View Poll Results: Do you use cylinder deactivation?
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Cylinder Deactivation Experience
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Member
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 96
Likes: 53
From: California
2019 Mercedes S560
Cylinder Deactivation Experience
Hello all! Apologies if there is a thread about this already, but I am wondering how many people actually use the cylinder deactivation. That's the only time I have auto stop/start on as a do a lot of freeway miles at a consistent speed, and my gas mileage is significantly better when using this feature, I have gotten 32 mpg, but usually on average 30 for the freeway.
Other than the freeway I would NEVER use auto stop/start (more like auto explode/engine), but I wonder how this cylinder deactivation could effect the engine long term. Should I not use it? Or is it totally fine? I plan to keep this car for a very long time, and put a lot of miles on it. So if not using this system means more time with the car, I'll take it. (you can tell me I'm stupid for using this system, its ok lol)
Any thoughts would be appreciated, Thanks!
Other than the freeway I would NEVER use auto stop/start (more like auto explode/engine), but I wonder how this cylinder deactivation could effect the engine long term. Should I not use it? Or is it totally fine? I plan to keep this car for a very long time, and put a lot of miles on it. So if not using this system means more time with the car, I'll take it. (you can tell me I'm stupid for using this system, its ok lol)
Any thoughts would be appreciated, Thanks!
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From: Phoenix
222 S-65
I'm thankful that isn't an option for my old junk!
OP Cylinder deactivation and stop start are only there due to our .Gov overlords insisting on it. Zero benefit for the car. There is so much more to life than a few more MPG.
OP Cylinder deactivation and stop start are only there due to our .Gov overlords insisting on it. Zero benefit for the car. There is so much more to life than a few more MPG.
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Current/Last 5-years:GLS;G70;Alpina B8;X7;Accord. Sold:X7,TeslaS;S560;S550,X5;530e;L.Navigator;LS460
I don't like it and I think it is purely emissions and fuel efficiency related feature that has no benefits mechanically. I actually wonder if it will cause one side of the engine to wear off faster than the other side after so many highway miles.
I coded it off permantitialy with help from Max at @EleBest . It was also causing the car in-town to induce some harmonic minor vibration when the car is cruising and running on 4-cylinders only, although most people wouldn't notice it but I do.
I coded it off permantitialy with help from Max at @EleBest . It was also causing the car in-town to induce some harmonic minor vibration when the car is cruising and running on 4-cylinders only, although most people wouldn't notice it but I do.
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From: Fleriduh
W212 E63S Wagon - GSL580 - E63 - E350 - C300
Talking to my mechanic yesterday about looking at a W213 he brought that up. His suggesting was to leave the car in Sport+ full time to be sure it never activates. I got to wonder if that is a Benz Ninja kinda thing.
Reminds me of the old Cadlillac Northestar engines that did it....and blew up during their short lives.
Reminds me of the old Cadlillac Northestar engines that did it....and blew up during their short lives.
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 112
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From: Mt Pleasant, SC
2018 S560
I don't like it and I think it is purely emissions and fuel efficiency related feature that has no benefits mechanically. I actually wonder if it will cause one side of the engine to wear off faster than the other side after so many highway miles.
I coded it off permantitialy with help from Max at @EleBest . It was also causing the car in-town to induce some harmonic minor vibration when the car is cruising and running on 4-cylinders only, although most people wouldn't notice it but I do.
I coded it off permantitialy with help from Max at @EleBest . It was also causing the car in-town to induce some harmonic minor vibration when the car is cruising and running on 4-cylinders only, although most people wouldn't notice it but I do.
Engine Start/Stop has been shown to cause excessive wear to engine parts, reducing overall longevity of the engine. Experiments that tested the effect of many years worth of start/stops vs. the same engine without the feature showed significant differences in wear.
It stands to reason cylinder deactivation would do the same.
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From: Phoenix
222 S-65
Engine Start/Stop has been shown to cause excessive wear to engine parts, reducing overall longevity of the engine. Experiments that tested the effect of many years worth of start/stops vs. the same engine without the feature showed significant differences in wear.
It stands to reason cylinder deactivation would do the same.
It stands to reason cylinder deactivation would do the same.
Cylinder deactivation.... Cylinders that are not running don't have cylinder pressure keeping rings well seated. Oil consumption will certainly follow in the long term. The Mechanical ish that goes along with making it run on less cylinders... They don't just cut injectors. Not worth it!
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Engine Start/Stop has been shown to cause excessive wear to engine parts, reducing overall longevity of the engine. Experiments that tested the effect of many years worth of start/stops vs. the same engine without the feature showed significant differences in wear.
It stands to reason cylinder deactivation would do the same.
It stands to reason cylinder deactivation would do the same.
