Torsion adjustments and MPG after cam change

badgator1

Active member
Joined
Jul 12, 2015
Location
Floridah
TDI
2006.5 Jetta brm DSG, MB diesels and SL's
I had this as a Open Office document, had to cut, paste, and modify to post, after modified the alignment was still screwed up again, oh well.

Adjusting Torsion Value TV Sticker reads -1.1?
Move cam gear Backward = Advance + TV +1.0
Move cam gear Forward = Retard – TV -1.0
Move cam bolt Backward = Retard – TV -1.0
Move cam bolt Forward = Advance +TV +1.0

Link to image of Advance/Retard Torsion chart
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9bd7XMvQwXGczNfWXZVRDdWUVE

Speed/Miles MPG A/R Torsion Date
8k miles+ 42.9 __ -1.1? a
New Cam ? - -2.9/3.4 8-28-16
75mph/300 *40.2-b A -2.0/2.5 9-03-16
75mph/250 40.1-c - -2.0/2.5 9-05-16
75mph/90 36.5 A -1.0/1.5 9-06-16
75mph/180 **38.3 - -1.0/1.5 9-10-16
75mph/180 40.4 R -2.0/nr 9-10-16
75mph/324-d 41.0 - -2.0/nr 9-20-16
75mph/400-e 41.9 R -2.5/2.9 10-1-16
75mph/8000 41.9 - -2.5/2.9 5-1-17
Consistent 41.9mpg w/AC over the last 8000 miles,
1+mpg more w/AC off, 1+ mpg less with heat on

Fuel deviation range +-.50 higher = bad inj, worn cam, low comp
1) .14 2) -.19 3) .05 4) .05
Group 15 Fuel +1.0 Bounces .6-.8 lhp, -1.0 B .6-.4 lhp, -2.0 B .4-.6 lph, -2.5 Steady .4 lph,
Group 11 turbo test
1) 1407 rpm 1142mb/989.4mb 90.3% dc difference should be 80-250mb 152
2) 1407 rpm 1142mb/979.4mb 80.3% dc difference should be 80-250mb 162
*ziptie mod melted, replaced with solid wire, needed to adjust first, get baseline MPG,75mph/trip miles
**slightly tightened “zip tie wire”
a- Driven 8000+ miles consistent 42.9mpg MFD, new BEW forged steel cam set + cam oil mod 8-27-16 @201k mi +filled with 15w 50 Mobil 1 + 8oz Lucas Zinc-Plus@ cam break in and oil changes.
b- fuel from extremely slow BP station pump, bottom of tank?
c- 10+ mph headwind last 40 miles dropped 40.3 to 40.1
d- Reset MPG before getting on hwy at start of trip
e- replace new filter w/gd used when 5gal b99 +fill d2, filled filter w/b99
9-21-16 203k
All MPG MFD readings, A= advance cam, R= retard, A/C most of the time, usually 88-92 air temp
Of course driving at 75 on cruise you will need to slow or speed up from traffic these speeds are very close, not Eco-modding but kicking it down occasionally to pass. Speeds to 75 to 80+ according to traffic conditions
I am self employed and don't commute. Almost all miles I drive are Interstate, up to 2000 miles in 4 days.
 
Last edited:

Rembrant

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2014
Location
Canada's Ocean Playground
TDI
2013 Golf TDI DSG
I can't really decode what you're saying here...

Where did you get the best MPG?

I just finished a BRM cam install yesterday, and my torision value landed @ -1.0 which I understand is fairly normal since you don't know exactly where it will land within it's given range.

I was going to bump it ahead to +1.0 and try it there for a while.
 

narongc73

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2005
Location
VA/OH
TDI
2006 Jetta TDI
I dunno why you guys sweat that stuff. it does not affect MPG much +or - 1. I have seen it for myself. It's all in your head, mpg changes with terrain, wind, right foot, weather, load etc.
 

