3 cam pics 3 VWs 3 different oil/OCIs

[KnappAttak]

Turn #3 over so you can see the lift lobes of the cam and take the photo like #2 is in the photo. Bottom side of the lobes mean nothing as there is no pressure on them there.

Engine #2 the lobe of the cam is failing from the looks of it.

 

[scrllock]

Interesting, but an n of three is very much anicdotal. To my mind, it's hard to place any fault on the oil without a lot more evidence. Google says that there were recalls for defective camshafts on some years of the EA888?

first year or two had some serious problems, pistons, turbos, etc. never buy a 2015 Mk7 with an original motor

however the problem on that recall was the exhaust cam, since it drives the vacuum pump failure meant brake failure, so they were forced to take that a bit more seriously. there's never been a recall for the intake cam afaik, though there's definitely been revisions to the cam and oil control valve (commonly called a spool valve) over the years.

honestly I'm in camp "oil is oil" on this one. car starts burning oil, owner doesn't notice or change it often enough, you've got old or low oil and that will wipe a cam. on a car with a tune and larger turbo, it's hard to say what's going on. even at 3k, that might be too long with e85 and a bad tune.

 

[thastinger]

I used it for over half of mine's life...

Where is Project Farm and his wear ball test when we need him!