Madpsi.net > Project Cars > MR2 (SW20) > Camshafts - HKS 272 intake / HKS 264 exhaust
 
     
 
 

Camshafts - Why 272 intake /264 exhaust?


It has been standard practice to make the exhaust duration longer than the intake duration on a normally aspirated engine. This has been done to promote scavenging and increase cylinder pressure at high RPM because overlap is longer and one can run narrower LSA's (Lobe Separation Angles).

Applying the same methods to a turbo charged engine, however, will not have the same desired effect because turbo charged engines do not make use of scavenging and reversion caused by larger overlaps, which can cause havoc.

In a turbo charged engine exhaust pressure is almost at all times (99.95%) higher than intake pressure. Reversion, when air flows the opposite direction than what it is suppose to flow, must at all times be prevented in a turbo charged engine. If not compressor surge will occur which can result in serious damage.

If we take a set of 264 degrees duration cams we will see that the inlet opens at 4 BTDC and closes at 43 ABDC for LS of 110 degrees. The exhaust opens at 36 BBDC and closes at 10 ATDC for a LS of 103. This gives us an overlap of 14 degrees and a total LSA of 7 degrees. Not good for a smooth idle and even worse when it comes to reversion

Now let's increase the exhaust cam to 272 degrees duration. Intake still opens at 4 BTDC and closes at 43 ABDC for a LS of 110 degrees, but exhaust now opens at 45 BBDC and closes at 9 ATDC for a LS of 108. This now gives us an overlap of 13 degrees and a LSA of 3 degrees.

Let's now go the opposite way, increase the inlet cam to 272 degrees duration but change the LS for the 264-exhaust cam to 112. Inlet opens at 8 BTDC and closes at 47 ABDC for LS of 110 degrees and the exhaust opens at 44 BBDC and closes at 0 ATDC for a LS of 112. This gives us an overlap of 10 degrees and a LSA of 4 degrees. Less change for reversion and great for cylinder pressures.

The following are achieved:

1) longer fill period for a more powerful combustion which in turn will lead to a higher volume of exhaust gases with a higher initial pressure.

2) smaller overlap which will prevent reversion.

3) longer effective exhaust duration which will help spool faster and stronger because of the higher cylinder pressures.

4) larger volume of exhaust gases present when the exhaust valve starts to open.