[Vwdiesel] PD Cam

[Chris Geiser]

Thanks Hayden - very helpful...

CG

**Sent with mobile device.
 On Sep 26, 2011 8:46 PM, <dieseltdi at verizon.net> wrote:
> I sent this earlier today but it hasn't posted so I must have screwed
something up:
>
> Since I have one of these cars (2004) I have spent literally hours on TDI
club trying to sift through the tons of crap to get to the truth of the PD
"cam problem". After lots of reading and questions on how many failures
people have actually had, this is what I have determined. First of all the
problem occurs because the cam has a bit of side load from the timing belt
end that is not present on the pump end and the injector lobs also push on
the cam in strange directions. This causes wear on one side of the cam
lobes. This wear is then transferred to the top of the hydraulic lifters.
This wear flattens the lifter and it stops spinning in it socket. This
allows the cam to wear into the top of the lifter. The lifter fails, valves
cease to open properly and the car stumbles, stutters and generally runs
like crap. Now, the BEW engine in the 2004-5.5 seems to be less prone to
this failure IF the proper oil has been used since new. (505.01 5W40, yes
5W30 was originally recom
> mended but VW changed that). BTW you don't even want to go there on TDI
club, oil flame wars still break out from time to time amongst all those
"experts" that reside there. The 5.5-06 BRM engines tend to have a much
bigger problem with this and it seems to be a parts problem, maybe even a
manufacturing problem with the cam materials because the replacement cams
and lifters are made of a completely different kind of metal. There are
extensive arguments about whether oil is the problem or parts in both but
there is a direct correlation in the BEW between oil and failure. I happen
to have all the service papers on my car that I bought used. Every oil
change was done with the right 505.01 oil and I have used the 5W40 oil since
I got it. At about 130000 miles, I had the cold start solutions done (new
injectors, reprogramed ECU new glow plugs). At that time I had the mechanic
carefully inspect the cam lobes for wear and show me the results. There was
no unusual wear. I s
> imply will not spend all my time worrying about a failure that may or may
not happen. I will use good oil, continue to use B50 homebrew and IF
somewhere down the road I have to spend $700 to fix a bad cam and lifters,
then so be it. I will still have gotten my monies worth out of this car. BTW
the car currently has 133000 miles on it and is running great.
>
> BTW the new diesel oils don't have the large amounts of Zinc and
Phosphorous in them either. These two things will gum up the pollution
control devices, in particular the cat and the particulate filter. So it
isn't a good idea to use these in a TDI built after 2000 at least.
>
> Hayden
> On Sep 26, 2011, at 8:20 PM, brian gochnauer wrote:
>
>> Actually I did have the stumbling idle *Just weeks before it failed* . So
in
>> some respects it will be the LAST thing you see before the failure.
>> Along with a P0101 (i think) code which is a MAF sensor error, but really
it
>> stems from the cam lobe and lifter that are both so worn that it no
longer
>> open the intake valve enough to breathe properly.
>>
>> The only way to really know is to remove the valve cover and look for the
>> tell tale signs on the lobes and lifters; because the cam sits over top
of
>> the lifters it is quite difficult to get a good look at them.
>> I also replaced the oil pump because it is exposed to all the unfiltered
oil
>> out of the pan which had flakes and chunks from the failed lifters.
>>
>> BrianG
>
> " Those who are willing to sacrifice Liberty for Security, deserve neither
Liberty nor Security." Ben Franklin
> "Dissent is the highest form of Patriotism!" Thomas Jefferson
>
>
> Visit my website at: http://mysite.verizon.net/resosxp8/mydieselpages/
> Proud owner of:
> 2004 Jetta GL PD TDI
> 1968 Beetle, my latest project, watch for details
> And many, many, many VWs; from a 1947 Beetle (13 Beetles total), to Vans
(5 - 3 splitties, 2 bay window (both were campers), 1 Vanagon Westy, Rabbits
(3), Karmen Ghia (1), Jettas (8), Passats (2), Dasher (1), New Beetle (1),
Rabbit Convertible (1) and Rabbit Pickups (3) most now gone but not
forgotten.
>
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