Camshaft wear

Went out for a drive today, got back and opened the oil cap and noticed some strange wear on the side of the camshaft

All ok or further investigation needed?

newer oils don't have the Zinc content that the older oils (dino have) and can lead to wear on parts.

So the addition of Zinc additives to the oil can eliminate that.  The picture doesn't show that much wear to me, so I need more clues as to what the wear is.  

Do you have hydraulic tappets or shims?

Hydraulic heads have 4 cam shaft caps and shims have 5 caps.

If you have shims you car check the clearance between the tappet and camshaft lobs, all explained and gaps needed are in the haynes manual.

They are shims, car is April 83

The wear I am concerned about is in the photo right hand side behind the lobe

Looks like part of the cam has worn away but dont see how that would come into contact with anything 

ppc229w said

They are shims, car is April 83

The wear I am concerned about is in the photo right hand side behind the lobe

Looks like part of the cam has worn away but dont see how that would come into contact with anything 

the edges of the cam are chamfered they look like that.
here is mine.

ppc229w said

They are shims, car is April 83

The wear I am concerned about is in the photo right hand side behind the lobe

Looks like part of the cam has worn away but dont see how that would come into contact with anything 

I thought was a shadow on the picture… Don't worry about it as it's not touching anything…

As you don't seem to have one, it's worth fitting a oil deflector which stops the oil splashing on the bottom of the rocker cover and breather hole/gauze, it just sits ontop of the cam shaft.

Something like this….
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Valve-cover-oil-deflector-Meyle-100-103-0003-VAG-26103547/362360574014?epid=648065398&hash=item545e5f903e:g:6ecAAOSwkkNbKnVD&frcectupt=true

Was going to say being an 83 car its a 1.8?
It should have a splash guard under the rocker cover anyway so you cant even see the cam

Have ordered a splash guard and have the cam cover off

Had a thought about the wear is on the cam and could be for balancing the cam?

Just need to get the tools to change the shims, cant find one anywhere apart from USA

Anyone have them to rent out???

Have you checked the gaps?

Make a note of all the gaps before changing anything.

I changed my shims by removing the cam shaft completely, (cam belt off and undo the cap nuts the right order to stop bending or cracking the cam shaft, info in Haynes.) I only had to replace a couple and the hardest thing was seeing the size numbers on some of the shims so had to use a micro meter to measure them and work out what size shim I needed.

I've also made a note of what tappets are currently fitted so when they wear I can work out what size I need to replace them with.

I did get mine from a VW dealer a few years ago.

Found some here..

https://www.classic-vw.co.uk/mk1-golf-cam-follower-shims-4010-p.asp

So started to have a look at the gaps after work today.

Cylinder 1 Exhaust
Cam lobe pointing up to centre of cam cap
Cant even get a 0.10 feeler gauge under it!

Should be 0.35 to 0.45

Bit of an update

Due to only 1 shim being within tolerance I have removed the camshaft and replaced all 8, new seals and gaskets

New cambelt as well

Found a good price on the Tappet Shims at https://www.eurocarcare.net/search/for/Tappet+shim/

Only £2 each and a good selection of sizes

Also stripped the paint from the cam & timing cover and will repaint it tomorrow 

Then full refit of everything on Saturday 

Might be worth checking the metal gauze for the breather and cleaning that out while the cam cover is off. If you can blow thought it no problem then it's probably ok but if it needs a clean I put a bit of hose on the breather outlet turn the cover inside down and fill the gauze with Gunk engine degreaser and leave over night to soak, next day drain the gunk out and blast water in from the breather outlet to clean the gauze then leave in the sun to dry.  

Marc ?
What on earth you on about
He on about wear on cam shaft !
Not the engine breathing on blowing oil out breather holes  
Blocked breather is not going cause your camshaft
And the shims to wear out  !
If you on about oil galleries blocked so was getting no oil which will cause wear could understand
But not breather filter
 

Not to mention that some of the newer oils as in DINO don't have sufficient Zinc in them to prevent wear, so that you have to add some Zinc additive to your oil.

Any time you have your Valve cover off it is best to clean that steel gauze screen, I know I do as it allows the engine internalt to Breath and to allow better evaporation of the condensate of the internals.

All done ✅ 

Test drive next, sounds better, feels more responsive on the throttle and smoother tickover

Ashton09 said

Marc ?
What on earth you on about
He on about wear on cam shaft !
Not the engine breathing on blowing oil out breather holes
Blocked breather is not going cause your camshaft
And the shims to wear out  !
If you on about oil galleries blocked so was getting no oil which will cause wear could understand
But not breather filter
 

If you are meaning me mark1gls have you read the 1st bit of the thread????

We have established there's no problem with the cam lob as the bit mentioned does not come into contact with the shim.

What I'm getting at is there has been no splash guard fitting to the engine so oil is getting sprayed at the metal gauze which over time will gunk up and block the breather, as the car is currently off the road with other bits painted cleaned you may as well clean the gauze as it will take at least 2 days to soak, clean, wash out and dry the rocker cover.

As I mentioned in my last post if it's clear and you can blow through it no problem then don't worry about cleaning the gauze.

I clean my every 2 years to keep the engine breathing well…..
 

breath in breath out  calm down
woo sah  chill  out  take things in
your stride everyone takles the job
in hand in there own way if you do
not have the ability to figure it out
leave well alone but least of all
learn by you own mistakes the
next one will not be more expensive

Briano living on the other side
you must be familiar with lucas
oils ?