Breaking Down the Ford Ti-VCT

Ford Ti-VCT makes its debut in the 2011 Mustang this summer and will quickly follow in the 2011 Fiesta, 2011 Edge and 2012 Focus. While improved fuel economy, peak horsepower and reduced emissions are tangible Ti-VCT benefits, it’s important to understand the whys and hows behind this engine evolution.

Camshafts

It all starts with the camshaft. Camshafts play a key role in engine power and efficiency. They regulate the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves, letting the air/fuel mixture into the cylinders and the spent exhaust gases out. The timing of the induction/exhaust events is critical to achieving a good balance of power and efficiency.

Regardless of engine design-overhead valve, single overhead cam or dual overhead cam-for many engines the cam and valve actuation is fixed.

With a fixed camshaft, engineers design and engine to perform well, but ultimately the engine is tuned with a specific purpose in mind. For example, fuel-efficient vehicles with fixed camshafts are tuned to perform fuel-efficiently. Many truck engines with fixed camshafts are tuned for maximum power and torque, and of course, performance vehicles are tuned for high performance.

Variable Cam Timing (VCT)

VCT was the next evolution of camshaft design and brought with it the ability to adjust cam performance. With VCT, the cam, depending on demand, can be shifted between advanced or delayed in milliseconds, resulting in enhanced efficiency under low-load conditions like highway driving and increased power for brisk acceleration.

Twin Independent Variable Cam Timing (Ti-VCT)

What Ti-VCT brings to the table is the ability to have the best of both fuel efficiency and performance.

With Ti-VCT the camshaft and valve timing are continuously monitored and automatically adjusted as engine demands change, hence the term “variable cam timing.” Ti-VCT technology is flexible, allowing the engine to operate at peak efficiency across an entire range.

The independent adjustment of intake and exhaust valve timing significantly contributes to maximum fuel efficiency when driving under regular conditions and it also allows the delivery of optimized power when full throttle is demanded. In other words-the best of both worlds!

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