A method for maximizing a fuel efficiency of an engine includes the steps of providing an engine including a plurality of cylinder bores formed therein, disposing at least one first permanent magnet on a piston and at least one second permanent magnet on the throw, disposing a plurality of electromagnets in the engine block, selectively attracting and repelling the at least one first and second permanent magnets with a magnetic field of the electromagnets to affect a motion of the piston in respect of the engine block and deactivating and reactivating the plurality of cylinder bores in a desired sequence by stopping a flow of fuel thereto and a flow of electrical energy to a spark plug for a deactivated cylinder bore without deactivating an intake valve or an exhaust valve for the deactivated cylinder bore.

To improve fuel efficiency, some gasoline engines are equipped with valve deactivators in some of the cylinders so that at low torque conditions only a subset of the total number of cylinders are active. In prior art engines, particularly when they have four valves per cylinder, space is tight. It is known to provide a cam carrier in the head between the cylinder head and the camshaft. The cylinder head bolts pass through the head under the cam carrier. According to the present disclosure, the cam carrier, and its associated disadvantages, is obviated by widening the bearings for the camshafts, using smaller diameter head bolts, and putting the orifices tor the head bolts directly through the bearings.

In a method of starting an internal combustion engine having a plurality of piston-cylinder units wherein there are dead volumes upstream of the piston-cylinder units, wherein upon an attempt at starting the internal combustion engine, the pistons are driven in the cylinders by an auxiliary motor. The maximum permissible duration of a starting attempt is restricted by a predetermined starting time (t.sub.s) of the internal combustion engine. The starting time (t.sub.s) is calculated and predetermined prior to or at the beginning of a starting attempt of the internal combustion engine depending on a state of the internal combustion engine and/or the auxiliary motor.

An internal combustion engine and a method for maximizing fuel efficiency of an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine includes an engine block assembly having an electromagnet coupled thereto and an engine component movable relative to the engine block assembly. The engine component includes a permanent magnet coupled thereto. A control system is provided to selectively provide an electrical current to the electromagnet to produce a desired magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field of the electromagnet cooperates with a magnetic field of the permanent magnet to affect a motion of the engine component in respect of the engine block assembly.

An engine system may include an engine including first and second cylinder banks; a throttle valve; a first exhaust manifold gathering exhaust gas exhausted from the first cylinder bank to be supplied to the first exhaust line; a second exhaust manifold gathering exhaust gas exhausted from the second cylinder bank to be supplied to the second exhaust line; a turbocharger including a turbine rotated by the exhaust gas exhausted through the first exhaust manifold and a compressor rotated in connection with the turbine; a cylinder deactivation (CDA) device selectively deactivating the cylinders of the first cylinder bank; and a supercharger including a motor and an electric compressor operated by the motor.

In an inverted V-8 engine capable of operating in power level steps with four pairs of piston and cylinder assemblies having fuel injectors with dual options, the improvement which comprises a three component frame structure having cooperating interengaging surfaces containing two banks of four inline crankshaft connected piston and cylinder units converging angularly upwardly from two interconnected crankshafts. The surface-to-surface contact between the block component and head component includes oppositely paired cylinder open ends covered by cam operated valving in the head component with the adjacent upper combustion chambers of each pair of cylinders being communicated by an intercommunicating polished passage formed in a two-piece insert fixedly positioned in a recess in the head component and a method of operating the engine in a vehicle.

Various methods and systems are provided for reducing cylinder-to-cylinder variation in exhaust gas recirculation. In one embodiment, a system comprises a first cylinder group of an engine having a first number of cylinders, a second cylinder group of the engine having a second number of cylinders that is not an integer multiple of the first number of cylinders, and an exhaust system coupled to the first cylinder group and the second cylinder group. In at least one mode of operation, the exhaust system has exhaust ports of the first cylinder group fluidly coupled to an intake of the engine and exhaust ports of the second cylinder group fluidly decoupled from the intake.

A V-type engine, an outboard motor, and a ship capable of restricting exposure of a catalyst to water. Cylinders where pistons operate are arranged in a V-shape, a crankshaft driven by driving of the pistons is disposed vertically, and exhaust pipes communicating with exhaust openings in the respective banks of a cylinder head and a catalyst holder that holds a catalyst in a merge portion where the exhaust pipes are merged in a site located on an upper side of the banks are included.

Vibration is detrimental to an internal combustion engine and its mounting system. It can damage internal parts, attached accessories, and mounting fixtures. Vibration can also cause discomfort to vehicle occupants or equipment operators. Managing, reducing, or eliminating vibration often involves additional cost in the design and manufacture of an engine and/or its mounting system. The subject invention is a unique arrangement of the cylinders of an eight-cylinder internal combustion engine that completely balances the forces produced by the eight pistons. Vibration due to piston motion is eliminated without the use of additional internal balancing devices. Special mounting structures are no longer necessary. This arrangement can be used with equal success in air compressors, liquid pumps, external combustion engines, or any other device using the familiar piston/connecting rod/crankshaft mechanism and requiring eight cylinders.