MPG Cam Results

[Charlie1717]

According to the list I found, airports also have non eth gas.

Pure-Gas.org

[sketchman]

So I'm going to assume barely 40 is the new normal for this cam and this weather. Got 41 last tank with slightly warmer weather this time.

This is annoying me so.... the stock cam is going back in for a tank or 2, cause this just really really annoys me not knowing for sure. I'll keep the same rockers, just in the off chance that is what is causing the discrepancy, or any discrepancy for that matter. So the absolute only factor changed will be the cam this time.

[sketchman]

Old cam is back in. Prolapsed my cam seal trying to install it, but it was folded back in and seems to be working fine. Not a big deal to replace if I have to later.

It's weird. The idle is steadier with the old cam. Don't understand that, but it is definitely steadier. I'm really starting to think this is not going to work with the OEM EFI. Either version of it.

I'm thinking it's going to be strictly carb or standalone only. If my MPG number goes back to normal this will be going on the FS board very soon. Just not worth the hassle if it takes reengineering the engine management setup to even make the engine happy with the cam. And now that I think about it, if I do lots of mods toward fuel economy anyway, how do I know it's the cam doing anything in the first place?

Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself here. Numbers first. Reasoning after.

[1chrisapple]

So I'm going to assume barely 40 is the new normal for this cam and this weather. Got 41 last tank with slightly warmer weather this time.

This is annoying me so.... the stock cam is going back in for a tank or 2, cause this just really really annoys me not knowing for sure. I'll keep the same rockers, just in the off chance that is what is causing the discrepancy, or any discrepancy for that matter. So the absolute only factor changed will be the cam this time.

just to reestablish the fact your not the only one with no improvements and the one I know was same setup as matts.weber tuned with afr gauge and still had no improvement so I say there junk.so everyone flame me now but if u do.be sure to post exact evidence proving in your favor.and the idle was better in this car to. THE CAM WAS IN A WEBER CARB CAR AND GOT WAY WORSE MPG

[sketchman]

Well, that will be interesting then. Don't think Tom has had good results from his either.

That'd be 3 for 3 negs with no positives on the board at all.

Hmm. Well, I'll call it a bottom end cam at least. If you did nothing but city driving it might work if you took full advantage and shifted at 1.5k or something.

IDK. Have to wait and see I guess.

[getnpsi]

Ill buy a mpg cam shift knob if it lowers your blood pressure

[zoe60]

Ill buy a mpg cam shift knob if it lowers your blood pressure

That is funny. I got worse mileage with a max MPG cam in a Weber carbed B6. If something sounds too good to be true it probably is. I don't want to say anything bad about anyone and some of the problem was probably my own fault, but my car runs better and gets a little better mileage since I put a stock cam back in. The latest one is from a '91. Say what you want, that was my experience. If you think you can do better with it, I will sell it to you!

[TominMO]

Well, that will be interesting then. Don't think Tom has had good results from his either.

That'd be 3 for 3 negs with no positives on the board at all.

Hmm. Well, I'll call it a bottom end cam at least. If you did nothing but city driving it might work if you took full advantage and shifted at 1.5k or something.

IDK. Have to wait and see I guess.

I'm not ready to pack it in just yet. Given that we are now on winter gas, which I have proven to myself uses more gas (went from avg. 32 hwy in my Integra to 28 with winter blend), I feel the need to wait until we go back to summer blend to know for sure. Still haven't dropped the FP to 36 to do that test, but I'll try to get to it soon.

[sketchman]

Ill buy a mpg cam shift knob if it lowers your blood pressure

Nice.

I'll have it for sale soon (in tact) if I decide I'm done. To me it seems to add some bottom end grunt, and that's what I'll call it. Not for MPG unless you're prepared to milk it for all it's worth, and then you're back to how do you know the cam is actually doing anything?

[getnpsi]

I know it was a mean stab, I don't want to see any parts to be a bust, and i hate to see play by play drawn out from months of you guys not getting results you want, losing time and money. That being said more knowledge has been picked up between you and tom, we can continue to do the tried and true support mods, and go from there. I know winter blend gas doesn't have the same energy but colder weather, driving with headlights on because its dark at 5pm, those factors also play a role in an overall mpg hit. Always take that into consideration. Saying its only the fuel makeup not all true. Hell your winter blend gas is probably better than California anytime fuel, but overnight lows are still 50 degrees and it's dry as a bone brrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[sketchman]

It's all good. Ironically back when Matt first posted the cam FS, somebody commented that it was an off road cam. I'd agree with that personally. That or a driveability cam. Ultimate DD cam, etc. With the Festiva EFI at least, it does seem a more balanced torque curve, which is great for driveability. But I'm thinking you just end up burning more fuel at a given RPM within that grunty-er bottom end.

[bhazard]

Maybe you guys need to adjust your driving habits....try some hypermiling techniques.

What rpm are you shifting at? If the cam puts all the power at the lower end maybe you should be shifting at 2k or less and use 5th to get up to cruise.

[getnpsi]

Well my theory was the b3 just doesnt have the oomph to perform much out of its design as a eco sipper but duh one test subject has a b6. If i had welding skills id try my hand at driver actuated egr to force the engine to have less air on my terms. This could work with any engine and any mods. Stage 2 cam and more compression no problem

Yes bhazard saving fuel is an operator mindset, but ultimate mods are when the wife is known to speed up to redlights notices more fuel left week to week, that is better than documented science

[sketchman]

Yes bhazard saving fuel is an operator mindset, but ultimate mods are when the wife is known to speed up to redlights notices more fuel left week to week, that is better than documented science

This is kinda my thinking too. I don't really beat on the engine much at all, and even when I do I'm gentler than most I've seen. Still, I'd rather change the car than change my driving habits. For instance, I'm not going to shift early if I don't feel like it. Not going to pulse and glide, or purposefully drive slower just to save gas. If I can't do it normally, I'll live with the still excellent 43 average.

[bhazard]

Well the 3 cyl metros didn't exactly have oomph but then the xfi came out and smashed the regular 3 cyls mpg...gearing and cam profile is where it was at. Gotta drop the rpms.