cams and fuel economy
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 44
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cams and fuel economy What sort of decrease in mpg can be expected with a cam?
I'm looking at either a TR224 112lsa or 230/232 111lsa. Both would have dyno tuning.
Current power mods: lid, catback w/cutout, shorty headers.
What do you have and how did it change? I ;ike the idea of a big cam(230/232) but have heard you get crappy mpg.
I know it will change, but for a daily driver that will see 250-300mi a week 7-8 months of the year will a big cam be worth it?
I'm looking at either a TR224 112lsa or 230/232 111lsa. Both would have dyno tuning.
Current power mods: lid, catback w/cutout, shorty headers.
What do you have and how did it change? I ;ike the idea of a big cam(230/232) but have heard you get crappy mpg.
I know it will change, but for a daily driver that will see 250-300mi a week 7-8 months of the year will a big cam be worth it?
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Re: cams and fuel economy For combined highway/city, I used to get 21 mpg, now I get 19.5 mpg. This is with a TR224 114 with tuning. I'm sure part of the loss is due to the way I drive it now; definitly a lot more fun to put your foot in it with the cam!
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TECH Resident
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 791
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From: Tulsa, Ok
Re: cams and fuel economy on one tank i averaged 20mpg. that is with about 2/3's of the driving on the highway, and the other 1/3 putting around town at 20mph. this is not a hole lot worse than it was before. however, if i only drive around in town my millage goes down quiet a bit. probably in the 15mpg area if i do all town driving. what you need to realize is that my town driving is the absolute worst for gas millage. i would only average about 17mpg before the cam 
. i do a lot of idleing and sit in stop and go traffic everywhere. i hardly ever get above 25 and there are stoplights every 30 feet. this caused my millage to be worse than most people's. gotta love college towns 
. i do a lot of idleing and sit in stop and go traffic everywhere. i hardly ever get above 25 and there are stoplights every 30 feet. this caused my millage to be worse than most people's. gotta love college towns 
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 9,246
Likes: 3
From: Troy, AL
Re: cams and fuel economy A4 with 3.23 gears here. I get 23 MPG when cruising at 75-80 MPH. 360 miles to a tank is no problem. This is with the Stealth II cam (224/220 .581/.581 116) and Stage II LS6 heads from MTI (423 RWHP.) I got 22 MPG at a 75-80 cruise before the heads/cam package and even less than that when the engine was bone stock.
You can have power and efficiency if you choose your parts wisely.
You can have power and efficiency if you choose your parts wisely.
Re: cams and fuel economy See sig for details
As bolt on car with cat-back, maf, lid etc, averaged ~23.5 to 24.5 mpg. Best highway was 32.8mpg
As heads and cam car w/4.10's average is 21.5 to 23 mpg. Best is 26 mpg but I've not been on a good highway trip yet.
I have 360 miles the current tank and the warning light is on.
As bolt on car with cat-back, maf, lid etc, averaged ~23.5 to 24.5 mpg. Best highway was 32.8mpg
As heads and cam car w/4.10's average is 21.5 to 23 mpg. Best is 26 mpg but I've not been on a good highway trip yet.
I have 360 miles the current tank and the warning light is on.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 9,246
Likes: 3
From: Troy, AL
Re: cams and fuel economy
Hey Colonel is that with a stall also??
