UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Finally got the deal I was after and bought the R-Line I had my eye on. It's my first VW (third car) and after collecting a fortnight or so ago, am really happy with the way it looks and drives. Beyond some appalling customer service after making the purchase, the only thing I'm disappointed about so far is the fact there's only one reverse light, which I find strange.

But I was wondering... the salesman claimed that once I get the car into sixth gear, the Bluemotion technology shuts down one of the three cylinders and uses only the other two: does anyone know how accurate this is? Part of the reason I ask is because I then asked if the car rotated which of the three cylinders was not in use, to prevent the other two that might always be working wearing out more quickly, and not only did he not know but I've not been able to find the answer online since.

He is completely wrong. VW make no 3 cyclinder engine with as active cylinder technology (or cylinder shutdown if you will). The new Ford Fiesta is going to have 3 cyclinder turbos with cylinder shutdown, and they will be a market first!

The only Polo that has an engine with ACT (active cylinder technology) is the 1.4 four cylinder unit that's fitted to the Blue GT model. Not even the Polo Bluemotion model that's marketed by VW as the most fuel efficient petrol engined Polo and sub-100 g/km CO2 emissions has ACT.

The salesman is talking rubbish. I wonder how many customers he's mislead with incorrect information?

I think that most, if not all, VW cars have only a single reversing light, and also only one rear fog light too. I think some other manufacturers also adopt this approach. It's been like that for many years with VW; not good for visibility when reversing in the dark, although VW would probably say the purpose of the reversing light is to indicate to others that you are reversing!

Cars that do have cylinder shut down do not usually alternate the inactive cylinders. When the technology was pioneered by General Motors on their V8 it was proposed to alternate inactive cylinder banks but it transpired that wear patterns were identical in both states. The piston still goes up and down so friction wear is the same. There was concern that dry running would cause wear but that can be discounted as the period of inactivity is short and controlled by the ECU in such a way to keep the motor safe.

Doesn't apply to your engine but it's nice to know anyway.

As others have stated 1.4 blue GT is the only polo with ACT and it's a four cylinder. All polos have one white reversing light and one red fog light on the opposite side.


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I have the same 3 cylinder 110ps engine as you and it does not have cylinder shutdown............ but it is a great little engine.

Thanks, all. Yeah, I suspected that was the case. Fortunately I'd decided I wanted the car before he said that, not afterwards; I'd have been fuming if that'd made my mind up and then learnt it wasn't true.

I'm tempted to email the salesman to let him know he's mistaken, but my first impression was he wasn't to be trusted so it's likely he already knows.

Thank you again for the above, and agreed, it seems a great little engine so far: in no way what you'd expect of a 1.0 litre, or three cylinders.

No salesmen are to be trusted

Sounds great! (Aside from the salesman!)

Have you posted any pics yet?

No, but there's a reason for that: horrible stone chip on the front when I got there, that they've agreed to spray, but only just had the appointment for this confirmed...