2009 Escalade Changes:

[hcvone]

UPDATES:

AWD and 2WD Hybrid models
AWD and 2WD Escalade and ESV Platinum Edition (ULT); implemented fourth quarter of 2008 model year

(L9H) Vortec 6.2L Variable Value Timing V8 SFI engine

(E85) FlexFuel capability

Magnetic ride control suspension on vehicles with 22" wheels.

Side Blind Zone Alert

Power-Tilt Steering Wheel

Express-Up window feature

Bluetooth phone interface capability through OnStar

(UBS) XM NavTraffic

Next Generation OnStar navigation downloads to onboard navigation system

(394) Light Cashmere interior with Cocoa seats

(12U) Black Cherry (January-March 2008)

CHANGES:

(U3R) Audio system w/navigation now standard

(UVC) Rearview camera system now standard

Temperature and compass move from inside rearview mirror to Driver Information Center (DIC)

Front seat head restraints change from 4-way adjustability to 2-way

Second row headrests change to Protein Vinyl

Third Row center seat changes to Protein Vinyl

AWD Escalade GVWR changes from 7100 lbs. to 7300 lbs.

2WD Escalade GVWR changes from 7000 lbs. to 7100 lbs.

RGAWR changes from 4100 lbs. to 4200 lbs.

DELETIONS:

(304) Cocoa/Very Light Cashmere Interior

(AW2) 2-passenger third row seating (Escalade and Escalade ESV)

(YQ3) AM/FM/XM stereo with CD/DVD/MP3 player

(L92) Vortec 6.2L Variable Valve Timing V8 SFI engine

[Dr. SS]

whats the difference between the L92 and the L9H

[Eldo1953]

L9H is capable of running E85 ethanol. That's the only difference I can see.

[AERO1]

The 2009 Escalade will also have AFM or active fuel management. That is another reason for the new engine designation. AFM shuts down 4 of the 8 cylinders in situations where you don't need half of the cylinders in an effort to save fuel.

SG

[Palomar9]

I heard about AFM but always wondered what is the basic mechanism. When 4 cylinders shut down, what exactly happens? Are they still reciprocating or do they stop moving? Do they just shut off the injectors? Seems like that would cause unnecessary friction as air is still being compressed and expanded.

[lordkevork]

http://www.chevrolet.com/pop/avalanche/2008/afm_en.jsp

[Palomar9]

Originally Posted by lordkevork

http://www.chevrolet.com/pop/avalanche/2008/afm_en.jsp

So, it looks like the 4 deactivated cylinders continue to reciprocate, but the valves are closed and injectors shut off. I guess that's really the only practical way to do it. Seems like you would gain considerable efficiency if the deactivated cylinders could stop moving but that would be a much more complicated mechanism and maybe subject to power hesitation. Maybe the valves could be operated in such a way that you're just moving cold uncompressed air through the engine. Additional oxygen could help the catalytic converter. What do I know...

[S u f D a d d y]

This should be similar to the GMC Yukon. "Displacement on Demand"

We have a 2007, its pretty seamless.
You get a drop from V8 to V4 on the DIC and the MPG to see too.
EMS to increase above 72MPH.
At this point 2,000 RPM FEELS like where the torque curve can support moving the truck well enough along the freeway.

I notice when going ~60 MPH, & the RPMs are under 1700 or so, the vehicle can't make the slight up hill grade well without dropping back to V8 mode.

So the V4 ~21 MPG then drops down to (V8) and 15 or so MPG, with slight (squeezing the throttle) speed increases, but getting just 12 MPG on the DIC.

Essentially the vehicle seems to loose momentum slowly (from V4 and under 72 MPH) when the lower FREEWAY speed range is stuck to:
55 - 65 MPH, and it eventually drops into gas guzzling V8 mode.

Above 72 MPH and below 50 MPH (flat roads) the mileage seems like the "advertised" 21 MPH is obtainable, but here in New England its a seal-evel to 1,000 foot roller coaster hill climbing good time.

As a POINT:
for the last 15,000 miles the DIC says we are getting 16.4 MPG, combined towing, city and mostly highway 0 -1,000 ft elevation FWIW. GM Yukon 5.3L on 87 octane gas.

YMMV

-Suf

[S u f D a d d y]

I read the piece, it seems like its confusingly written as "valves" in the later paragraph.

SIMPLY PUT:

I suspect only the fuel injector solenoid & spark plug in a specific cylinder, isn't fired, causing the (apparently changing) V-4 mode to run without fuel in different cylinders (for even temp/cyl cooling?) until a decent demand like accel or uphill is needed, then the fuel inj., solenoids spray fuel to all 8 cylinders.

Stopping the "Valves" as in cam / valve train (intake and exhaust) from opening and closing as normally in the combustion cycle of each cylinder, would be a super complicated system of questionable reliability, if not impossible to do without having a NON-interfering (valve and pistons) engine design.

I'm no engine expert, but this seems the way they did it.

I think they should sell the engine management systen V4/* to big CID classic car buffs who don't mind fuel injection:
Light throttle is fuel economy, floor the peddle and get V8 performance.

-Suf

Originally Posted by Palomar9

So, it looks like the 4 deactivated cylinders continue to reciprocate, but the valves are closed and injectors shut off. I guess that's really the only practical way to do it. Seems like you would gain considerable efficiency if the deactivated cylinders could stop moving but that would be a much more complicated mechanism and maybe subject to power hesitation. Maybe the valves could be operated in such a way that you're just moving cold uncompressed air through the engine. Additional oxygen could help the catalytic converter. What do I know...

[Bozzzo]

No panoramic sunroof planned for the Escalade?