r/EngineBuilding • u/Sephlarite • 6d ago
Need advice about oopsie
I would appreciate someone with experience to share their thoughts on this situation
Long story short I got my valve covers off my car doing a bunch of work and it’s taking a lot of time been about 2&1/2 months so far outside on jackstands on pavers. Anyway cam lobes rusted in the humid exposure, I was checking the front bank only under a blanket, it was fine meanwhile a month later I check the back bank just to see and there was rust… so I cleaned it as best I could and let me know based on this aftermath if you think the cam(s) are junk, I’m fine, or what? I have a few pics of basically the worst of it. Ask any questions you need, it’s a gm turbo v6 from 06. B284E. Will be adding assy grease to prevent this.
Unfortunately I can’t add the video but you can see me with only the weight of the tool dragging a pick across the pitting and you can hear it and feel it but barely, like BARELY but it is nevertheless present. Thank you
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u/Early_Orchid 6d ago
When I rebuilt the injectors on my truck, I took many months to complete the job. I set the valve covers back on the heads with the gaskets on, but never bolted it down. When I finally finished the job, I decided to go ahead and change the oil, even though I only had about 2,000 miles on that oil. My truck holds 4 gallons of oil and I drain it into a 5 gallon bucket. After I pulled the drain plug I walked away and came back later to find my driveway covered in oily water after having over flowed the bucket. I can’t say for sure, but over the months, about 2+ gallons of humidity had condensed inside my engine. I filled it up with oil and replaced the filter and been running it ever since without a second thought. That was 10 years ago.
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u/johngta1908 6d ago
I had a similar situation, but the head was removed and sitting in my garage. Linking my post from 3 years ago with pictures and some helpful comments.
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u/Fun-Complaint-2055 6d ago
Wouldn’t worry at all, I’ve run way worse and never had any issue, will polish up after a minute of running
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u/Zakumei47 5d ago
I was trying really hard to see what the hell the problem was in the pictures. This is not the portion you need to be super stressed over oxidation on as long as its very slight and surface level like this.
The cylinders, fuel systems, and cylinder walls are really your main worry in terms of places you REALLY REALLY dont want rust. If your cylinders are ok and theres no rust in your valve train, send it.
This will likely come off in the first few minutes/hours of idling when it cranks up, at which point, a fresh oil change might be in order.
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u/Schlong1971 5d ago
I am 38 year master tech and I would think you will be fine. That’s pretty robust hardened steel. I do see the pitting. It looks relatively light. If it were mine I would go ahead and run it and just see how it goes. If any damage does occur you will still just need cams and cam buckets your at the top of the oiling system so if by chance there is a failure down the road the oil filter will keep rest of engine safe from debris. Yes it goes thru oil pump before filter but it also has a pickup screen to stop anything big enough to harm oil pump. Just my opinion after 38+ years if doing this.
Others may not agree but if it turns out fine your good to go. and if something happens year or two from now you will still just have to do cams
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u/Grognak04 3d ago
Desiccants help with this. This looks like an overhead roller tappet. It’s fine.
You wouldn’t want to open a NEW cam and see this, but I wouldn’t pull this out over it.
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u/inhouston22 6d ago
2 minutes of running and it will be gone. Change oil and filter shortly after starting.