AHU Removed cam cover to find part of valve lifter missing!

RGC

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AHF Removed cam cover to find part of INA hydraulic lifter missing!

Hi all my AHF is sick @ 155000 Miles :( this problem started a few days ago,
any help in fixing this is much appreciated
Seems like one of the INA hydraulic lifters below the cam lobe has failed and came apart,
Its tapping quite loud and the exhaust sound also has become louder!
Still drives ok with plenty of power
See pictures below,





Fingers crossed for reply :cool:
 
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RGC

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OK I have had a look around the net and have come to the conclusion that the damaged part is an INA hydraulic lifter. see pictures below.

I'm praying that these will just lift out when the cam shaft is removed :)
I am planing on replacing all of the lifters and also the cam shaft itself.
What type of oil should i use to bed in the new parts? would normal every day engine oil do?
 

jetta 97

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I can tell you that this car had wrong oil for long time.
You need to use specific oil for those cars. You need to use 5w40 with VW Spec 505.00 or 505.01 for that car.
 

RGC

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I can tell you that this car had wrong oil for long time.
You need to use specific oil for those cars. You need to use 5w40 with VW Spec 505.00 or 505.01 for that car.
I have used Castrol Magnatec 10w40 every 10000 miles for the last 9 years :D
 

Vince Waldon

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The "Professional OE Magnatec 5W-40" seems to be 505.01, not able to find what the 10W-40 is, other than that it does have a CF rating at least.

In any event, hard to tell how much wear there is from the pictures since everything's coated in black oil, but the cam needs to come out and be cleaned and then carefully inspected for wear, along with *all* the lifters. You also need to find the broken lifter pieces, before they cause further damage.

I personally won't drive it an inch further in its current state. :)
 
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RGC

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Had a look for the lifter pieces around the cam area but non to be found, I am praying they are stuck someplace forever not causing any further damage because a full engine strip down is out the question, the car is still in use for school runs 5 - 6 mile a day until I get the parts so fingers crossed it holds together.
 

Abacus

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YOU'RE STILL RUNNING THAT? You know the lifters spin in the bore, right?

Wow, I guess it'll be time to look for another car soon, because you will be sourcing another head soon and it'll be cheaper to just get another car.

As it is now, you're out the cost of lifters and a cam at the minimum.

Pretend you got into an accident and CANNOT drive the car anymore because it's dead. That's the way that looks to me and if you keep running it, it will become a reality.
 

Vince Waldon

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From the MK4 Bentley Service Manual:



The oil in question has a CF designation although not CF4 which IIRC is more advanced than generic CF... would have to check the API website to be sure.


Back to the original intent of the OP's thread:

any help in fixing this is much appreciated

Fingers crossed for reply :cool:
You don't seem to like the answer, but it's pretty simple:

1) park it... every revolution that engine makes risks gouging the lifter bore and/or having the missing pieces jam somewhere
2) pull out the cam and lifters, clean thoroughly
3) inspect for damage, replace as required
4) find the missing metal... even if you need to drop the oil pan

And, if it were my car, I'd get a better diesel-specific oil for sure.... bet the UK has some version of Rotella-T or Mobil TDT available. :)
 
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RGC

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You don't seem to like the answer, but it's pretty simple:
1) park it... every revolution that engine makes risks gouging the lifter bore and/or having the missing pieces jam somewhere
2) pull out the cam and lifters, clean thoroughly
3) inspect for damage, replace as required
4) find the missing metal... even if you need to drop the oil pan
And, if it were my car, I'd get a better diesel-specific oil for sure.... bet the UK has some version of Rotella-T or Mobil TDT available. :)
OK Vince you've twisted my arm the car will stay parked up till i get the parts. :)
 

Vince Waldon

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Cheers mate.

We'll all be interested to see how your cam looks when it's clean... it is either nice and shiny or has all kinds of bronze/copper showing... depending on how I squint when I look at the pictures. :D
 

RGC

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Yes I will take some pictures but will make sure I use my digital camera and not my mobile phone :D
 

RGC

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Job done

Ok changed out the bad INA lifter and the car is running fine now :D

here is the damaged lifter:



Here is the damage from the camshaft striking the loose pieces of metal from the INA lifter



and here is the damage to the camshaft:




This is just a temp measure for now I will be ordering a new set of lifters and a new camshaft and installing soon :cool:
 
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compu_85

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You might need a new head too... or at least have that one worked on. Be sure the lifter can spin freely in the bore. If it can't it will wear out quickly.

-J
 

VeeDubTDI

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Ok changed out the bad INA lifter and the car is running fine now :D

here is the damaged lifter:



Here is the damage from the camshaft striking the loose pieces of metal from the INA lifter



and here is the damage to the camshaft:




This is just a temp measure for now I will be ordering a new set of lifters and a new camshaft and installing soon :cool:
Keep driving it like that and you'll be ordering a new engine. No plans to fix the damage to the cylinder head? :confused:
 

RGC

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Keep driving it like that and you'll be ordering a new engine. No plans to fix the damage to the cylinder head? :confused:
Like i said its just temp for now the cam and new lifters are on order and the head is fine nothing to worry about.
 

RGC

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You might need a new head too... or at least have that one worked on. Be sure the lifter can spin freely in the bore. If it can't it will wear out quickly.

-J
Yeh the lifter spins as freely as the rest and the head doesn't bother me in the slightest :)
 
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