Camshaft wear ?'s - Competition Diesel.Com

00 black ram · 03-25-2012, 03:06 PM

I recently pulled my cam while doing a front-end reseal just to see how it was wearing/breaking-in. I took some pictures of it and wanted to get you guy's opinions on how it looks. It's a stage 3 Colt cam 181/210 and I have been running STP Zinc additive in every oil change since it was installed. Let me know what you think. I also took a pic of the front Cam bushing in the block, it looks kinda rough on the bottom like shown in the picture, but the top is perfect. What do you guys think of it and will it be fine? THanks in advance too.

The Cam bushing

Charger · 03-25-2012, 04:08 PM

how many miles on it since installed

DDually · 03-25-2012, 04:35 PM

subscribed

00 black ram · 03-25-2012, 05:28 PM

Has at least 5-7k miles on it.

97rada · 03-25-2012, 05:45 PM

cam bushing dont look to pretty

Rustin · 03-25-2012, 06:12 PM

Jeeze. Time to investigate the rest of the power-plant. Something got into your oil system or let loose. Does anybody think that the additive might have caused this? I find it hard to believe but you never know.

diesel_importer · 03-25-2012, 06:38 PM

what did that front bushing/bearing look like when you installed the cam. Most I've seen have a little wear, but nothing like that.

Rich dzl · 03-25-2012, 07:07 PM

Normal wear .. What looks like wear is just the coating the use on lobes .... That damage to bushing is from removing and installing cam call colt and ask him about coating I have seen this before ...I remove coating before installing

00 black ram · 03-25-2012, 09:06 PM

So overall opinion of cam shaft is normal wear. I figured it was but I was thinking of taking it work and our crank/cam guy take a look and maybe polish just bushing areas not the journals.

The bushing was in better shape from what I remember, but I have pulled the cam a time or two before. Which would cover the nicking of the bushing. I wanted to find out wether or not it would be fine to go ahead an run with it. If it will last I will, I plan to do a rebuild in the next year so I was hoping it would last till then.

Zach, would combustion gases be coming past the rings or some where else? I only ask cause I had replaced the rings about 9 months ago with total seals. I am wanting to know how to prevent any problems with my future complete rebuild. Thanks for all your help so far. I appreciate it.

DISTURBED · 03-25-2012, 09:13 PM

Past the rings or past the valve seals but there is no way to completely seal it up. This were you get blow by from.

00 black ram · 03-26-2012, 08:21 AM

Adding a breather couldn't hurt then, I have the front breather and one in the valve cover. Pretty much all my blow by comes from the front one not the cover. I am adding a 12 tappet cover to it now. Thanks for the info.

03-25-2012, 03:06 PM	#1
00 black ram Name: 00 black ram Title: Cummin's Enthusiast Status: Not Here Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: WV Member`s Gallery Posts: 1,105	Camshaft wear ?'s I recently pulled my cam while doing a front-end reseal just to see how it was wearing/breaking-in. I took some pictures of it and wanted to get you guy's opinions on how it looks. It's a stage 3 Colt cam 181/210 and I have been running STP Zinc additive in every oil change since it was installed. Let me know what you think. I also took a pic of the front Cam bushing in the block, it looks kinda rough on the bottom like shown in the picture, but the top is perfect. What do you guys think of it and will it be fine? THanks in advance too. The Cam bushing __________________ 03' CR 3500 SRW / S366/74 - S483/96 / Flux 7.5's / 2 modified CP3's / Manual 48RFE / UDC tuned

03-25-2012, 04:35 PM	#3
DDually Name: DDually Title: Still spooling.. Status: Not Here Join Date: Nov 2009 Member`s Gallery Posts: 2,095	subscribed __________________ 1995 Cummins with almost no matching paint, 2 dents 2001 VW TDI South bend, tune, nozzys, custom stuff that's rusting, one custom thing that's not rusting

03-25-2012, 05:28 PM	#4
00 black ram Name: 00 black ram Title: Cummin's Enthusiast Status: Not Here Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: WV Member`s Gallery Posts: 1,105	Has at least 5-7k miles on it. __________________ 03' CR 3500 SRW / S366/74 - S483/96 / Flux 7.5's / 2 modified CP3's / Manual 48RFE / UDC tuned

03-25-2012, 05:45 PM	#5
97rada Name: 97rada Title: Too Much Time Status: Not Here Join Date: Feb 2008 Member`s Gallery Posts: 5,410	cam bushing dont look to pretty __________________ Austin tow truck- 14-3500 with tuning toy truck -94 rclb auto- 5.2x with a lot left. Shooting for 4s Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex...it takes a touch of genius- and alot of courage to move in the opposite direction.

