232/234 cam effect on mpg and other questions
11-13-2009, 09:29 AM
#1
232/234 cam effect on mpg and other questions I'm looking at a '00 WS6 that I'm interested in buying for a good price. I talked to the guy, the engine was rebuilt about a 20k miles ago. When he rebuilt it he put in (to the best of his memory) a 232/234 114 cam. He said something about double springs and pushrods from Texas speed. He also installed Pacesetter long tubes and ory, a new ls6 intake, and a full borla catback. He then said it was tuned at Redline Performance in St. Louis.
I'm a newb at internal mods like cams and was just curious how streetable this setup would be and a rough estimation of it's impact on highway fuel mileage. I'm familiar with the stock ls1 fuel mileage and it suits my needs quite well. I was just curious how much this setup sacrifices the fuel economy.
Also, is there anyway to have the car retuned to increase the highway fuel economy? Something like a lean cruise I think? These answers will pretty much make or break the deal on this car. Thanks.
I'm a newb at internal mods like cams and was just curious how streetable this setup would be and a rough estimation of it's impact on highway fuel mileage. I'm familiar with the stock ls1 fuel mileage and it suits my needs quite well. I was just curious how much this setup sacrifices the fuel economy.
Also, is there anyway to have the car retuned to increase the highway fuel economy? Something like a lean cruise I think? These answers will pretty much make or break the deal on this car. Thanks.
11-13-2009, 10:04 AM
#3
On the highway, assuming its tune and maintenance are dialed in and complete, you should be able to pull in some pretty respectable mileage still with the mods the car has!
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11-13-2009, 11:50 AM
#4
My bad. Yes it is a 6 speed with stock rear end gears.
The numbers on the cam just seemed a little aggressive compared to what I've researched so I wasn't sure how it would handle as a DD for a while.
The numbers on the cam just seemed a little aggressive compared to what I've researched so I wasn't sure how it would handle as a DD for a while.
Last edited by RebelExtrm02; 11-13-2009 at 11:59 AM.
11-14-2009, 04:47 AM
#5
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I ran that cam and got 23.5 mpg in my 04 auto gto. stock was about 21.5mpg hwy
the thing was i had to go a min of about 75mph to get it. must have got the rpm up enough to work. maybe it was the tune i have no clue. but i did get better than stock hwy mpg
Once tuned it was a street friendly cam. you could dd no problem.
the thing was i had to go a min of about 75mph to get it. must have got the rpm up enough to work. maybe it was the tune i have no clue. but i did get better than stock hwy mpg
Once tuned it was a street friendly cam. you could dd no problem.
11-14-2009, 07:12 AM
#6
running a 233/233 cam, 6spd stock gears
consistently get 24-25mpg highway with windows down and ttops off (cuts ~1mpg...i've tested) at 80mph.
my city driving is lots of short 5mi trips, not much traffic, but its sometimes a month before i even use 6th gear. driving like that and i get 17-19mpg
consistently get 24-25mpg highway with windows down and ttops off (cuts ~1mpg...i've tested) at 80mph.
my city driving is lots of short 5mi trips, not much traffic, but its sometimes a month before i even use 6th gear. driving like that and i get 17-19mpg
11-14-2009, 12:03 PM
#7
Gas mileage will depend on your driving habits. If the gears haven't been changed then mileage will be fine unless you put your foot into it a lot.
I can get 300 miles to a tank or 225 depending on how hard I drive it.
It's not a small cam or huge cam but it will require some rpms to get to its powerband which will eat gas. Power wont just be there off idle or at 2500 or even 3000 rpms. the real kick to that cam will be around 4000 rpms and up. That will gas. Guys that get 25 mpg are trying to get that and not out there racing it and thrashing on it.
How do you drive? I hammer down and so my mileage will never be good unless it's on cruise control on a long highway trip.
I can get 300 miles to a tank or 225 depending on how hard I drive it.
It's not a small cam or huge cam but it will require some rpms to get to its powerband which will eat gas. Power wont just be there off idle or at 2500 or even 3000 rpms. the real kick to that cam will be around 4000 rpms and up. That will gas. Guys that get 25 mpg are trying to get that and not out there racing it and thrashing on it.
