Thread: Slight Worn Cam Shaft & Fuel Economy/efficiency

To put it simply, a worn camshaft means the engine's valves aren't opening properly, causing a restriction to the gases flowing in and out of the cylinder. Generally speaking, excessive cam wear is something you get at 200,000km or more. It affects power and economy.

The cost of replacing a camshaft are considerable, probably in excess of your expected fuel savings over a couple of years. If your engine is running well, leave it alone, there are more profitable ways of spending your cash. Save it for the day your engine comes out for a major refit, when the cam change becomes a relatively small part of the job.

The good and bad things about the V8 is the very slow deterioration of performance over two or 3 hundred thousand kays.

[just the research into which new cam is enough to send you grey anyway]

save your dough and take the kids away for the weekend,,

Thanks for the reply... Lp has about 266 odd K on the clock... and last year she had the following work done:

2011 - Headgaskets done with coolant hoses, throttle plate bypass, valley seals, exhuast manifold gaskets, HT leads, coolant hoses and wiring coverings + rear hub seal, water pump incl gasket and flange gaskets...
2012 - New MAF, New Clutch kit...

It was mentioned to me at the time of having the heads and relative work done in 2011 about the cam shaft but I couldn't afford the extra 1odd K (alone that other work in 2011 set me back 2.2K or something)...

In all honesty my gut says it's running fine - but I am no expert.... I think with the camshaft change it is expected to set me back between 12- 1500K & I know alot of what came out in the first overhaul with the heads has to come out again which is where the extra costs are borne....

As far as costs in excess of my expected fuel savings.... I don't plan on selling Lp anytime soon so the money is as far as I am concerned an investment to ensure I have a reliable vehicle on and off road (mainly for the school/kindy drop offs) as they will grow in frequency once the other 3 are there in addition to the 1st who already is).

As far as the cam shaft goes... if I do go ahead with any work.... what could I expect in fuel efficiency??

Cheers,
Lp

Originally Posted by bee utey

To put it simply, a worn camshaft means the engine's valves aren't opening properly, causing a restriction to the gases flowing in and out of the cylinder. Generally speaking, excessive cam wear is something you get at 200,000km or more. It affects power and economy.

The cost of replacing a camshaft are considerable, probably in excess of your expected fuel savings over a couple of years. If your engine is running well, leave it alone, there are more profitable ways of spending your cash. Save it for the day your engine comes out for a major refit, when the cam change becomes a relatively small part of the job.

The best you can expect is 14L per 100 Kays.

[but that will be empty on a highway with a tailwind---]

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

The best you can expect is 14L per 100 Kays.

[but that will be empty on a highway with a tailwind---]

Thanks for the reply,

14l/100k - is that with a NEW camshaft??

Cheers,
Lp

thats with new everything,,
14 is the D2 V8 Holy Grail.

I've seen it once,,
I've read of someone else,,

Good Luck on your Quest

When my 02 D2 manual V was new I drove it like a truck - ie first gear to 1500 or so then second to 2000 and third a little more etc, so driven for best economy. It had the stock 29 inch Mich XPC tyres and no roof rack or bar etc that it has now (and 31inch tyres now). I would generally get 14.5 l.100 k in and out to Brisbane part peak hour. If doing 80-90k on the highway in 5th it would get a little better but not by much.

Mine now has 190,000k and heavy bar and recovery stuff, LPG tanks, Roof racks etc and with 31 inch tyres the same running is about 15.5-16.

Cheers

PS. Dont worry about cam wear - its overstated for a rover. They do wear, but my D1 V8 from 95 has nearly 300,000k and goes like stink. Any petrol over 200k will start to show slightly less sprite in the throttle response and economy will go down, but it is far cheaper to run out the ks while she is still running well and you are happy with the way it drives and tows etc and then do a full reco or crate motor than to pull it apart just to do the cam now.

Cheers

Thanks for clarifying - I know fuel consumption since the new maf/air filter went in is better than what it was but still not great. Much better on the open road as apposed to the 5.3k journey to school & back 5 days a week and 2.3k stints to the shops in between though....

14L/100k sounds good....

....Out of curiosity, what are others averaging for a converted 5 seater into a 7 seater that's done over 266K's on the odo...??

Cheers,

Lp

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

thats with new everything,,
14 is the D2 V8 Holy Grail.

I've seen it once,,
I've read of someone else,,

Good Luck on your Quest