cam shaft wear ( pics included )

[richman711]

Hi guy's

looking for every ones opinion on the pics of my cam that I got yesterday ( its a arl btw)

Not sure if any can sew from the pics, but about 4 of the lobes have scoring/scuffing marks all round them like they are/have picked up. Also one of the lobes for cylinder 3 has a slight flat spot on the tip of the lobe, but only for ha lf its width.

Should I change it straight or do you think it has some life yet? Cambelt is due so know would be the ideal time to change it.

cheers

 

[richman711]

Any body got any advice? Desperate to have the belt changed

 

[Azza_]

if its scored and your doing the belts, id say do it rather than it destroy itself then your engine

arent the kits like 200 including lifters etc? definitely worth it for piece of mind

 

[Captain Cupra]

Do you do alot of track or hard driving? Reason I ask is there's a bit of burnt oil deposits on surfaces, you get a bit in there but it seems alot more than I usually see in these engines, what grade oil do you run, change interval?

Your wear could be down to blocked oil ways to the cam with deposits, doesn't look excessive wear from the pictures tho but it's hard to tell.


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[Captain Cupra]

Does look like a starvation problem based on the scoring... run the engine with cam cover off for 5 secs just to check good oil flow to the cam, does get messy but there's no point replacing the cam if it's an oil starve problem caused by blocked oil ways or poor oil pressure via blocked pick up pipe or bad oil pump but bad oil pump is rare on these.


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[Azza_]

its not normally starvation on the PD engines its the fact the cams are made from chocolate..

from what ive read its also something to do with poor tappets thats why the kits normally come with brand new ones.

 

[richman711]

Thanks for the replies guys

I agree I think there has been a oil starvation/wrong oil problem, the lobes appear to have/are picking up.

Its currently on 128k with a nearly full service history, missed one at like 80k and the last one was 5k overdue.
I cant say how its been previously driven bit with me it gets drove quite hard, although ive only owned it since 126k.
Serviced at 127k with mann filters and vw platinum pd engine oil, again tho cant vouch for previous oils used.

Now my main problem is that although I have a cheap garage im friendly with ( was going to do the cambelt+pump for 100 labour) I just cant afford to buy the cam, tappets, rockers etc then all the labour as well.

I may do it my see as I can at least see whats really going on ( blocked oil ways etc. Much of a diy job? I am a plant fitter so am fairly handy with the spanners.

P.s do the tdi's suffer the same blocked oil pick up fault as the 1.8t?

 

[sockpuppet]

My Cam made it to about 107000 before wearing right through the hydraulic lifter. Seems to be the first cam that wears, it was on mine. My car was serviced every 10000 with 505.01 5w40, shell helix and then Fuchs. After the cam and lifter replacement the garage I used put in 507.00 5w30 oil and I have used this ever since.
I don't think there is an oil starvation issue like the petrols suffer from.

 

[Azza_]

Thanks for the replies guys

I agree I think there has been a oil starvation/wrong oil problem, the lobes appear to have/are picking up.

Its currently on 128k with a nearly full service history, missed one at like 80k and the last one was 5k overdue.
I cant say how its been previously driven bit with me it gets drove quite hard, although ive only owned it since 126k.
Serviced at 127k with mann filters and vw platinum pd engine oil, again tho cant vouch for previous oils used.

Now my main problem is that although I have a cheap garage im friendly with ( was going to do the cambelt+pump for 100 labour) I just cant afford to buy the cam, tappets, rockers etc then all the labour as well.

I may do it my see as I can at least see whats really going on ( blocked oil ways etc. Much of a diy job? I am a plant fitter so am fairly handy with the spanners.

P.s do the tdi's suffer the same blocked oil pick up fault as the 1.8t?

i dont know about the blocked pickup issue with the arl engine but you got to ask is it going to be cheaper to fix the engine if the worst should happen? looking about you can buy the cam kit on ebay from a uk company for about 135 i think ( from memory ), obviously youd need to get a quote for fitting etc.

looking about it seems that a batch of followers weren't hardened causing them to wear, hence kits coming with new followers etc

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vw-Audi-Seat-1-9-TDi-pd-8v-camshaft-kit-inc-cam-bearing-/160813776671

 

[richman711]

Hi cheers for the reply

Im leaning towards sorting this before it turns into a holed tappet and the potential for the swarf getting sucked into the mains etc.

Ive emailed redmans for a quote on a camshaft kit, all bolts need, cam seal and the injector rockers

My only main concern is the cam kits, one is 285 and its a forged steel one then there a middle of the range one then the one you have linked. Does any one have any opinions on what is the best one for my needs? Based on doing around 500 miles a week, 50% of is hard driving.

It makes me think tho is a stronger cam needed when the defect was actually the tappets?

 

[Azza_]

thats my thinking, the problem is shite followers so swap them all out and you should just need the normal cam, the forged one will be for high boost/rev applications (stand to be corrected).

the cars done plenty miles as is thats with a fault from new, so id expect this cam to last the distance

 

[richman711]

Ah gd gd.

Ive had a email back from redmans engines with a price of 320 for camkit complete with seal and all bolts. Not too bad I spose, although I did ask for the quote to be based on the £285 cam so think they have made a error some where.

They could also supply injector rockers but only second hand any one know if I have/need to change them as well? Guessing there gonna be expensive from vw/seat