Want a bigger cam but good on gas
Asked by Oscar Dec 21, 2017 at 08:15 AM about the 1994 Chevrolet C/K 1500 Silverado 4WD
Question type: Car Customization
Hi I'm looking for a cam for my engine to put
back in my truck it's a everyday driver but I
eat it to have more horsepower and still be
good on gas what cam should I get and
other info would help with the other engine
parts as well
2 Answers
Auto_Adrenaline answered 6 years ago
Anytime you cam the motor for more horsepower you're going to have to sacrifice gas mileage. That's just the nature of the beast. How much you sacrifice depends on the size of the cam and how heavy your right foot is. Most manufacturers such as Comp Cams, Crower, etc. will have kits for your application that start with a minimal lift increase and go from there. The bigger your cam, the more power but the less gas mileage and the more "cam surge" you will experience while driving. Keep in mind you will also need: new valve springs, new lifters (depending on cam size), larger fuel injectors, a really good tune, etc. It can get expensive and honestly, if you don't have a few thousand laying around you're not ready to cam it. In addition, $2500 buys a LOT of gas so if it were me and gas mileage was a concern, I'd just keep the factory cam and go a bit easier on the right foot.
Most cams add power by raising the horsepower and moving it to a higher RPM. If the car manufacturers could have increased fuel mileage by installing a bigger cam, don't you think they would have done just that? Proper tire inflation and an easy foot on the gas along with a properly maintained vehicle will yield the best fuel economy.