Engine: Description And Operation (page 24 of 28)

 
The VVT unit is a hydraulic actuator mounted on the end of the intake camshaft, which advances or retards the intake 
camshaft timing and thereby alters the camshaft to crankshaft phasing. The oil control solenoid, controlled by the ECM, 
routes oil pressure to either the advance or retard chambers located either side of the three vanes interspersed within the 
machined housing of the unit. 
 
The VVT unit is driven by the primary chain and rotates relative to the exhaust camshaft sprocket. When the ECM 
requests the camshaft timing to advance, the oil control solenoid is energized moving the shuttle valve to the relevant 
position to allow engine oil pressure, via a filter, into the VVT unit's advance chambers. When the camshaft timing is 
requested to retard, the shuttle valve moves position to allow oil pressure to exit the advance chambers, while 
simultaneously routing the oil pressure into the retard chambers. 
 
When directed by the ECM, the VVT unit will be set to the optimum position between full advance and retard for a 
particular engine speed and load. This is achieved when the ECM sends the energising signal to the oil control solenoid 
until the target position is met. At this point, the energizing signal is reduced to hold the solenoid position, and as a result 
the position of the shuttle valve. This function is under closed-loop control, where the ECM will assess any decrease in 
shuttle-valve oil-pressure, via signals from the camshaft position sensor. The ECM will increase the energizing signal, 
when required, to maintain the shuttle-valve hold position. 
 
Engine oil properties and temperature can affect the ability of the VVT mechanism to follow demand changes to the cam 
phase angle. At very low oil-temperatures, movement of the VVT mechanism is sluggish due to increased viscosity, and 
at high oil-temperatures the reduced viscosity may impair operation if the oil pressure is too low. To maintain satisfactory 
VVT performance, an increased capacity oil pump is installed, plus an engine oil temperature sensor to enable monitoring 
by the ECM. The VVT system is normally under closed-loop control except in extreme temperature conditions, such as 
cold starts below 0°C. At extremely high oil-temperatures, the ECM may limit the amount of VVT advance to prevent the 
engine from stalling when returning to idle speed. 
 
The VVT does not operate when engine oil-pressure is below 1.25 bar, as there is insufficient pressure to release the 
VVT unit's internal stopper pin. This usually occurs when the engine is shutting-down and the VVT has returned to the 
retarded position. The stopper pin locks the camshaft to the VVT unit to ensure camshaft stability during the next engine 
start-up. 
 

LUBRICATION SYSTEM 

Item  Part Number 

Description 

A

 -

Retarded

B

 -

Advanced

1

 -

Engine oil pressure