How do I look?

[Stangnoob]

should I have my camshaft replaced? They’ve been knocking along with a hissing sound coming from the passenger side of my engine. I’m replacing a worn gasket. While I have this popped open I wanted to get some advice about the condition of the innards before I put everything back together.

 

[racerraj]

It's hard to see the condition of the cam lobes. If any of the cam followers have pitting or scoring on the rollers they for sure should be replaced. If the cam lobes are smooth, they "should" be okay. I had a cam follower damage a cam lobe and was able to polish the lobe and keep going. I need to replace the cam, but I have managed to drive MUCH farther than I planned to (Like 15,000 miles) on the polished lobe. When the cam followers (lifters) go, they can make a pretty good knock and eat the cam lobe.

 

[Stangnoob]

Thanks, Racrrraj! I had some knocking going on and I read somewhere that gram oil filters cause knocking so I changed my oil and filter because I gave the car a dose of seafoam and it turned out to be true. I replaced the filter with a k&n one and it isn’t knocking anymore. I thought that I had a bad phaser but thank God it was the oil filter.

 

[racerraj]

Crazy about the Fram Oil Filter! Glad it was a cheap easy fix.

 

[EmmJay]

Anyone who doesn't change their own oil should take a Motorcraft filter with them to be used. Most shops use the cheapest of filters and they do not stock any of quality.

 

[Dino Dino Bambino]

Anyone who doesn't change their own oil should take a Motorcraft filter with them to be used.

That's exactly what I do, and I religiously change the oil/filter every 5000 miles.