Rembrant

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2014
Location
Canada's Ocean Playground
TDI
2013 Golf TDI DSG
I dunno why you guys sweat that stuff. it does not affect MPG much +or - 1. I have seen it for myself. It's all in your head, mpg changes with terrain, wind, right foot, weather, load etc.
I don't know why you guys sweat over threads that you declare to be irrelevant.:)

I'm wasn't sweating anything anyway, I was just asking for a brief summary since what he posted wasn't really clear to me. I'm new to the PD/BRM world, and just completed a cam swap yesterday, so what is old news to some might be interesting to me.:)
 

badgator1

Active member
Joined
Jul 12, 2015
Location
Floridah
TDI
2006.5 Jetta brm DSG, MB diesels and SL's
I dunno why you guys sweat that stuff. it does not affect MPG much +or - 1. I have seen it for myself. It's all in your head, mpg changes with terrain, wind, right foot, weather, load etc.
I guess the documented 5.4 mpg difference is "ALL IN MY HEAD"
 
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Ol'Rattler

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jul 3, 2007
Location
PNA
TDI
2006 BRM Jetta
Oh hell. let's not sweat anything. Set it at zero Torsion and then try going plus or minus to get your best mileage.

Me? I could care less. I set my Torsion to +1 and just drive on. The mileage difference from different Torsion values will not be anything relevant. MPG? who cares as long as it is say not down in the thirty's.

For freeway travel, my mpg since new has always been 47 MPG and I am happy with that.
 

Ol'Rattler

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jul 3, 2007
Location
PNA
TDI
2006 BRM Jetta
I can't really decode what you're saying here...
Where did you get the best MPG?
I just finished a BRM cam install yesterday, and my torision value landed @ -1.0 which I understand is fairly normal since you don't know exactly where it will land within it's given range.
I was going to bump it ahead to +1.0 and try it there for a while.
Sounds good. If you do the procedure correctly, you will get a Torsion value that is 1 unit of zero time after time after time. It just kills me that folks think they need VCDS to do a T/B. It is nice to double check your work, but completely not required if your procedure is spot on.
 

badgator1

Active member
Joined
Jul 12, 2015
Location
Floridah
TDI
2006.5 Jetta brm DSG, MB diesels and SL's
Oh hell. let's not sweat anything. Set it at zero Torsion and then try going plus or minus to get your best mileage.
Me? I could care less. I set my Torsion to +1 and just drive on. The mileage difference from different Torsion values will not be anything relevant. MPG? who cares as long as it is say not down in the thirty's.
For freeway travel, my mpg since new has always been 47 MPG and I am happy with that.
36.5 mpg (in chart) was't going to work for me. I knew I would lose some mpg using a BEW cam, but I installed it in this TDI for longevity. I am more than happy with 41.9 mpg, this car is used for long regular trips of 2,000 miles. If I had to settle for mid-thirties mpg I'd buy a gas KIA, Hyundai or Honda.

My regular ride is a 93 SL500, it gets less than 12 mpg of super premium (because a heavy foot) but sooo much more fun to drive.
 

1sloVR4

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 28, 2016
Location
TN
TDI
2006 Jetta TDI
Thanks for taking the time to log all of this. It's very useful. My best MPG has been 39 mpg (DSG) and I believe I have my torsion value set at -1.0.
 

aj164

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2005
Location
CS, TX
TDI
'06 Jetta DSG pkg2
I guess the documented 5.4 mpg difference is "ALL IN MY HEAD"
I re-read your original post. I noticed for the mpg readings you wrote "MFD", and I couldn't find any mention of traditional miles/gallons paper method. What mpg are you getting if you compute it on paper?
 

aj164

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2005
Location
CS, TX
TDI
'06 Jetta DSG pkg2
If you're showing better mileage using the old school pencil-and-paper method, I would then consider to retard my cam timing a bit and give it a try myself. Otherwise, I've read the cam timing can affect the MFD computation more than the actual mileage you get.
 
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