XFI CAMSHAFTS

[jonl370]

I purchased an XFI cam from Delta Camshafts over a month ago and I just installed it in my 95 Metro earlier this week. I was averaging around 44 MPG before the Cam/Engine replacement. I can also post MPG numbers if anyone is interested? The engine has 90 miles since I completely rebuilt the engine and installed the reground XFI Cam.

Hi jonl370,

It looks like we have ourselves a friendly competition comparing our results with identical cars...welcome and may the best man win!

I'll be interested in comparing notes with you on ignition timing advance after we fully establish what these Delta cams can do...

Hi Hacksaw,

You won this round of competition. I haven't been using my standard driving habits as I'm trying to break in my new engine. I haven't been on the freeway and I rarely make it into 5th gear. Even with my significantly changed driving techniques, I managed to eek out 42MPG during my first 182 miles. This should go up significantly when I start using my regular routine and using 5th gear more often.

I plan on doing some highway driving (not freeway) and put some miles on the new engine this weekend, to fully break it in. Hopefully the next round will be a closer match. Is most of your driving freeway, city or both?

[Hacksaw]

My normal tank of gas consists of both city and freeway...about 65/35, if I had to venture a guess...

As far as engine break-in is concerned, I hold firm to the philosophy that MotoMan preaches..."Who the heck is MotoMan?", you ask? Check this link out, and make time to read it all..

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

Hacksaw.

[jonl370]

I have read MotoMan's site before and I follow some of his advice (Like changing the oil frequently during break in). He mentions other people testing his claims, but I don't see any data to back it up. I'm not saying his advice is BS, but I personally can't believe his claims without someone else testing his methods in a controlled environment. My engine is all broken in anyways so it's too late now.

The last 220 miles I have calculated my mileage to be around 39 mpg (Mostly city, some highway). I believe I have found a problem with the timing as I checked it again and it was set at TDC. I bet I cross connected the wrong terminals when I set the timing last. I have since corrected the problem, so hopefully my next results will be better.

[jonl370]

Here's my latest mileage report. My mileage for the last 195 miles is 46 MPG. This is mostly city and some freeway 96/4. This is the best I have ever had in the last 6 years since I have owned the car. I hope to improve this a bit by using some better driving techniques (More coasting and using taller gears).

[Hacksaw]

My last fill-up wasn't stellar, but there where reasons...
I hightailed it 180 miles north of metro Detroit on Saturday night to buy a new Geo for my daughter. I hate to say it, but mpg wasn't my first priority that night, arriving before the guy left town as an OTR truck driver. My brother drove my car home and I followed with the new edition to the driveway.

45.57 mpg was the figured calculated for the 392 miles I drove during that tankful.

[realty262]

Hi,
Can anyone help me find what part I am looking for. I just installed a new engine in my 92 LSI convt and really hate to tear it down to grind the camshaft to XFI standzrds, but i have read in some of the coments if you just install the XFI computer in ths LSI it will increase milage.
My Question is what am i really looking for, a XFI computer, or what is the proper name of the part, as i want to try this installation and see if this will help my milage, , so far i am only getting 34 miles to the gallon with and auto.
I look forward to any responses
Good motoring

[Hacksaw]

Hi,
Can anyone help me find what part I am looking for. I just installed a new engine in my 92 LSI convt and really hate to tear it down to grind the camshaft to XFI standzrds, but i have read in some of the coments if you just install the XFI computer in ths LSI it will increase milage.
My Question is what am i really looking for, a XFI computer, or what is the proper name of the part, as i want to try this installation and see if this will help my milage, , so far i am only getting 34 miles to the gallon with and auto.
I look forward to any responses
Good motoring

Hi realty262,

Sorry to post without knowing the answer to your question but I'm sure someone with come along soon. I believe it might have something to do with the VIN, but I'm not sure. Things changed between '94 Metros and my '95, making a ECM swap not possible, so I never bothered to do the research on the ECM. I am very, very skeptical about mileage gains with just the ECM, however...I've heard(read) that it's not really worth it even if you do have the XFi cam...who knows!? I know that if you find one, chances are, the guy will know what he's got and try to really take you to the cleaners for it. I say that based on XFi ECM's that I've seen on eBay. Let us know.

Regarding my little XFi saga, I'm disappointed to report 44.63 mpg for the last 260.2 miles driven. I'm not sure where I went wrong other than having a air dam mod on my Metro for two days.(see here: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthread.php/my-geo-metro-air-dam-mod-4483.html ) That was supposed to increase mileage, so I don't think it was that. I had to install it to make it, but have since taken it off to continue the XFi cam calculations. I know it's been hot lately,and I've had the windows down often. I want to defend the XFi camshaft, but not be unfair about it either. When I installed it, I left the ignition timing at the stock setting of 5 degrees. I don't think 5 is optimum for it, so I bumped it to 8 degrees after I topped off the tank. I'm gonna start tracking my mileage with more frequency I think. I was thinking of doing the same route to work and back and topping off on the way home....and doing that everyday for awhile. That seems like a more controlled method, since I'm willy-nilly all over the place...kids in, kids out, construction barrels one day, free sailing the next. When I track the mileage on my old Suburban, it never fluctuates more than a half a mile per gallon. It seems every breeze blowing the wrong way throws off mileage calculations...I'm trying though.

