Cam Lifters

Cam Lifters”

Nearly all the suggestions and products pitched as fuel economy boosters fail to address the only 5 ways possible to boost fuel economy.

Fuel economy improvement aids that work are specific mechanical and chemical products that pack more punch, or restrict air and fuel amounts going into the combustion process. Or they restore and improve specific movement-efficiencies – all of which increase fuel economy. Here are the five most successful.

Fuel improving methods include:

1- Superchargers. A device, you add to your engine, [comes on a few engines from the factory] that forces a bit more fuel and air into the combustion cycle. Doing so provides a greater push-down on the piston, providing additional impetus to forward motion and speed – which increases fuel economy – if you go to the normally lower speed. However, it seems people tweak this device to pump up the power output to aid heavy load hauling up hills, or for hot-rod racing. Supercharger. Cost $3000 up.

2- Economy cam. You can restrict air/fuel and increase fuel economy with an “economy cam.” Cost $450

A cam is a steel shaft with egg-shaped lobes. As the shaft turns, the lobe lifts- opens fuel-intake valves, letting fuel come into the piston top area, then closes just before combustion occurs. A different lobe pushes open the exhaust valve to permit flow of spent combustion out to the exhaust. An economy cam limits the fuel intake cycle duration and limits fuel “waste-duration” periods. Most people prefer the cam that came with their engine because the “waste factor” provides a reserve to provide snappier performance when needed. You can have economy and no reserve power as the option for fuel saving or you can have a bit more reserved power – where a bit of fuel economy is given up, but not both.

Side note: With a supercharger you can have both extra power when you need it, and better fuel economy.

3- Special cleaners. These are designed to clean 5 areas of an engine and 3 in transmissions.

While most cleaners are ineffective and rip-offs, those that work are specified for the oil-side, fuel, fuel injectors, air intake, and combustion areas – and also include friction modifiers. A good cleaner specifically removes dirty, power-deterring buildup, and quiets and frees noisy, sticky valves and lifters. All of these areas must be cleaned at the same time — to restore stoichiometrics, the peak fuel economy level possible.

A vacuum gage, a stop-action oscilloscope, and dynamometer machine can show which products are effective – doubt the claims of cleaner products unless the seller guarantees performance improvement you can notice. Those commonly sold cleaner products in lube an tunes are usually worthless.

How cleaning and reducing friction drag in your transmission improves fuel economy. In transmissions, detergent cleaning products with friction modifiers perform the two actions needed to restore and maintain the exact shift point.

If a gearshift occurs a split-second before or after peak horsepower development – slowed by friction drag and dirty, sticky conditions, less torque is developed and lower speed occurs. If the shift develops before the peak time – caused by a dirty, laboring engine speed, car weight drops power even lower, lowering vehiclespeed. This is like doubling the weight the engine must move – and bogs down the power output of the motor. Out-of-time shift problems miss maximum torque-ing of the gears, causing more fuel usage to reach full speed. How do you make sure your transmission is timed to the peak power output at any given gear shift? Clean and friction your transmission with products labeled to do both. ie; [Mega Power Transmission Conditioner #3]

Friction drag and dirty transmission conditions waste fuel. Clean and correct dirty, friction increasing conditions and you improve fuel economy. Two companies are known to have these special transmission cleaners and friction modifiers of worth.*

Side note: Avoid solvent based cleaner products for oils and transmission fluids – as solvents destroy lubricity and increase friction wear. Detergent cleaners are great for oils. On the other hand, solvent and detergent cleaners are great for fuels. Detergent cleaners are costlier, and not as effective as solvent cleaners for fuels. Two brands with good cleaners are listed below.*

4- Octane boosters. Chemistry capable of slowing combustion. Thereby giving a bit more push to the downward thrust of each piston. This advantage gives you a bit more speed for the same amount of fuel. You save fuel by constantly backing off the throttle, lowering speed. A fuel saving ploy. Use by most people when towing, or racing. Watch out! Most brands of octane booster are caustic. Two brands with good octane boosters are listed below.*

5- Friction Modifiers. Two companies have friction modifiers capable of actually permitting more power to pass thru to turn the wheels faster. Friction modifiers work in two ways. One-way is to smooth roughen surfaces – thus reducing drag. Less drag, less fuel-wasting characteristics.

Another kind of friction modifier “coats worn areas” – which fill worn spaces, seal combustion from escaping – called blowby, and also permits slipperier movement. This is a fuel improvement aid because absorbed power is released to spin the wheels faster. Backing off on the gas pedal to drop increased speed is a fuel saving advantage. Two companies are known to have these special friction modifiers of worth.*

Any product not falling within these specific five parameters cannot improve fuel economy.

* Companies selling products with the above favorable characteristics: Mega Power, Oldsmar, Florida. Justice Brothers. Azusa, California.

George Christ, is one of America’s Experts in the use of automotive additives. He provides training to techs and mechanics in the specific use of Mega Power Additive Products. His expertise includes tune up, problem-solving, problem-preventing aspects of car, truck, and heavy equipment performance, and maintenance care. Details at: http://auto-tune-up-and-repair-options.com.