Abnormal camshaft lobe wear

[BlueAngel19]

Doing VCT solenoids on my 2019 GT at 41k miles (random rough idle and stalling with sudden timing fluctuations) and noticed my driver side camshafts have abnormal wear patterns. Passenger side cams are perfect.
Engine is completely stock, stock tune.
I bought it at 32k miles, it had regular oil changed based on records and it appears clean on inside. I switched to 5w30 but if it were the oil then the passenger side would look the same.

Based on this damage it appears the cams/followers should be replaced. If it weren't for changing the vct solenoids I would have never known. No noises, no lights, no metal in oil.

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[Mike Pfeifer]

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[Strokerswild]

How do the rollers on the followers look?

 

[Sparky1337]

I had something similar happen when I was borrowing a buddies 2005 GT. The rocker had insufficient oiling and blew up and took the cam with it. In that instance I had to do all new rockers and lash adjusters with 2 new cams. Engine was saved but it looked like a bad oiling issue which was allegedly solved with the FP kit. 50k miles later it’s cool so I guess it’s fine.

Weird that it’s the center lobes on yours, as the one that popped on me was rear passenger. Something to do with oil pressure and the squirter not being large enough. The ford performance kit was much larger squirter wise.

Personally, I’d pull cams and inspect everything. Rockers, lash adjusters, etc. make sure they all roll smooth. Idk where I’d go from there though other than rebuild the worn side.

 

[BlueAngel19]

How do the rollers on the followers look?

From what I can see not the best. They have pitting and obvious marks which correspond to the cam lobe wear marks

 

[BlueAngel19]

I had something similar happen when I was borrowing a buddies 2005 GT. The rocker had insufficient oiling and blew up and took the cam with it. In that instance I had to do all new rockers and lash adjusters with 2 new cams. Engine was saved but it looked like a bad oiling issue which was allegedly solved with the FP kit. 50k miles later it’s cool so I guess it’s fine.

Weird that it’s the center lobes on yours, as the one that popped on me was rear passenger. Something to do with oil pressure and the squirter not being large enough. The ford performance kit was much larger squirter wise.

Personally, I’d pull cams and inspect everything. Rockers, lash adjusters, etc. make sure they all roll smooth. Idk where I’d go from there though other than rebuild the worn side.

Sadly that's what I'm thinking also. It doesn't make much sense as to why this side is like that and not the other. Perhaps a flaw from factory, yet it appears to be an oilling issue.
The rollers have scarring and pitting that correspond with the lobe marks.
The cam lobes are mostly smooth except for one lobe where I can barely feel it with a finger nail. In that case the cam is basically trash along with the rocker and lash adjuster.
No signs of metal flakes in oil, oil filter appeared clean after 5k miles.

 

[NGOT8R]

Can the cams be sent out to have the lobes checked and polished if determined to be still within spec?

 

[NGOT8R]

This is definitely concerning though. I’ll be going into mine in the near future and I’m hoping not to find similar results.

 

[robvas]

I wonder if the follower buckets are toast too?

A couple guys have posted similar wear on the cams I wonder if there's any correlation to when the cars/cams were built

 

[robvas]

Can the cams be sent out to have the lobes checked and polished if determined to be still within spec?

nitride coating (?) is gone

 

[NGOT8R]

nitride coating (?) is gone

Copy that. I didn’t know if it was something that could be reapplied. I’ve heard it said before than the lobes can be welded up and ground down to custom specs, so assumed this coating is applied afterward in a scenario like that.

 

[Sparky1337]

Sadly that's what I'm thinking also. It doesn't make much sense as to why this side is like that and not the other. Perhaps a flaw from factory, yet it appears to be an oilling issue.
The rollers have scarring and pitting that correspond with the lobe marks.
The cam lobes are mostly smooth except for one lobe where I can barely feel it with a finger nail. In that case the cam is basically trash along with the rocker and lash adjuster.
No signs of metal flakes in oil, oil filter appeared clean after 5k miles.

Yea at this point I’d toss the cams. Maybe have them polished and clear coated for a lamp or whatever.

Two theories, either that shipment on that side of the assembly line was bad, or oiling to the whole side of the motor is bad. If it were one lobe I’d think oiling. But since they’re all so close in wear that’s just bad parts to me.

I’m assuming you’re out of power train warranty? It’s a 2019 so there’s still possibly some time left depending on when it was sold originally. I’ll have to see what the other posts robvas is talking about. I’m curious to how many years this crosses.

 

[GregO]

Without performing a surface Ra test and measuring components with a micrometer it’s impossible to know if this is actually damage or just a visual effect of normal metal burnishing.

 

[BlueAngel19]

Yea at this point I’d toss the cams. Maybe have them polished and clear coated for a lamp or whatever.

Two theories, either that shipment on that side of the assembly line was bad, or oiling to the whole side of the motor is bad. If it were one lobe I’d think oiling. But since they’re all so close in wear that’s just bad parts to me.

I’m assuming you’re out of power train warranty? It’s a 2019 so there’s still possibly some time left depending on when it was sold originally. I’ll have to see what the other posts robvas is talking about. I’m curious to how many years this crosses.

Sadly I believe it's out warranty. As for the cams they're likely toast. As said on one lobe I could slightly feel the wear mark with my finger which is excessive beyond just surface damage, it's wear pattern is exactly like the others.

I attempted to check tolerances with a feeler gauge but even .0012" didn't fit. Rollers have no up/down play, just a little side to side which I'm assuming is normal.

At this point I'm guessing a tear down, new cams/rockers/lifters etc is the best idea. And while I'm there maybe new phasers as they're prone to going bad I heard.

Running it as is would likely just keep wearing the cams down until something breaks and then it'll be too late.

 

[BlueAngel19]

I wonder if the follower buckets are toast too?

A couple guys have posted similar wear on the cams I wonder if there's any correlation to when the cars/cams were built

Possibly, a tear down will show. For correlation mine was built in 08/19. I can look around and see if others have same issue around that time

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