Camshaft Bearing And Oil Pressure Issues

[kyleduncan]

Damn PT. I'm very quick to admit when i am wrong. I am not wrong here. I don't know engines? You're probably right. I probably haven't been messing with them for 15 years. I probably haven't rebuilt numerous Merkur, Corrado, and Mini Cooper engines not to mention motorcycles, and damn fast mopeds. I probably didn't even race Mini's and since I didn't there's no way I could have learned anything about engine wear, and things like loss of oil pressure. Oh wait, maybe it's because those weren't V8's. Are you telling me that oil pumps and oil work completely different in V8's. That bearings don't wear, only oil pumps do. Who know man, maybe these engine lost their oil pumps. Maybe that's why the bearings wore. As I said, I don't know how much this would have dropped oil pressure. But it is fact that it would have dropped, if only a pound, it would have dropped. For example, if you had a brand new engine, eventually you lose the oil pump, the low oil pressure from the bad pump causes some bearing wear. Now you put a new pump on. Are you telling me that the worn bearings would not cause the pressure from the new pump to be less than if they were not worn? Seriously?

mkronmal: I agree, that is a pretty normal thing to see. ANd the whole groove in the cam thing is what I've been trying to explain for the last few posts. The worn area of this particular bearing is almost .005 in. lower than the smooth part. I would never put an engine back together with that. That's why I say they are worn.

Anyway. Believe it or not, after this, I am not one that usually argues. I am one that gets a bit pissed off when something is assumed about me without the assumer even knowing me.

I piped in on this thread to give DiscoDwayne some ideas, not to argue. So now I'm done with this thread.

 

[mkronmal]

The cam still would not hang up on that. The center portion is not now taller then it was when new, and the cam did not expand in size. As for the bearings, in a Rover V8 they are not serviceable. It requires a block swap to change them.

 

[ptschram]

The center portion is not now taller then it was when new, and the cam did not expand in size. As for the bearings, in a Rover V8 they are not serviceable. It requires a block swap to change them.

I have been trying to explain the relationship between cam and bearings, but it doesn't seem to be received well.

Cam bearings are able to be renewed, but it is not something that can be done with tools commonly found in the home, nor most professional shops. It's a task best left to the machine shop.

 

[mkronmal]

But, I have a big hammer and a socket that is about the same size. Won't that work?

 

[jeffro0502]

That looks to be normal wear on the cam bearings I've seen...although I've yet to see any cam bearing on a rover, except this picture just now. I did have 78 toyota FJ with a 350 V8 that had a worn lobe in it and the bearings looked just the same. I didn't replace them just put in new cam and lifters and it was perfect, that one never experienced a loss in oil pressure though.

 

[DiscoDwayne]

Update on my Rover situation:
I appreciate all the posts.....and regretfully, my cam bearing is the problem. The cam bearing has actually turned in the block, and has been turning on the cam shaft. It's actually halfway worked itself out of it's home. I am fighting the good fight with rover for a new block. (Fruitless? I know, but it makes me feel better.)

Once Land Rover tells me to F off for wanting a new block, I'm going to have a machine shop work on the spot on the block that the cam bearing has been spinning in. I'll have it worked up to fit a slightly larger bearing. And hopefully, I won't have to worry about this any longer until the 200K+ mile mark. (I know I'm overly optimistic.)

 

[kyleduncan]

Atleast you found the problem. Good luck with the new block thing. But on a more realistic note good luck with the machine shop. Was is spinning constantly or did it just turn enough to block oil flow?

 

[DiscoDwayne]

Was is spinning constantly or did it just turn enough to block oil flow?

I believe it was spinning constantly. I'm sure I'll be picking the beast up from the dealership this evening, (after Land Rover laughs about a request for a new engine due to a manufacturing error).

Believe me, I have the machine shop's number handy. HAHAHA

 

[Speedbrake]

Just been reading the thread & WOW, just a quick question any of you recommend changing the oil pump at set mileage?

I'm changing my oil & filter every 5,000 clicks to a 20-50w Mobil or a Shell Semi, runs like a dream, but i don't want any surprise coming my way!

 

[DiscoDwayne]

:bs: Just as an update.........Land Rover will not provide me with a new engine because they are on a tight budget. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAha:rofl:

Anyways, I'm towing it to my Uncle's home. He has a lift and all kinds of goodies. Plus, he has a machinist who will bore out the block for a slightly larger bearing for a reasonable price. Then I'll be ON THE ROAD AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll update progress of the machining project on this thread.

 

[ptschram]

If it was spinning constantly, I'd be worried about oil flow to the bearing as the main reason for a bearing to seize to a rotating shaft is lack of oil. I have heard of newer engines not having the oil passages drilled correctly and this happening.

 

[DiscoDwayne]

atriot: Good news!!!I finally got the chance to investigate and repair the cam bearing last night. It wasn't spinning constantly and the block was not worn. (I dodged a bullet there!)

It was indeed the problem. It had slipped halfway out of it's home. My Uncle-in-law and I pressed it back into it's home, staked it to prevent it from rotating and put it all back together.

Fillered her up with oil and no more oil light at idle. She runs like a charm and I'm finally in business.

Thanks for all the input and advice!

 

[ptschram]

I told you it wasn't worn cam bearings! :rofl:

 

[pjkbrit]

hummmm....slipped sleeves, slipped cam bearings....we are going to end up with lots of motors help together with pins, screws and lots of lock-tite! Nothing like British workmanship to spoil perfectly sound engineering. Being British, I've owned my fair share of British Fords, Vauxhalls, MGs, Rovers and an early triumph engined Saab 99. MANY of these cars suffered from soft/crappy metal insides...chipped cams, fatigued valve springs, the well documented Rover slipping sleeve issue and broken up bearings. Funny how we hear about crappy quality auto parts from China...they are just copying what we British pioneered. I love my MGB and my NAS 04 Disco 2...but if you want a really reliable car, pick your favorite German or Japanese automaker here!...LOL

 

[DiscoDwayne]

I told you it wasn't worn cam bearings! :rofl:

.........and you were correct sir. I was suspect to that as well.

I'm just glad it wasn't something more serious like my muffler bearings or my flux capacitor. Plus the dealership called me today and stated that it's time for me to drop by and have the Winter air pumped in my tires, because the summer air just won't work now that the seasons are changing.:rofl:

 

[shawn b]

I bought a 96 XD that had a knocking motor and the oil light was on, I pulled the motor and tore it down after finding what looked like melted aluminum droppings in the oil pan. The cam had melted aluminum oozing out around one of the bearings. It was a bitch trying to get the cam out but I finally got it out. Here are some pics, I would like to try and save this motor and rebuild it one day even though I put a replacement in the truck and it is running again.

 

[shawn b]

This was what I found in the oil pan.

 

[shawn b]

Rod bearings....

Cam..

 

[BenDronsick]

Dwayne, how did the Dealership confirm a slipped cam bearing without removing the motor? And if they removed the motor, how did you tow the vehicle to your Dad's?

 

[Bosbefok]

If you drop the oil pan and look up at the cam bearings you will be able to see if a bearing has slipped out. The photos above illustrate this quite well. You obviously would not see if the back bearing has slipped to the rear, or the front bearing to the front.