A car's engine depends upon accurate timing, and a variable cam phaser can help provide peak performance. Without proper timing, air and fuel ratios will not mesh correctly, and engine operation suffers.
Variable cam phasers are the link between a vehicle's timing chain, or belt, and the camshaft. The variable cam phaser spins each camshaft's rotation angle, as directed by the timing belt, to keep the engine in sync.
The variable cam phaser consists of an inner rotor with a group of lobes attached to the camshaft and a sprocket attached to the timing belt. The lobes function when oil is added on one side and removed on the other side, causing the entire rotor to rotate variably for the specific timing needed.
The key to the timing is the oil pressure against the lobes. If oil pressure fails within the variable cam phaser, the timing cannot be accurately computed, subsequently allowing the engine to function on a lower level of performance.
