Is there anything we can do or not do that makes a difference? Anything that is hard on them, anything that would be good for them, or make them last longer? Is it just a matter of luck of the draw that some go bad and others don't? Which is it?

 

If yours is a 08 as in your sig you have no worries they have been re-designed for that year.

 

Nice!

 

ok, but i have an 05. i've read around and im pretty sure my cam phasers are acting up. question is, do i milk it or should i run to the mechanic ????

 

What is the reason for the failure? Will a little molly in the oil help?

 

Moly isn't going to do much for a phaser. Moly is an extreme heat additive like the temps you would see on cylinder walls. At the cam phasers, there isn't near enough heat for it to be useful. Since it seems we are going to be living with cam phasers in the future engine technologies, some of the research centers have been looking at the function of the phasers and shearing effects of the pins. They have been working around different ester based lubes and as far as I have found, almost any ester provides a film that makes the pins turn loose when needed. If you think you are having issues with the phasers and it's early in it's malfunction, I would try a dose of Auto-Rx. Comparing the possibility that it might work versus the expense of phaser replacement, it's a cheap attempt. Please note, I said it MIGHT work. I would not expect for you to pour it in the oil and immediately have no more issues. If it's going to work, it'll probably take several dozen drive cycles for it to penetrate and POSSIBLY take care of the problem. But if the phaser has been locked up for some time, it ain't gonna work as the pins have pretty much destroyed the mating surfaces. In spite of design changes, I am not aware of a fail free cam phaser.

 

According to your explanation, it would be best to use ARx in a maintenance dosage all the time. I still don't get it though. What would you expect the ARx to do? Is it a matter of keeping the pins free of varnish build up?

 

Not to sidetrack this, but if esters help, are there any ester-based synthetic oils around any more, and would THAT help?

 

The esters are better at carrying shear loads via stronger film strengths. Since it seems that everybody is reformulating, I have no clue if current Redline has much if any ester in it anymore. The amount of ester in it has been falling fast over the last few years. A lot of the name brands of synthetic oils are going to ultra high VI GP III bases since suitable ethylene gas is getting tough to find and expensive when it is available for PAO manufacture. That's why Auto-Rx might be a dandy maintenance item until the ILSAC can get their squat together on the cam phaser issues. I'd add about 4oz per change but then again, I avoid an engine that uses cam phasers. Yep, I drive a 4.6. YMMV.

 

Lab: I have had mine done and am using 5/20 MC syn. blend do u think switching to a full syn. would be to my advantage??

 

i read alot on here about cam phasers and am new. what year did they start and what is their purpose?

 

I believe they started with the 2005 model. They allow for a variable cam. The cam can either be timed aggressive for performance, or tamed for economy based on what the PCM wants to do by controlling oil pressure to it. They can retard the cam shaft position while the engine is running. This allows the cam shaft profile to change as needed over a wide RPM range.

As I understand it, at high rpm the valves are not open long enough to get air in and out of the cylinder. You can't add more fuel until you can add enough air to burn the fuel. One way to accomplish this is to use a racing cam which leave the valves open longer, but then the engine does not idle well because the valves are open too long.

Variable Cam Timing controls valve timing by advancing or retarding the cam shaft to maximize engine performance, emissions, and efficiency.

 

I think all 5.4 3V engines have variable cam timing, 2004 and up.

 

Good catch, starting with the 2004 model.

 

Re-run for Lab, I have had my phasers done do u thisnk it would be beneficial for me to switch to full syn. oil am using 5/20 MC sy n blend now?????