Power blip at 3200rpm

I've noticed a blip in power (increase) while accelerating, usually at 3200rpm. Generally, I've noticed it under moderate acceleration around town. Seems consistent in all gears, but I notice it most in 2nd and 3rd as that's where I drive through 3200 the most. This happens with the accerator steady, just letting the engine push itself up to speed. Anyone else experience this? Is it cam/timing related?

Variocam...

Yep, Variocam. Just tell your friends its your normally aspirated turbo kicking in!

So, this is exactly what I figured. I should have known the term 'variocam'. Theoretically speaking, wouldn't this blip cause a problem on the track? Accellerating out of a long corner, at the limit of lateral traction, wouldn't the blip cause a wiggle? I also noticed this blip at a DE event. I wasn't push the car very hard but, rather, was working on being as smooth as I possilby could be. This blip was starting to bug me. I wondered if my instructor thought my throttle application wasn't very smooth...

It should be Smooth. If its Rough you have a Variocam problem. have it Diagnosed

Technically, a simple variocam comes in much higher (as on earlier 996's). Variocam Plus -- comes in about 3,200 rpm and you can feel it as a significant push and the sound of the engine changes. With a passenger & light throttle, it can feel like you're not driving smoothly. Occasionally, I'll tell a passenger what's going on as the engine paramters shift from emphasizing torque to emphasizing hp. Personally, I'd prefer that it came in somewhat more gradually rather than a solenoid-style on/off. But....I prefer to have it than not.

I find it's always different. Sometimes harsher than other times... It all depends on how much gas you give it and or if there is an actual problem.

Quotes source post: 8685972

I don't think it's so rough that I have a problem. It's just that I notice little things.

I haven't noticed it at all, but now you're making me want to go for a drive just to test it out. After the last thread about this I tried paying attention during my commute and there was nothing obvious at any RPM in the 3k to 4k range.

variocam kicks in around ~1400 rpm PLUS is another story

Quotes source post: 8686079

Are you serious? There is either a problem with the car or you have to be more observant!!

If you're on the track..you really shouldn't be in the 3000 rpm range much....keeps the revs higher than that.

That "blip" is one of my favorite features.

on mine it is more noticeable with light acceleration in first and second. accelerating hard it is more difficult to feel, other than the rush of power.

Quotes source post: 8685782

Depending upon one's sensitivity there can be a bit of a bump in power at around 3K rpms. The intake manifold has resonance flaps that are activated at 3K and when they're activated this helps the engine to breathe better. It can feel like the engine is coming on the cam, so to speak. Sincerely, Macster.

Quotes source post: 8686221

+1

I thought I had an issue when I had just bought my car - then I found an old thread that had the text 3100 in it, and it turned out that was the thread that put me at ease. I wasn't aware that it was normal - I should have known because a long time ago I bought a new 99 Honda Civic Si, which has a VTEC kickover at something like 5600 rpms - some thing here, but lower RPM.

Quotes source post: 8686079

WHen you go for your drive and don't find your variocam blip, contact Ed. I am certain he has an extra couple of "variocam blips" tucked away in his garage.

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Only for a GT3 When you are driving more aggressivly, track, you won't notice it much.

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The car had a full 30k service about 4 months ago including new plugs etc. I just went out for a 15 minute drive doing nothing but 2.5k to 4.5k acceleration in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gear. Throttle very light, 25%, 50%, 100% a few times. Tried with PSE on and off. Acceleration is very smooth the whole way. There is no blip or anything that feels like a turbo kicking in. Certainly by 4k the throttle response is much better and I have a lot more power, but there doesn't seem to be any point at which it "comes on." I've not had the car on a dyno (it's completely stock other than wheels and tires). The only reference point I have is that it seems to do ok at autocrosses (where according to Rennlist / 6speed lore it is supposed to suck). Edit: well yes, at a track I doubt there'd be too much time under 4k. It's been a while since I've done track days however. During autocross I haven't noticed it either, and do spend time down there on slow corners (never looked at the dash during an run so far, so guessing by speed and sound).

I get the blip at 3200 too (sometimes 2800) but it's less noticeable if I accelerate harder ...

Quotes source post: 8686221

True. In my case, we were using the low-end torque just to keep things simple (3rd & 4th) so I did pass through 3200. It's interesting to me that many cars have the blip and yet some not at all. To be clear, I'm not describing an ongoing increase in power starting at 3200, but rather a momentary pulse.

I get it too, but only on partial throttle. Anything about say 60% throttle, I can't feel the "pulse".

Quotes source post: 8688675

I think there are two ways of looking at this. Whenever someone mentions this blip, skip, surge, whatever you want to call it, people always assume and point to variocam. I understand what variocam is and acts, but sometimes there is another prior blip which is not variocam which I sometimes notice and others have pointed out and got the variocam response. I noticed this never occurs if you have shifted from the previous gear perfectly, gear matched and all. But if you shift to fast and don't gear match and then try to step on it while at lower rpm, you will feel the quick hesitation. So not the shift itself that hesitates, it engages and then a second later it does it... then once at 3000 rpm or a little above the variocam kicks in. It's weird and hard to explain. But not all cases point to variocam.

Quotes source post: 8688675

I haven't posted here in a long while, just decided to check in. Amazing how this particular topic still comes in. I first read about it 8 years ago !! Here's the best way for all to feel it. Start a constant speed at @ 2000-2500 RPM in second or better yet third gear on a long smooth straight road, window open, AC off. Then mash that throttle to the floor. At about 3000-3500 RPM, you'll notice 2 things. There will be a split second momentary "lift" as if you let up, followed by a pull stronger than before. There will also be a dfinite change in the exhaust note, most noticeable if you have a sport exhaust set to wide open. That's the variocam plus.

I guess I could have searched the topic, but I've been kicking around for half a year now and I don't recall seeing it. thanks all for the feedback!

Quotes source post: 8688785

I did that exactly, and there was definitely no momentary lift sensation. Long straight smooth road. Window and sunroof open. AC off. 2500rpm in 2nd, mash throttle. Smooth acceleration (with sloping jerk up through at least 4k). Same in 1st and 3rd. Multiple trials. Edit: It's possible this is different in my 2004 than on earlier models. It's possible this is something screwy with the C4S (seems unlikely). It's possible this is something that gets smoothed out with tuning and it's not showing up because of my recent 30k service. It's possible this is slightly different with each car, and mine is fortunately almost perfectly smooth. It's possible I just can't feel it because I'm numb or dumb .

I'm not talking about a throttle mash, more like a 50% throttle or less; normal city driving.