Another TDI chocolate camshaft!

[sockpuppet]

I thought the chocolate camshaft problem was only on the older TDI150's but even though mine was one of the last of the Mk1's built it has happened to me.

Before I got the car it was serviced at jct600 for the first 15 months (55000 miles (5 services)) and I assume they used the correct oil.
Since then the car has done another 70000 miles and had Fuch 5w40 505.01 oil and the last 5000 miles Carlube Triple R 5w40 505.01 oil as GSF no longer stock Fuch.

One of the cams was badly scored, another was unbelievably worn and one of the lifters had a hole in the top where it had worn away.

Is this a case of seat using sh*tty parts or could this be something to do with the oil spec that seat have recommended for the engine?

 

[glynnd]

Went through the same meyself albeit not this badly.
Bought my car as the second owner, first had serviced the leon via Stoneacre Seat.
Car had done 84k when purchased.
After the engine developed a slight tick, I repalced the camshaft and followers.
I was dissapointed at the amount of wear on the cam and followers at the point of repalcing, mileage was 95k.
I was aware of the stories out there similar to yours with holed tappets, must be from use of incorrect oil?
Its easy for the person raising the invoice to enter in 505.01 etc, whan in reality, its totally possible that is not what is in the engine!
Sorry there is no comfort from this, but it would seriously put me off buying a second hand pd engined car now.
Could not afford the £900 bill again for a new cam, tappets cheese bolts etc.

 

[sockpuppet]

Well I'm now £755 lighter and have the car back with a new camshaft.
I was chatting to the mechanics and they said they use the 507.00 5w30 oil for these engines now as it exceeds the 505.01 spec.

Now I need to part with some more cash to get the wheel bearing done :-(

 

[mattyholmz89]

is it only the pd150 engine with this problem?? or could my pd130 generate this issue??

 

[Seatmann]

The newer pd engines are the ones that suffer from cam wear, the theory is that because the pump is driven off the cam the lobes are narrower and so wear quicker, there's some guys in the states who drill holes in specific places to try and aid oil flow to the affected areas but I don't know how successful it'll be, time will tell I suppose.

 

[techie]

is it only the pd150 engine with this problem?? or could my pd130 generate this issue??

Had a few PD130 engines doing it now, but quite a few have them have had piss poor maps on them or tuning boxes. It would seem the strain on injectors due to poor fueling or over fueling is wearing out the camshafts.

 

[Seatmann]

It's just a design flaw in some of the pd engines, fueling can burn out pistons and valves but the cam wear doesn't seem related.

 

[oldman]

Well I'm now £755 lighter and have the car back with a new camshaft.
I was chatting to the mechanics and they said they use the 507.00 5w30 oil for these engines now as it exceeds the 505.01 spec.

Now I need to part with some more cash to get the wheel bearing done :-(

glad you've said that
had service done and noticed had used 507 in mine; was given same answer. Thanks

 

[majesty78]

You're better of with some 5W40 oil with 505.01 spec than with 5W30 507.00

5W40 505.01 has higher stability at high oil temperature and better additives (more of them) than 507.00 and prevent such damages on camshafts.

Something like lubry moly diesel high tech 5W40 for PD engines is just fine and way less expensive than a £20 per litre castrol oil at the dealer.

I have used this lubry moly for over 80.000 miles in my Ibiza PD with constantly way over 200bhp, and even yet with over 120.000miles on the odo it has never had an issue with the engine or camshafts, still has over 30bar compression on all 4 cylinders.

Most people reporting camshaft issues have used 5W30 oil filled in at the official dealer during maintanance service.

Regards, Alex