How do you drive? I hammer down and so my mileage will never be good unless it's on cruise control on a long highway trip.
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11-14-2009, 12:54 PM
#8
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I agree that with the current setup, it is more of an mid-upper RPM cam.
Tuned correctly it is street-able. Personally that cam on a 114 LSA might not be my first pick.
As Blanco said, 95% of gas mileage is driver dependent. Any car with healthy O2 sensors that trim to ~14.7 AFR at cruise will give you decent highway gas in a M6, if you 'behave'. Many H/C cars can get ~25+ mpg on the highway with consistent driving behavior. It is city and spirited driving that makes these cars unique..even then I am somewhat amazed at the gas mileage you can get.. even with aggressive driving.
Good luck either way..
..WeathermanShawn..
Tuned correctly it is street-able. Personally that cam on a 114 LSA might not be my first pick.
As Blanco said, 95% of gas mileage is driver dependent. Any car with healthy O2 sensors that trim to ~14.7 AFR at cruise will give you decent highway gas in a M6, if you 'behave'. Many H/C cars can get ~25+ mpg on the highway with consistent driving behavior. It is city and spirited driving that makes these cars unique..even then I am somewhat amazed at the gas mileage you can get.. even with aggressive driving.
Good luck either way..
..WeathermanShawn..
11-14-2009, 01:01 PM
#9
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I got a cam pretty close except on a 112 LSA and a little more lift with stock rear and 4.10 gears and get around 230 per tank in town it is daily driven with getting on it for a few races every tank full. I also have the Trick flow heads.
11-14-2009, 05:56 PM
#10
It's not a small cam or huge cam but it will require some rpms to get to its powerband which will eat gas. Power wont just be there off idle or at 2500 or even 3000 rpms. the real kick to that cam will be around 4000 rpms and up. That will gas. Guys that get 25 mpg are trying to get that and not out there racing it and thrashing on it.
if you're just pulling out slow, who cares when the power comes on?
lol 
11-14-2009, 08:29 PM
#14
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if you do get the car the very first thing you should do is get a new tune put on it from someone other than Redline. i know alot of people that have had issues after getting a tune from there. i would never go there myself, i would rather learn how and do it personally. i would recommend Keith McCord at Pur Performance
11-15-2009, 12:18 AM
#16
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Any cam,
that has a duration higher than 220 starts to have a noticeable impact on economy. As mentioned it's worse the more it's used for city driving.
You can activate lean cruise, but the difference would be minimal unless you spend all your time on the highway.
But if that's the case you'd be better off with a more street/mileage friendly cam.
that has a duration higher than 220 starts to have a noticeable impact on economy. As mentioned it's worse the more it's used for city driving.
You can activate lean cruise, but the difference would be minimal unless you spend all your time on the highway.
But if that's the case you'd be better off with a more street/mileage friendly cam.
11-15-2009, 02:14 AM
#17
There is usually a cloud of smoke and the smell of burnt rubber when I leave a stop. Not kidding either I cant help myself, if there isn't a cop around I'm smoking the tires and leaving my mark.. and giggling the whole time I'm doing it like a school girl on prom night 
11-16-2009, 11:21 AM
#18
Any cam,
that has a duration higher than 220 starts to have a noticeable impact on economy. As mentioned it's worse the more it's used for city driving.
You can activate lean cruise, but the difference would be minimal unless you spend all your time on the highway.
But if that's the case you'd be better off with a more street/mileage friendly cam.
that has a duration higher than 220 starts to have a noticeable impact on economy. As mentioned it's worse the more it's used for city driving.
You can activate lean cruise, but the difference would be minimal unless you spend all your time on the highway.
But if that's the case you'd be better off with a more street/mileage friendly cam.
11-16-2009, 02:25 PM
#20
That sounds like a Futral Motorsports F14 cam....232/234 .598/.600 or so lift. Buddy of mine put that in his WS6 back when it first came out and it didnt really start making power untill 3500 or so and it was a 6 spd. With some gears it would be livable to me (obviously, my car is 230/236), but everyone is different.
I would say go drive the car and see how you like it.
If your really worried about mileage, I would look for a more stock/minor bolt on car...IMO.