Camshaft lobe wear
Hello everybody.
I am having trouble making a solid call on this vehicle and would like some input from you all.
The customer had the valve cover replaced due to a pcv issue. The other shop told him he would probably need a timing chain soon. The customer said the vehicle started making a loud noise in the engine compartment. He did his YouTube searching and thought it was his timing chain making the noise, and also that the other shop told him he would need one soon. But there was no noise at that point.
He let the car sit for a month to gather parts and tools and now he has brought it to us to do the job. But we said let us diagnose the problem first before jumping into the job.
The car was partly take apart on arrival. I put in together enough to drive it in the service bay. The engine was 1qt low of oil so I topped it off started it up and wow what a loud valve train noise but I also believe it could be the timing chain.
I drained the oil to see if any of the timing chain guides had broken apart and fell down but I found none. Then I removed the valve cover and I found on small piece of the guide that had broken off. And it appears that the tensioner is maxed out.
My question is of these pictures below, is this wear on the cam lobes enough to cause valve train noise. The oil was low on arrival and there is plenty of sludge in this engine. Also the quality was very poor , I see O2 spacers installed and aftermarket intercooler plus piping. The lifters seem to have some give to them so I don't think they are bad. I've seen enoug to say the timing chain job should be done but this customer complaint is the noise it is making. Thank you .
I can't tell you if the wear is enough to produce noise but that camshaft is definitely shot. There is substantial embrittlement on that one cam lobe. – Dave
Absolutely, i don't want to get married to a customer who started the work and then brought me his own parts with the expectation that the car will like new when the timing job is complete
…..but those were the dynamics of the whole “I'll bring my own parts and so-and-so said it needs a new byrillium spherical refibulator deevice and it will run perfect for $200.00”. Those kinds of jobs is why I no longer have any hair. It took me a few of them to get the message! :) Peace!
I agree with David. Lots of “pitting” on those lobes. Cam needs to go. I am sure it would make some noise but hard to tell how much.
Brandon, look at the ramp of the lobe and you can see it is not as continuously smooth as it should be. It would make the follower jump for sure. The rollers may have failed but you would be changing out all of them regardless. I feel it likely is the source of the noise from valve train. Customer will be needing to spend some significant coin to repair this little beast.
Hi Brandon, Stop! This thing needs an engine from what you are describing and what I see in the pictures. The cam has severe pitting (been exposed to the weather), that will eat itself and the roller in a very short time. Don't try to be a hero for someone else's negligence. I think they are try to get by on the cheap at your expense. Depending on mileage go with a low mileage LKQ from the same…
“The cam has severe pitting (been exposed to the weather)” Just want to say that the pitting is not from exposure to the elements. Its is wear caused by either a soft cam to begin with or roller followers that are starting to stick and not roll. I have seen it in plenty of engines and cylinder heads. Lots of GM V-8 roller cams that look like that. Either way it is junk :(
Hi Bill, I am going by a recent experience with a couple of weather exposed cams (towed in, partially torn down), that is why I made that comment. Aside from that, we agree, it's junk.
Glenn, I installed a low mileage engine in a Kia a few years ago. It was one that eventually was recalled for seizing up while just tooling along one of Houston's busy freeways. I bought the engine from LKQ. It ran perfectly and had no issues at all. The customer was transferred to Detroit right afterwards, and reported back to me that it made the trip problem free. She, the customer, made her…
Okay thats great info , I'm not an expert in the specifics of engine mechanicals but I was sure it wasn't good. Thank you all.
Brandon, I have to agree with Glenn, this is considered a disposable engine for many various reasons. The first being the mileage and the year model versus the amount of internal catastrophic damage. Do not try to repair the engine it will cost you more in Parts than what the cars worth. Rplace it with a good used Donor engine. I jumped on locator before I made this post I found literally…
Where did you look for the engines? I have used LKQ and car-part.com in the past.
Mike Trading Partners. May be connected with used car parts .com & Pinnacle I think it may be owned by Hollander. They are not free and you also have to meet the stringent qualifications. Hope this helps. Alan K.