How is the maintenance on a cammed car?

Dardecor · 03-23-2024, 05:59 AM

I already have headers/intake/E50. Im thinking about getting my '18 ZL1 A10 cammed, but I'm doing my research on it first. I'd like to ask Camaro owners who have cammed their car how the maintenance is? Would you say the car is still reliable? How often do you need oil changes now? Any extra info is helpful as well.

I don't daily my car so I'm not concerned about gas mileage.

arpad_m · 03-23-2024, 08:36 AM

I have a cammed 2SS and not a ZL1, but my experience is zero loss in reliability or driveability. As far as I know, there is no need to deviate from the normal oil change frequency, I do it every 3-5k miles or once every 10-12 months, whichever comes first. Fuel economy did take a little hit, especially at idle, but you (or I) don't care about that. To put this in perspective, my max mpg on the highway used to be in the 27-28 range before the cam+headers combo, now it's more like 25-26 mpg. At WOT it used to be around 5 mpg, now it's 4

My cam is Jannetty Racing's "smooth idle" cam for FI cars with a +32% fuel lobe, and the cam lives up to its name, it has an ever so slight lope at idle (no hard chop-chop), throttle response is perfect throughout the pedal travel, and the car pulls like a freaking freight train even up top past 5k rpm.

FlukeSS · 03-23-2024, 02:57 PM

My car seems good, I did add some internals to hopefully make it more durable. Still not done of course.

As far as oil is concerned, it depends who you ask and what you had done.

My shop told me to use 10w40 and change it every 3000-3500 miles due to the rebuilt engine having looser tolerances. They also told me not to use synthetic, that a common occurrence on these cars are damaged lifters from synthetic oils. There are some types of synthetic that can be used but most no. And GM's recommended is not one of them. I also have a catch can which I empty about every 1000-1500 miles.

Again granted I'm a 2SS, and I imagine ZL1's being a little tougher on the internals than the SS.

Dardecor · 03-23-2024, 05:55 PM

Thanks for the replies guys (more are welcome too). I've been doing heavy research and just wanted to know the experience of people that have actually done it before I pull the trigger. I will definitely stay on top of maintenance.

Rlhay2 · 03-31-2024, 01:18 PM

Maintenance should remain the same with one key exception:
Change the valve springs every 50,000 miles

03-23-2024, 05:59 AM	#1
Dardecor Drives: 2018 ZL1 Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 21	How is the maintenance on a cammed car? I already have headers/intake/E50. Im thinking about getting my '18 ZL1 A10 cammed, but I'm doing my research on it first. I'd like to ask Camaro owners who have cammed their car how the maintenance is? Would you say the car is still reliable? How often do you need oil changes now? Any extra info is helpful as well. I don't daily my car so I'm not concerned about gas mileage.

03-23-2024, 08:36 AM	#2
arpad_m Drives: 2018 Camaro 2SS A8 Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 11,621 View My Garage	I have a cammed 2SS and not a ZL1, but my experience is zero loss in reliability or driveability. As far as I know, there is no need to deviate from the normal oil change frequency, I do it every 3-5k miles or once every 10-12 months, whichever comes first. Fuel economy did take a little hit, especially at idle, but you (or I) don't care about that. To put this in perspective, my max mpg on the highway used to be in the 27-28 range before the cam+headers combo, now it's more like 25-26 mpg. At WOT it used to be around 5 mpg, now it's 4 My cam is Jannetty Racing's "smooth idle" cam for FI cars with a +32% fuel lobe, and the cam lives up to its name, it has an ever so slight lope at idle (no hard chop-chop), throttle response is perfect throughout the pedal travel, and the car pulls like a freaking freight train even up top past 5k rpm. __________________ 2018 Camaro 2SS — G7E MX0 NPP F55 IO6 735 rwhp \| 665 rwtq Magnuson TVS 2300 80mm pulley \| Kooks 1 7/8" LT headers \| JRE smooth idle terminator cam \| LT4 FS & injectors \| TSP forged pistons & rods JMS PowerMAX \| DSX flex fuel kit \| Roto-Fab CAI \| Soler 95mm LT5 TB \| 1LE wheels \| 1LE brakes \| BMR rear cradle lockout \| JRE custom tune 1100 - 1/30/18 \| 2000 - 1/31/18 3000 - 2/06/18 TPW 2/26/18 3400 - 2/19/18 \| 3800 - 2/26/18 4300 - 2/27/18 \| 4B00 - 3/01/18 4200 - 3/05/18 \| 4800 - 3/14/18 5000 - 3/16/18 \| 6000 - 3/19/18

03-23-2024, 02:57 PM	#3
FlukeSS Drives: 2020 Camaro 2SS A10 Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,386	My car seems good, I did add some internals to hopefully make it more durable. Still not done of course. As far as oil is concerned, it depends who you ask and what you had done. My shop told me to use 10w40 and change it every 3000-3500 miles due to the rebuilt engine having looser tolerances. They also told me not to use synthetic, that a common occurrence on these cars are damaged lifters from synthetic oils. There are some types of synthetic that can be used but most no. And GM's recommended is not one of them. I also have a catch can which I empty about every 1000-1500 miles. Again granted I'm a 2SS, and I imagine ZL1's being a little tougher on the internals than the SS. __________________ 2020 Camaro 2SS A10 \| Rebuilt by: CBI Street Cars \| 2" SE LT Headers \| 3" SE X-Pipe \| 3" MBRP Axle-Back \| Pri & Sec Cat Deletes \| K&N Typhoon CAI \| LT2 Ported \| 95mm ZR1 TB \| DOD Delete \| BTR Stage I Cam \| ECM, TCM & E85 \|Tuned by: Shane Hinds \| Dyno: 510 rwhp 472 rwtq

03-23-2024, 05:55 PM	#4
Dardecor Drives: 2018 ZL1 Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 21	Thanks for the replies guys (more are welcome too). I've been doing heavy research and just wanted to know the experience of people that have actually done it before I pull the trigger. I will definitely stay on top of maintenance.

03-31-2024, 01:18 PM	#5
Rlhay2 Drives: 2017 ZL1 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: DFW, TX Posts: 302	Maintenance should remain the same with one key exception: Change the valve springs every 50,000 miles

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