03-25-2012, 06:12 PM	#6
Rustin Name: Rustin Title: Let the Beatings Begin! Status: Not Here Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Redding, CA. Member`s Gallery Posts: 2,212	Jeeze. Time to investigate the rest of the power-plant. Something got into your oil system or let loose. Does anybody think that the additive might have caused this? I find it hard to believe but you never know. __________________ If it has anything to do with Search Results, I make it happen! Other then that, I'm a supporter and spectator of Diesel Power Sports! It's better to ask for forgiveness, after the foot is inserted into mouth.

03-25-2012, 04:08 PM	#2
Charger Name: Charger Title: Too Much Time Status: Not Here Join Date: Nov 2010 Member`s Gallery Posts: 1,466	how many miles on it since installed

03-25-2012, 06:38 PM	#7
diesel_importer Name: diesel_importer Title: Too Much Time Status: Not Here Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Fairfield,TX Member`s Gallery Posts: 4,501	what did that front bushing/bearing look like when you installed the cam. Most I've seen have a little wear, but nothing like that. __________________ 01 QCSB 2WD AUTO: Redline/Smarty, Monster VP, 6x.013, S467 FMW, Goerend Trans, Caltracs. Fuel only - 11.85 @ 114, 50 Shot - 11.58 @ 116 w/ 1.69 60'

03-25-2012, 07:07 PM	#8
Rich dzl Name: Rich dzl Title: 12v guru Status: Not Here Join Date: Mar 2011 Member`s Gallery Posts: 741	Normal wear .. What looks like wear is just the coating the use on lobes .... That damage to bushing is from removing and installing cam call colt and ask him about coating I have seen this before ...I remove coating before installing

03-25-2012, 09:06 PM	#9
00 black ram Name: 00 black ram Title: Cummin's Enthusiast Status: Not Here Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: WV Member`s Gallery Posts: 1,105	So overall opinion of cam shaft is normal wear. I figured it was but I was thinking of taking it work and our crank/cam guy take a look and maybe polish just bushing areas not the journals. The bushing was in better shape from what I remember, but I have pulled the cam a time or two before. Which would cover the nicking of the bushing. I wanted to find out wether or not it would be fine to go ahead an run with it. If it will last I will, I plan to do a rebuild in the next year so I was hoping it would last till then. Zach, would combustion gases be coming past the rings or some where else? I only ask cause I had replaced the rings about 9 months ago with total seals. I am wanting to know how to prevent any problems with my future complete rebuild. Thanks for all your help so far. I appreciate it. __________________ 03' CR 3500 SRW / S366/74 - S483/96 / Flux 7.5's / 2 modified CP3's / Manual 48RFE / UDC tuned

03-25-2012, 09:13 PM	#10
DISTURBED Name: DISTURBED Title: YEA WE RIDE THE SHORT BUS Status: Not Here Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Winchester, Va Member`s Gallery Posts: 6,417	Past the rings or past the valve seals but there is no way to completely seal it up. This were you get blow by from. __________________ Thanks, Jeremy 01 CTD Retired sled puller, dedicated "Twin Turbo" tow rig 96 CTD "TOO" Disturbed 3.0 - Built by Disturbed Diesel Performance 96 CTD "The Sickness" 2.6/2.8- Built by Disturbed Diesel Performance

03-26-2012, 08:21 AM	#11
00 black ram Name: 00 black ram Title: Cummin's Enthusiast Status: Not Here Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: WV Member`s Gallery Posts: 1,105	Adding a breather couldn't hurt then, I have the front breather and one in the valve cover. Pretty much all my blow by comes from the front one not the cover. I am adding a 12 tappet cover to it now. Thanks for the info. __________________ 03' CR 3500 SRW / S366/74 - S483/96 / Flux 7.5's / 2 modified CP3's / Manual 48RFE / UDC tuned