LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Cam hurts gas mileage how much?

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Old 10-06-2009, 05:11 PM
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Default Cam hurts gas mileage how much?

My car has CAI and full exhaust and gets really good gas mileage for a V8 (I put in about $20 premium per week). If I get lets say a LT4 cam or maybe something a little more aggressive, as it's my daily driver, how much will my gas mileage suffer city and interstate with the cam and a mail-order tune?
Old 10-06-2009, 05:29 PM
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The Cam it self wont hurt the mileage all that much... What gets ya is your right foot!
Old 10-06-2009, 05:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Sk8phreak88
The Cam it self wont hurt the mileage all that much... What gets ya is your right foot!
+1

lol basically. It's gonna use more gas when you put your foot down. But just cruising wont really use more
Old 10-06-2009, 05:37 PM
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Originally Posted by nik1703
+1

lol basically. It's gonna use more gas when you put your foot down. But just cruising wont really use more

I shift around 1700-2000 rpms and take a while to get up to speed, so driving easy isn't a problem

What cam would y'all suggest? Obviously drive-ability is a big thing to me. I'm running 13.3 with traction problems right now (didn't mention the 3.73), so 12.7-ish would be nice with better traction and a cam/valve springs.
Old 10-06-2009, 05:50 PM
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I only lost out on a bit after my AI 200cc heads/cam swap. It's all about how much and how long you bury the pedal
Old 10-06-2009, 07:56 PM
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I couldn't tell you what I get for intown mpg, It sucks. But on the hwy I still net around 18 and thats still playing around a bit.
Old 10-06-2009, 08:10 PM
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Keep the durations short if you want to keep mileage. You want a cam that is still efficient in the lower rpms where you say you shift.

I still get 25ish depending on how I drive.
Old 10-06-2009, 08:20 PM
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Its noticable but not severe. Stock bolt on car I got 220 miles out of a tank in town. Now I get 180 if I am lucky but I attribute that to the cam and the 4.10 gears.
Old 10-06-2009, 08:28 PM
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I lost 2-3 mpg with an LT4 hotcam.
Old 10-06-2009, 08:41 PM
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I have daily driven my car for 2 years now. I drive 64 miles a day. 41 miles is 45-55 mph, and 23 miles is at 70 mph. In march of this year I installed an LT4 Hot Cam and 1.6 roller rockers. I didn't notice a drop in fuel mileage at all. Definantly needs a convertor for daily driving though, but I'm an auto as opposed to your 6 spd. I averaged 18 mpg before and after the cam, but like mentioned, with a heavy foot I can go through a whole tank in the time I use to go through a quarter tank!
Old 10-06-2009, 10:27 PM
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Originally Posted by wrd1972
Its noticable but not severe. Stock bolt on car I got 220 miles out of a tank in town. Now I get 180 if I am lucky but I attribute that to the cam and the 4.10 gears.


Holy crap! I get 350 miles minimum!!
Old 10-06-2009, 10:30 PM
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Originally Posted by gregrob
Holy crap! I get 350 miles minimum!!
I got 330 stock 95% interstate lol.
Old 10-06-2009, 10:45 PM
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Originally Posted by bombebomb
I got 330 stock 95% interstate lol.
M6 FTW I guess...
Old 10-06-2009, 11:00 PM
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I have an M6 with the mods in sig and I get 12-13mpg in the city. I even shift into 5th and coast everywhere. On the highway though I get about 27-28mpg.
Old 10-06-2009, 11:04 PM
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Originally Posted by gregrob
Keep the durations short if you want to keep mileage. You want a cam that is still efficient in the lower rpms where you say you shift.

I still get 25ish depending on how I drive.

Well, daily driving, I don't care about power. It can drive like a honda @ daily driving for all I care. I would like it to pull a little harder at the drag strip, I'm just scared of losing the decent gas mileage it gets, as my girlfriend lives 2 hours away now. Maybe a vortech would hit the spot?
Old 10-06-2009, 11:05 PM
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Originally Posted by gregrob
M6 FTW I guess...
I hope you miss a gear next time your racing!

Old 10-06-2009, 11:08 PM
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Originally Posted by bombebomb
I hope you miss a gear next time your racing!

My built T-56 doesn't miss gears anymore. Unless I'm reaaallly stupid when shifting.

The billet / brass / carbon fiber parts in it makes it shift amazing, like glass.
Old 10-06-2009, 11:21 PM
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Originally Posted by bombebomb
I hope you miss a gear next time your racing!



Oh that was mean!

Right below the belt. LOL
Old 10-06-2009, 11:47 PM
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I have an A4, 3.73 gear, 219/219 cam w/560 lift....rest of mods in sig. I get ~21-22 on highway and an absolutely embarrassing number around town. I DD it to college which is like ~2-3miles of sitting in traffic. I drive just over 50 miles a week around town...small town, close campus. It's basically all idling in traffic. I might go over 2k like 3x on the way to campus. Anyway I average about 50 miles a week on just over 5 gallons of gas.

so.... ~10mpg around town on stock converter and 21-22mpg highway. BTW my car runs EXTREMELY rich. IIRC I was getting around 13mpg last year city driving with the same mods...heavier foot this year maybe?...either way I noticed a big drop in mpg after the cam install, tho I attribute that mostly to the car running so rich.
Old 10-06-2009, 11:48 PM
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Originally Posted by cgEvan
my girlfriend lives 2 hours away now. maybe a cam and vortech and girlfriend swap?)
Fixed the gas mileage problem


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