuel economy. It's more about the "magic birdshot." One doesn't have much effect, but a cloud of things together can have amazing results.