how does the Chevy Cobalt 5-cylinder work?

[joshbgosh10592]

I heard that when you need the torque, the 5th kicks in, and when your just crusing, the 5th is turned off. how is this possible? how can a cylinder connected to the same crankshaft be turned off?
what exactly physically happens?

 

[slimmeh09]

it's not firing the piston moves but no spark or gas in the cylinder and there is not much diffeance in gas milage from the 4cyl two the 5

 

[emiller1998]

The Cobalt has a 4 cylinder not a 5 cylinder.

The Colorado does have a 5 cylinder and it works just like any other engine. No the 5th cylinder doesn't disconnect in anyway and is always functional.

 

[Jon]

i don't think Cobalts are offered with this option, but other engines are. I know some 5.3 liter V8s have the option where you can run only on 4 cylinders. I don't know really how it works, but it doesn't just cut spark and gas to some cylinders..the engine would run really rough