2003 Honda Accord bought for a friend

[ballen]

I don’t know how to use this website, but I bought a car for a girl that needed a job, 2003 Honda Accord 2.4 cylinder 200 g
It had a slight tick in the valves, send it to a mechanic to set the valves, says scored exhaust cam,1-4 lobs. No Miss in engine
Runs good, I’ve always believed in putting in viscosity of oil manufacturer recommend. couple of mechanics have said put in some Lucas oil, I know this will raise the viscosity, this concerns me as manufactures have design the bearing clearance for a certain velocity of oil. What should I do.

 

[Bailes1992]

The whole viscosity vs 'clearances' thing has been done to death and the general consensus is all engines will operate on a wide range of viscosities without issues.

A thicker oil may dull the tick and buy you some time but that thing needs some cams!

Lucas oil stabiliser is basically tackifier (think chainsaw chain oil) in a very thick mineral base oil. It will quieten down that tick, no doubt. Will it do any good though? Who knows.

 

[The Critic]

Semi-common for the early K24 engines to have this issue. Needs a new camshaft.

 

[eljefino]

That third pic is scary! You got through the hardened outside to the soft innards. This is going to continue to wear, quickly.

 

[DuckRyder]

Yup, third pic needs a cam...

 

[supton]

Our 2003 CRV has the same engine--and the same failed camshaft. I've decided to ignore it as the camshaft is expensive, I'm getting told I should do the timing chain too, and in a couple of years the rest of the vehicle will be rotted out. [Daughter just informed me that the SRS light is on, just great.] FWIW the worst lobe on mine is worse. But it still seems to run ok.

The right thing to do is... to weigh the options. How much is this being driven? What is the likelihood of replacing this vehicle in the next year or two for something bigger/better? If you want it to last years, then weigh out the costs. I want to say it was like $40 per follower and $700 for an OEM camshaft? then decide if you want to do timing chain and guides. [The garage that I use didn't want to touch this, they had concerns about the head that I didn't, but I understood they didn't want to get into the middle of something that could easily escalate in a mess.]

The engine is not going to just grenade from this. It'll just get slowly worse. Even if you want to repair ASAP it's not like it has to be parked until then.

 

[ballen]

Semi-common for the early K24 engines to have this issue. Needs a new camshaft.

Need a new motor to expensive to put a camshaft and timing chain in it

 

[ballen]

Our 2003 CRV has the same engine--and the same failed camshaft. I've decided to ignore it as the camshaft is expensive, I'm getting told I should do the timing chain too, and in a couple of years the rest of the vehicle will be rotted out. [Daughter just informed me that the SRS light is on, just great.] FWIW the worst lobe on mine is worse. But it still seems to run ok.

The right thing to do is... to weigh the options. How much is this being driven? What is the likelihood of replacing this vehicle in the next year or two for something bigger/better? If you want it to last years, then weigh out the costs. I want to say it was like $40 per follower and $700 for an OEM camshaft? then decide if you want to do timing chain and guides. [The garage that I use didn't want to touch this, they had concerns about the head that I didn't, but I understood they didn't want to get into the middle of something that could easily escalate in a mess.]

The engine is not going to just grenade from this. It'll just get slowly worse. Even if you want to repair ASAP it's not like it has to be parked until then.

I think that’s correct advice I’m afraid not much can be done. How long do you think it’ll run with that issue?

 

[ballen]

Semi-common for the early K24 engines to have this issue. Needs a new camshaft.

The cost to put in a camshaft and timing chain in. It is almost like dropping another motor in. It looks like that would have to be done. I would get a JDM.

 

[Danno]

15W-40 and send it, just my opinion.
If you're in a colder climate, below zero in winter, 5W-30. And maybe add some ZDDP.
imo

 

[ballen]

15W-40 and send it, just my opinion.
If you're in a colder climate, below zero in winter, 5W-30. And maybe add some ZDDP.
imo

Florida is the state

 

[joekingcorvette]

The actual internals look really clean but it seems to be the nature of the beast to wear out a cam. I would keep driving it until it drops and keep saving money for an upgrade.

 

[Mechanician]

That engine is quite clean, so it looks like the oil was changed often enough.
Stick with a 5W30 only in the winter months.
Drive it till it drops, the rest of the engine is probably fine.

 

[ballen]

Thanks to everyone for all their input. I appreciate it.

 

[Cheetah-kins]

Semi-common for the early K24 engines to have this issue. Needs a new camshaft.

What causes that?

 

[Danno]

What causes that?

Probably improper manufacturing so the metal is not to proper hardness spec.