The cam phaser is a mechanical component that allows the camshaft to adjust the timing of the valves with the changing RPM of the car to increase the efficiency of an engine. So, what happens when cam phaser goes bad? What are the causes and symptoms of a bad cam phaser? Read this guide till the end to know everything about the cam phasers. Show
When a cam phaser goes bad, it can damage your engine’s VCT solenoid which is controlling the engine valve’s timing by allowing the oil to flow under a certain pressure through the cam phaser. The ECU unit will also turn on the check engine light. The engine can suffer from a lot of different problems, such as knocking and rough idling. Cam phaser issues in vehicles can also lead to engine damage, such as bent or cracked camshafts, cracked heads, damaged valve lifters, damaged rocker arms, etc. Resultantly, your engine will not rev up to its full capacity. You will notice that your engine sounds like it is not revving up. The engine will also feel sluggish and it will not accelerate well.
What Are Cam Phasers?A cam phaser is a device that adjusts the engine’s valve timing so that the engine is running at the right speed, and with higher efficiency. Cam phaser adjusts the camshaft, which controls the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves in the cylinder. Cam phaser is connected to the camshaft. It is usually of the hydraulic type that uses oil to change the valve timing of the engine. In this way, a cam phaser is responsible for engine efficiency, emissions, and optimum horsepower. How Does a Cam Phaser Work?Cam phaser works with the camshaft to control the timing of the inlet and exhaust valve of an engine. On the camshaft, cams create an eccentric path when they rotate. The cam path is designed for opening and closing the inlet and exhaust valves of an engine. Cam phaser plays a vital role in the variable valve timing mechanism of the engine. Variable valve timing systems in the engine were introduced to control the opening and closing of engine cylinder valves at higher speeds so that the vehicle’s quality can be enhanced in terms of fuel economy, performance and emissions. A cam phaser operates with the following components:
 Cam phasers operate under a hydraulic system, having small chambers that contain oil under pressure. That oil pressure is responsible for shifting the angle of cams on a camshaft so that its timing can be advanced or delayed in response to the control signals sent to the solenoid valve by the electric control unit of the engine. As you can see in the picture above, there are three main parts of a cam phaser.
So, basically, the timing gear is connected to the crankshaft of the engine through the timing belt. The gear is connected to the outer part of the cam phaser through the locking piston. So, the motion of a timing gear is transferred to the cam phaser through the locking piston. Through the cam phaser, the camshaft starts rotating as it is passed through the inner part of the cam phaser. The locking piston is shown in the figure below: When the oil flows through the chamber of the outer part of a cam phaser, the piston (locking pin) is pressed and the cam phaser is disengaged from the timing gear. During this cycle, the oil pressure turns the inner part of a cam phaser through a certain angle, which is responsible for the variable valve timing of an engine. I found this video on Youtube highly helpful to understand the concept of a phase shift in the cam phaser. You can start watching it at 4:20 time. The video is shown below:
Here is another video animation to understand the working of the Variable Valve Timing System.
Why does a Cam Phaser Goes Bad?There are three main reasons for the failure of a cam phaser.
Wear Inside the Cam PhaserTypically, it is a combination of both types of wear that causes excessive cam phaser noise and causes the cam phaser to fail. The meaning of wear inside the cam phaser means that the oil flow cannot be properly monitored and the ECU cannot control the variable cam timing. Wear in the Engine and Low Oil PressureThe meaning of wear in the engine means that there is an insufficient oil flow to the phaser. As the engine wears, more oil is lost through the crank, engine rod, and cam bearings. Since the cam phasers are the last component to receive oil, not enough volume of oil is delivered to control the cam phaser. So, the cam phaser rattles back and forth. Due to low oil pressure, the 5.4L V8 engine has the most issues with the cam phaser. The issues in the 5.4L engine of Ford used to arise because variable cam timing phasers could no longer be controlled by the ECU due to wear in the phaser or lack of oil pressure delivered to them. Due to this reason, Ford replaced the 5.4 V-8 in 2010 with the 411-horsepower 6.2-liter V-8. Debris And SludgeThe oil needs to circulate through all parts of the camshaft to ensure that it lubricates properly. If there is debris in the oil, it will affect the oil flow, due to which it will not be able to lubricate the parts of the engine effectively. As a result, there will be more engine wear that will affect the cam phaser. Oil Is Not Being ChangedAfter the vehicle has traveled certain miles, it becomes necessary to change the oil. The oil becomes thin with time due to the heat of the engine, resulting in a decrease in oil pressure. Moreover, the oil also becomes dirty, due to which it affects the smooth functioning of the engine parts. Another important point I would like to highlight is that cam phasers are controlled by oil pressure through a solenoid. If the pins in the phaser don’t lock due to the low oil pressure, it will throw valve timing off and will idle and run like crap. When it comes to the USA, vehicle manufacturing companies are following fuel economy guidelines of EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), due to which they recommend thinner oil, such as 5w20 instead of heavier oils like 5w30 or 5w40. Thinner oil has to be changed more frequently i.e. after 3k to 5k miles so that engine parts perform efficiently. So, whenever you change engine