I'm sure most of you folks are aware of the noise the cam phasers can make if they're on the way out, and the consensus I've read on many forums is that it's OK to drive as long as you're willing to put up with the noise. My car started making a noticeable ticking sound last week and I along with my mechanic thought it was the cam phaser. Well it wasn't - the roller on the rocker arm failed which cracked the head at the lifter hole and really did a number on the cam lobe:







Video before it snapped - not for the squeamish!!!

 

OUCH!

I wouldn't think a cam phaser would be that loud. Sounded like a dead 'lifter' from the days of old to me...


How many miles? Powertrain warranty?

 

68K miles, no warranty As much as I'd love to put FRPP heads/cams on it, there's no way $$ wise. Going with stock parts.

 

Any mods?

What oil do you use and what change interval? The cam lobes look pretty worn.

What valve was it?

What can cause something like this?

 

Too bad Ford doesn't stand behind their product like GM & Chrysler with 5yr/100k powertrain warranty...

 

Cams/heads are bone stock. I've always used either Mobil1, Castrol Syntec, or Motorcraft Syn-Blend, all 5w20. What's in there now is the Motorcraft Syn-Blend 5w20 change either at or before 5K mile intervals. And a Motorcraft FL820S filter has always been used since day one. It was the #3 cylinder, but I'm not sure which valve. What can cause it? Other than a freak failure, that remains to be answered.

 

Actually didn't Ford bump the powertrain warranty to 5yrs/100K at MY2007 or 08? Our 2010 Explorer has it.

 

My 08 is 3/36 bumper, 5/60 powertrain. I have not read anything about a 5/100 factory powertrain warranty from Ford.

 

Yep that's it - I stand corrected: It was bumped to 5/60 for the powertrain. We added an extended warranty so the bumper-to-bumper on the Explorer is 5/60.

 

My guess is just as you said -- freak occurence. There's always some manufacturing tolerances that will eventually lead to failure of the piece, and doesn't automatically indicate a universal weakness. Maybe bad metallurgy? Who knows...

 

That's one of the worst things i've heard lately.

 

Yeah it's pretty sickening, believe me

 

Good news is, you can pick up a set of tricked out heads, cams, and possibly a new intake manifold. This failure just means you gain more power.

 

ouch- sorry to see/hear...still think you car looks perfect, even if its not blue

couple questions-were you running a tune/upped rev limiter or anything? any high revving downshifts or such immediately prior to it happening? didnt let a kid borrow your car did ya?

all kidding aside, very sorry to see this. Hope you can get her fixed up without a gigantic repair bill. I just cant help but wonder what would bust a roller other than valve float- but as light as the valvetrain is, highly doubt they could float under the rev limiter(unless a screaming downshift spun it up to >7k or something...).
I'm just hoping somehow this was overrevved or something- as with that many miles, you'd think a bad part woulda failed long ago- my worry is something like a bad deburr job caused a crack to propagate till it fractured the roller...in that case, it could become a common thing for more of us down the road- that scares me...I know the 3v heads have seen a lot of service in trucks with long life miles-wise, but doubt most trucks see redline as often as a mustang likely will...appreciate any more info- and good luck on gettin her back on the road soon...love the stance/wheels/tires/everything on your ride...thats one sweet looking Mustang

 

Remember - not all of the oil goes through the filter all the time, so don't forget to flush the engine & change the filter. No doubt that there were many fine metal particles floating around. You may want to drop the pan and clean it out too. And check the screen on the oil pump pick up. Those tiny particles will accelerate wear anywhere they accumulate.

 

Good god that sounds absolutely terrible

 

I'll have the car back Friday all fixed with a reconditioned head and no used old parts from my car. My old head with (screwed up) cam, all springs, valves, rockers, etc. is being sent to the head place for a core exchange. The shop is also replacing both cam phasers since the front cover is off any way

 

A pic of the crack in the head:

 

OUCH.

When will you have her all put back together?

 

Tomorrow after noon