Worn camshaft - symptoms

Cars are made up of a huge number of components, the synchronous operation of which is responsible for the correct operation of individual systems. One of the most important is the gas distribution system with a camshaft. It is to him that we will dedicate today's entry - we will check what symptoms a worn camshaft gives, what is its regeneration and in which engines it is especially vulnerable.

What will you learn from this post?

• What is worth knowing about the camshaft?
• What are the symptoms of camshaft wear?
• What does the renovation look like?
• How to extend the life of the camshaft?

Shortly speaking

The camshaft is an important element of the gas distribution system, suitable, among other things, for an adequate supply of the fuel mixture to the engine. His refusal is associated with rather characteristic symptoms. However, a worn roller can be diagnosed and repaired by a professional bodyshop.

Camshaft - what is this part?

Under the hood of our vehicles, we can find many units and parts that are responsible for the optimal performance of the drive engine. Some of them are relatively simple. This can mislead us as to their effectiveness and their function. One such inconspicuous component is the camshaft. It is part of the timekeeping system and its main tasks (along with other parts of the system) include:

• ensuring the supply of the air-fuel mixture to the engine;
• mediation in engine lubrication;
• ignition drive, fuel pump, oil pump or high pressure fuel pump.

The camshaft is equipped with so-called cams that open and close the valves when the shaft rotates, guaranteeing fuel mixture supply and exhaust gas discharge... This pressure on the valves and the rotational movement of the shaft creates friction which, with insufficient lubrication and low resistance to material loading, means rapid wear. Insufficient lubrication can be a problem due to several factors, such as too narrow oil drain lines (then the oil pump loses its original performance) or filling the drive with lubricants that do not meet the manufacturer's recommendations and requirements.

The above cases are especially relevant for camshaft in 1.9 TDI PD engines, i.e. unit with Volkswagen unit injectors, which are activated by an additional cam on the camshaft. Other engines that boast an emergency camshaft include: PSA 1.6 HDI and 2.2 SkyActiv-D engines fitted to select Mazda models prior to 2014.

Camshaft cams also wear out under the influence mismatch of engine oil conditions (for example, the use of liquid oils in highly loaded units), wear of the hydraulic slack adjuster, worn rocker arms, or simply high mileage. Sometimes failure can also occur due to shaft assembly errorsalthough such situations are relatively rare.

What are the symptoms of camshaft wear?

A worn camshaft produces quite specific symptoms that shouldn't be a problem for an experienced mechanic to spot. It is basically irregular operation of the drive motor, noticeable loss of engine power and diesel noise when driving at high speeds. Visit a workshop for a professional diagnosis of the condition of the roller. However, it is worth knowing that on some car models we can try to independently determine the condition of the camshafts. We do this by looking through the unscrewed oil filler cap. Thus, we can see a fragment of one or more cameras.

What is camshaft regeneration?

A worn camshaft can be replacedespecially if it's cast iron. For this, the surfacing method is used, i.e. deposition of a layer of molten metal on a molten surface. To give the roller the necessary strength, it is subjected to heat and chemical treatment. Roller regeneration is much more common in the elderly in order to reduce the cost of the service. The repair of one trunnion will cost us 50-70 PLN, if we are not talking about an engine with a 16-valve head - in this case we will pay 500-700 PLN for the shaft. The price of a new original shaft for a four-cylinder engine can be double that.

How to prevent wear on the camshaft?

First of all, let's remember regular oil changes and use of high quality lubricants. It is also important to use good oil filters as sliding surfaces are prone to contamination in oil, such as metal particles. You should also be careful with a cold engine - the camshafts are quite far from the oil pan, so they begin to be lubricated as one of the last components after turning the key in the ignition.

On avtotachki.com you will find quality engine oils as well as new camshafts.

Also check:

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