Variocam thoughts and questions

[sfkjeld]

Originally Posted by blue62

In real simple terms.
My guess and it's just that, a guess.
Is that a sensor like the cam position sensor has a limit (voltage level) that the DME/ECU sees. when it hits that limit the code is set.
Or the voltage level is far enough out of spec. that the DME/ECU sees it and triggers the code.

I do know that on an O2 sensor when the signal response time slows down to a certain point that the DME/ECU has a response time limit that when hit it triggers a O2 sensor aging code.
I found that info in some literature put out by Bosh.
Bosh developed and produced the DME/ECU in our cars

So I think everything (when it comes to codes being set) is either signal response time or voltage level related as far as the sensors are concerned.

Hope that makes sense.
Remember that's just a guess

An excellent guess too, thank you so much. Unfortunately for me, I think it was my driving pattern that was causing the CEL at nearly the same time. I have more awareness now of what throws the code. It will only throw it in city driving, never on the highway. If I accelerate from low rpms, like 2k, it’ll throw the code. If I ease up to 2.5k I am ok.

So now the shop I’ve been taking the car to, wants to do an engine flush to see if it can clear an oil gallery feeding the actuator. Seems like a Hail Mary, but I guess I’ll do it.

Am still convinced the problem is the green o-rings have disintegrated and may have clogged a gallery, who knows? But when I start the car now, I often hear the clatter of the timing chains for about 2-3 secs until the oil pressure comes up. Tells me the engine is not gonna last a long time.

So here is my question. Would I be well served to run a heavier engine oil? The shop has been using Swepco at $16/quart. I baby this car for the most part, don’t need a high performance oil. Was going to ask the shop to just fill it with Mobile 1 at maybe a 40 weight? Might improve the starting clatter? Unless the engine flush miraculously cures the oil pressure problem in the actuator, I figure to drive it until the car dies. Oddly enough, it’ll probably pass smog tests, as it did last month. And as of now, despite the CEL, it runs great.