tiered engine?

[mycarsucksdotexe]

So I had this crazy idea the other day. Would it be at all possible to make like an engine that can toggle between a 4 cylinder, 6, then 8? Like have a set of switches by the steering wheel to toggle between them? Or is that way out of today's tech?

 

[TCJBOLDIE]

Welcome

 

[Lunchmoney]

Already happens.

It's called cylinder deactivation or variable displacement, and GM started the idea in 1979 (have just found out via Google ). Though it appears they didn't do a very good job back then.
Now, though, it's all the rage.

Modern, large engine cars, have the ECU switch between 6, 4 and 3 cylinders (for example) as needed. It's how they can fit large bhp and mpg on the same car.


So I voted "totally" as it's already a thing

 

[mycarsucksdotexe]

oh wow, okay, i totally did not know that, i probably wasn't searching for the right thing. but im definitely gonna look into that. thank you!

 

[mycarsucksdotexe]

I was thinking it would be really cool to make a sleeper build with one of those, but i in no way have that kind of money right now.