hey guys, had a camshaft on passanger side burn up almost got motor out and gonna be pulling head off to see further damage inside. any thoughts as to what caused the cam to stop getting oiled? other side is fine. new chain, tensioners, and phasers had lockouts in them. roughly 10k miles since timing was done 147k on an 04 with the 5.4l 3v thanks for any input. will post more pictures once motor is out

 

Most attribute passenger side cam failure to a poor oiling design. Small ports I believe. Happened to me, not to your extent though. Had a lash adjuster lock up and score the lobe. Your motor looks a little sludgy based off this pic. Look for clogged oil ports in the journals.

 

I've heard alot about sludge boxing pets and oil pick up tube clogging should be out tomorrow and can investigate

 

Mine did the same thing a month ago at 197k. Zero sludge, always changed oil at 5k with Pennzoil platinum.

I attribute it to poor engine design, high mileage, bad luck. Stuff happens.



OP, good luck in your endevour. Ford has NO cylinder heads anywhere in the US, said it was a couple month lead time.

I got a reman head from Autozone (same company supplies NAPA, Autozone, Oriellys, and advance [go by surefire, ATK, Spartan depending on which store]). DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT buy from them!

First head had the wrong camshaft (a little too long, couldn't figure it out until the truck was reassembled and destroyed a cam phaser). Second one had an exhaust manifold stud broken off in the head, and one of those "dry packs" with the little gravel things in it, was busted open! Basically got a head with gravel in it!

 

I thought about getting a used head from our local junk yard and sending them both out for cleaning port and polish. Didn't get time to pull head off yet but hopefully the pistons didn't destroy the cylinder walls only time will tell now

 

That's the best way to go, in my opinion. I'd be willing to bet your cylinders and pistons are okay. When I threw a valve, I got lucky and all that happened was the valve knocked some carbon off of the face of the piston.


Runs better than it ever has, now.