oil, I would highly recommend using this Motorcraft FL-820-S Oil Filter. Motorcraft FL-820-S Oil Filter Issues With the Electrical Control Unit of EngineIt is the engine control module that controls the actuators in the engine. Once the computer lacks control of the cam phaser, your cam phaser might go bad. How Do I Know If My Cam Phaser Is Bad?Here are the signs that will show that your cam phaser is bad: 1. Engine Clicking Sound and MisfireIf your engine knocks too much, it is an indication that your cam phaser is bad. The clicking sound in the engine is produced due to the poor oil pressure condition when the cam sprocket wears off. As a result, you will hear the rattling noise from the front of the engine. A bad cam phaser also shows the signs of a misfire. A bad cam phaser causes the engine valve timing to go out, due to which incomplete fuel combustion takes place, causing the engine to misfire. You can hear the cam phaser rattle sound in this video:
2. Poor Fuel Economy and Reduced Engine PerformanceA cam phaser adjusts the timing of the engine valves in order to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. When a cam phaser goes bad, it can cause poor fuel economy and increased gas emissions due to inefficient combustion. When engine valves will not be lifted or closed at the right time, the required amount of fuel and air could not be entered into the engine cylinder, due to which inefficient combustion will take place. Resultantly, your vehicle’s performance will be affected. 3. Loss of Engine PowerWhen the camshaft phaser is faulty, the car will not accelerate smoothly. If you notice that the engine starts hesitantly, the engine could be losing fuel. This could be caused by a faulty camshaft phaser. If your car speed doesn’t go above certain rpm, it also indicates that the cam phaser of your engine is bad. 4. Check Engine Light IlluminatedWhen the cam phaser is faulty, the engine light will be illuminated. CEL does not illuminate in all cases when the cam phaser goes bad. According to some people, they have only faced a rattle on cold starts, or their engine has lost power. So, apart from CEL, loss of engine power and knocking sound are the strong symptoms that show that your cam phaser has issues. However, if your engine runs rough after warming up, chances are that the check engine light will be illuminated. The ECU unit of an engine throws an error code, due to which CEL starts glowing. ECU unit of a vehicle tries to protect your engine from the effect of bad cam phasers. ECU tries to keep your engine in limp mode and prevent the engine from exceeding a certain rpm. When the check engine light turns on, the engine won’t be able to go above a certain rpm i.e. 30 to 40 mph. What Is Cam Phaser Rattle?The most common cause of cam phaser rattle is a worn-out locking pin. Locking is the small metal piece that keeps the cam phasers locked into the timing gear. If the locking pin is broken, the cam phaser will not lock into place, and it will cause a cam phaser rattle on engine startup. Is It Worth Replacing Cam Phasers?Yes, if they are faulty or damaged. If you do not replace damaged cam phasers, they can destroy a VCT (Valve control timing) system which will result in engine exhaust valve timing problems. The problem with the cam phaser is that it has a small mechanism that can get stuck. When a cam phaser is stuck, it can cause damage to the intake and exhaust valves of an engine. Resultantly, both valve timing problems would cause a loss of power. In my experience, when your cam phaser is illuminating the check engine light, it is time to replace it. Cam Phaser Replacement GuideCam phaser replacement is a quite tricky process. I would highly recommend you to take your vehicle to the respective dealership to replace the cam phaser. They have vehicle service manuals and the required equipment to get it done. So, instead of replacing the cam phaser on your own, you should take it to the dealership. As a piece of general information, here are the basic steps we need to follow to replace a cam phaser:
For more details, I found this forum thread on the cam phaser replacement guide helpful. What Is The Cost of Replacement of Cam Phaser?Replacing a broken cam phaser is a costly procedure. It can cost anywhere between $2,000 to $5,000. This cost is a sum of labor cost and the cost of OEM parts. It is a complete repair kit that includes a timing belt, cam phaser, tensioner, and sprockets. These kits usually do not contain VCT solenoids. Your mechanic will decide after inspection whether it needs a new VCT solenoid or not. You can find the price of a cam phaser by visiting a car dealer. In the cam phaser replacement process, the mechanic needs to follow the diagnostic tests. It can take up to 10 to 20 hours to replace the cam phaser. Hi, I'm Asjad. This blog is about my passion for vehicles, and I hope you can pick up some helpful tips along the way! What happens when cam phasers fail?Most phasers are designed to lock into position at base idle. But when a phaser fails, it may no longer lock into place, resulting in a rattling or knocking sound coming from the top-end of the engine. The noise is often most noticeable at idle when the engine is hot.
How much do cam phasers cost to replace?Generally, a cam phaser replacement will cost you between $800-$2,500 when done by a mechanic. The actual price will depend on the make and model of your vehicle, as well as the mechanic you go to. Replacing a cam phaser is a complicated process, so a big portion of this cost will go towards labor.
Will bad cam phaser causing misfire?Will a bad cam phaser cause misfire? Yes. Misfiring, also known as idling, occurs when the valve timing is off.
What does a cam phaser lockout do?If you have a phaser that is manufactured by an aftermarket manufacturer, these lockouts will not fit. Cam Phaser Noise Solution Kit - Locks the phasers into a fixed position and the ticking noise stops completely. Eliminate the noise and prevent it from reoccurring in the future.
|
What are the symptoms of a bad cam phaser
Copyright © 2024 membukakan Inc.