Also, I'll be getting a different set of tires installed in a day or two...can't be avoided...but, between the timing adjustment and the tires I'll keep the car mod free a little longer.
I'll keep you all posted.

Hacksaw.

EDIT: I changed my oil today on both Metros and my son's Buick Regal...beautiful day it was!

[realty262]

Hi,
Thanks hacksaw for your response on the XFI computer. The local Chev garage doesnt want anything to do with the Metro, as they never ever sold one new, so cant get much info out of them and most the the Mechanics are too young to remember them. I convinced my wife to let me get the Geo and install the rebuilt motor, so any additional milage i can get will get me a little farther out of the dog house, as 34 mpg isnt that great, but i see where so many get over 40 quite easy. I have read where a few guys are expermienting with E85 gas and i find that to be dangerous, as it will melt their pistons fast, like under 50 miles, i also have a new avalanche flex fuel engine and i burn E85 100% of the time and got a free tank from the local station, as a woman with a brand new ford focus put E85 in her car and got 43 miles and it froze up and ford wont recognize the warranty because the car wasnt flex fuel, so guys, be careful. Has anybody tried the water attachment to see if it helps?
Safe motoring
barry

[Hacksaw]

Drove to work today and filled up on the way home. 41 miles total, with 20 miles of the commute being highway miles at 55-65 mph. Timing at 8 degrees for the first time. Mileage was 52.3 mpg for my daily commute. I will do the same thing tomorrow. I now know that it costs me $2.84 in gas to go to work...If I quit, that money will really add up! lol

Hacksaw

[ricop]

That is sweet Hacksaw, I can't wait to see what joni370 gets.

[Hacksaw]

Same exact drive to work today, with an additional 3.3 miles fetching a pizza last night...44.3 miles driven...45.76 mpg ...Darn, can't I get a little consistency here, please! I've got some "Salt Flats" hubcaps to put on...they arrived today.

Hacksaw

[Hacksaw]

I drove 63.5 miles since yesterday...mileage calculation was 47.46 mpg.

I put 4 new tires on the car today (155/80R13 Kumho Solus KR21's from Discount Tire)...they feel real good.
I also installed my "Salt Flats" hubcaps after getting home from the tire store. I like the look, even if they don't help much...

It looks like putting an XFi camshaft in my stock G10 gave me roughly a 3 mpg increase. I tried to be consistent in my driving habits throughout the testing, but it appears the real world has too many variables. All driving was traditional "engine always running" driving...no pulse and glide, EOC, etc.
I'm sure a dyno is the only real way to determine an accurate mpg gain.
If someone would like to do some proper number crunching, you can analyze my fuel log...http://ecomodder.com/forum/em-fuel-log.php?vehicleid=1126

Now, I've got some modding to go do...
Hacksaw

[Hacksaw]

I drove 43.1 miles and topped off again to do a FE check with the new tires and full moon hubcaps....76.28 mpg!!! (Edit: This was inaccurate somehow.)
Drove to work today and went out to lunch. I drove straight home and stopped at gas station on the way. I went about 55-60 on the way to work and kept it at 55 or under all the way home. I couldn't squeeze another drop in the tank if I tried, fuel level was at the top of the fillerneck as usual. There must be some mistake...the new tires and full moon hubcaps couldn't possibly deliver gains like this, could they? I know the tires will help, but sheesh! The tires that were on the car before switching back to the stock size were 175/70R13 Arizonian's (Discount Tires' own brand), which is a wider tire but almost identical in height. Also, I drove with my windows up all the way home, even though it was hot...I was a melted stick of butter when I got home.

I realize that the more miles driven, the more accurate the calculation, but I need a consistent route to cut down the variables.
I'll try to beat/dispel my new record tomorrow by driving 55 all the way to and from work.

Until tomorrow...
Hacksaw.

[gpr]

I've been watching a lot about these xfi camshaft switchouts...
I've got a 96 3cl 5speed that I recently got, and I'd be interested in doing the cam replacement but don't know crap once you get inside the engine, really... aside from the basics of "how it works."

The general sentiment I received from the car-guys I know was that messing inside the engine for the 20% gain wasn't really monetarily worth it. And, they're right, unless it's relatively easy.

So, I guess the question is... just HOW HARD is the switch REALLY to do, for someone who's never busted into an engine before?

[Hacksaw]

Yep, yesterday was a fluke...I drove the same route today, as I did yesterday, and even went slower...45.42 mpg. I'm thinking the pumps are varied in their accuracy or something. I used the same station, but different pumps each day. Maybe the pump I used on the 21st is pumping more than it should...(which one was it again? )