For the W222, this is true.
For newer cars like W223 or in my GLS X167, these cars have 48V that powers an electric integrated starter generator which is why it is less "clunky" with that started and it doesn't vibrate or cause as much as bearing issues with time.. it is more of an electric motor is sandwiched between the engine and transmission that can spin the engine up tp 800-1000 RPM almost immediately without "grinding" engagement as in the W222 or cars that don't have the electric 48V starter.
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Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,451
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
The jury is largely still out on cylinder deactivation. There isn't really long term data for it. I say this. The M177 AMG engine variant of the V8 with cylinder deactivation such as in the E63, that is closely related to the M176 in the S Class, is also the variant that suffers from clogged oil separators and resulting RMS leaks, which is an expensive engine out repair. The M178 (dry sump version of the V8) and the M177 w/o cylinder deactivation don't seem to suffer from this. That said, cylinder deactivation is not the only difference between them. The one with cylinder deactivation is the LS2 variant and due to packaging reasons it also has a redesigned oil separator, which is likely at least part of the issue. The LS1 oil separator appears to be much less prone to clogging. How much cylinder deactivation has to do with it is not known at this point, but I suspect it doesn't help.
Both cylinder deactivation and auto start/stop do not really benefit the end user. They are for the benefit of the manufacturer as the drive cycles used during homologation are conducive to resulting in higher mpg numbers with those two "features". The cycles use grandmother style acceleration and have many idle phases. Often disconnected from the real world. Even WLTP, which is supposed to be closer to the real world. Jason on his Engineering Explained channel has a good segment on auto start/stop showing that it can save fuel if the engine is off for at least 7 seconds. If it's off for shorter duration, then the additional fuel injected during engine start more than offsets the fuel that was saved by turning the engine off, so engine start/stop can actually increase fuel consumption in the real world, rather than reducing it.
Both cylinder deactivation and auto start/stop do not really benefit the end user. They are for the benefit of the manufacturer as the drive cycles used during homologation are conducive to resulting in higher mpg numbers with those two "features". The cycles use grandmother style acceleration and have many idle phases. Often disconnected from the real world. Even WLTP, which is supposed to be closer to the real world. Jason on his Engineering Explained channel has a good segment on auto start/stop showing that it can save fuel if the engine is off for at least 7 seconds. If it's off for shorter duration, then the additional fuel injected during engine start more than offsets the fuel that was saved by turning the engine off, so engine start/stop can actually increase fuel consumption in the real world, rather than reducing it.
Last edited by superswiss; Dec 18, 2025 at 06:09 PM.
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From: Venice Florida
2018 S560
I don’t believe there is a way to turn off cylinder deactivation in my 2018 S560? I know I can turn off eco mode with the button that turns green on the center console but don’t believe that turns off cylinder deactivation as the car still vibrates a little around town like it’s running on 4 cylinders under light throttle load. Would the only way to deactivate it permanently get it tuned out maybe at an independent shop? I don’t have a star tool or xentry.
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W212 FL
Cadillac introduced that funky thing back in early 80's .If it were as efficient as it was touted to be ,all of their engines would have been converted by now . Well, for the economy . downsizing and turbos are much more efficient than non turbo high sizing engines . I don't use ECO in driving modes that's why I don't see any deactivation probably but I like to use engine START / STOP . I used to dislike it but in Mercedes-Benz vehicles I like to use it , I don't know why lol
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Current/Last 5-years:GLS;G70;Alpina B8;X7;Accord. Sold:X7,TeslaS;S560;S550,X5;530e;L.Navigator;LS460
I don’t believe there is a way to turn off cylinder deactivation in my 2018 S560? I know I can turn off eco mode with the button that turns green on the center console but don’t believe that turns off cylinder deactivation as the car still vibrates a little around town like it’s running on 4 cylinders under light throttle load. Would the only way to deactivate it permanently get it tuned out maybe at an independent shop? I don’t have a star tool or xentry.
I tried once to have my dealer address the shudder when the 4-cylinder occurs as am cruising with very light acceleration, and they said it’s just not possible as it is a result of the V8 running only half of the engine so it’s unavoidable. Poor design. Coding it off was the only option I found.
Last edited by S_W222; Dec 19, 2025 at 02:09 AM.
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S600
It depends on the engine.
If the engine was designed for start/stop, then using it is fine.
If not, then using it is NOT FINE.
For example, the amount of gas I can save with S/S is less than the replacement cost of a new starter--thereby, S/S is not cost beneficial to the V12 engines.
If the engine was designed for start/stop, then using it is fine.
If not, then using it is NOT FINE.
For example, the amount of gas I can save with S/S is less than the replacement cost of a new starter--thereby, S/S is not cost beneficial to the V12 engines.
