BXE camshaft replacement

dooroy

A friend has asked me to replace the camshaft on his 2007 Skoda Octavia 1.9 Tdi with BXE engine.
He got a kit (bgautomotive) which contains a camshaft and 8 lifters.
Having read a number of articles re this job they all seem to recommend fitting new bearing shells and 10 new bolts for camshaft caps ( as they are stretch and need to be replaced???).
As this company supplies this kit I assume they would include bolts and shells if they were strictly necessary.
I would appreciate opinions/advice from those who have experience of this job.

mad-for-tar

I replaced camshaft on my 1.9 ARL last year due to lobes deteriorating. Replaced with a steel version of it, new lifters, bolts and bearings up in and new camshaft seal.

You’d be safer having the fresh hardware and installing it at the same time along with new bearings.

When I was looking around at the time for kits, some did camshaft only, some did camshaft and bearings, some camshaft and lifters only and some did the whole lot. I made sure I had everything before changing out the camshaft on mine Somy advice would be to have everything in front of you before tackling into it.

BavarianCare

dooroy wrote: »

A friend has asked me to replace the camshaft on his 2007 Skoda Octavia 1.9 Tdi with BXE engine.
He got a kit (bgautomotive) which contains a camshaft and 8 lifters.
Having read a number of articles re this job they all seem to recommend fitting new bearing shells and 10 new bolts for camshaft caps ( as they are stretch and need to be replaced???).
As this company supplies this kit I assume they would include bolts and shells if they were strictly necessary.
I would appreciate opinions/advice from those who have experience of this job.

The most important job with these engines is the rod bearings. (Big end shells)

If they are serviced 'normally' you should replace them every 200,000kms
If serviced 'properly' then every 400,000kms is fine.

Otherwise you have an extremely high risk of them putting a 'leg out of bed'.

If you PM your number I'll send you pics of shells that I changed last month with WhatsApp.

Car 1: 270,000kms (dealer serviced)
Car 2: 460,000kms (serviced by me since 110,000kms)

[Google BXE rod bearings / conrod failure]

Other PD engines have similar issues but BXE are #1 due to rod design & piston skirt

dooroy

Thanks for replies.
mad-for-tar : I assumed that a camshaft kit would include the items you mentioned and one of the guys in the motor factors recalls selling those kits a few years back and they did include camshaft, lifters,bolts, shells and oil seal. He was surprised when I told him this so called kit only had a camshaft and 8 lifters. He checked for me and discovered there was also a 'camshaft kit special' - this had the additional items BUT would cost an extra €140.
BaviaranCare :Thanks for your offer but at the moment I have a very basic old phone so don't have WhatsApp. I did look up what you advised and the pics said it all. I had heard of a number of BXE's 'putting a leg out of bed' but hadn't come across any info re big ends. So your advice is much appreciated.
This car has 270 K Kms and not much of any kind of history. It was owned for many years by his father-in-law ,now deceased.
I fitted a complete new 4 pc clutch kit last year so fitting a camshaft kit and timing belt kit could be a complete waste of money if it then ' put a leg out of the bed'.
I take it the big ends can be replaced with the engine in place ? Should the cap retaining bolts be replaced also ?

BavarianCare

dooroy wrote: »

Thanks for replies.
mad-for-tar : I assumed that a camshaft kit would include the items you mentioned and one of the guys in the motor factors recalls selling those kits a few years back and they did include camshaft, lifters,bolts, shells and oil seal. He was surprised when I told him this so called kit only had a camshaft and 8 lifters. He checked for me and discovered there was also a 'camshaft kit special' - this had the additional items BUT would cost an extra €140.
BaviaranCare :Thanks for your offer but at the moment I have a very basic old phone so don't have WhatsApp. I did look up what you advised and the pics said it all. I had heard of a number of BXE's 'putting a leg out of bed' but hadn't come across any info re big ends. So your advice is much appreciated.
This car has 270 K Kms and not much of any kind of history. It was owned for many years by his father-in-law ,now deceased.
I fitted a complete new 4 pc clutch kit last year so fitting a camshaft kit and timing belt kit could be a complete waste of money if it then ' put a leg out of the bed'.
I take it the big ends can be replaced with the engine in place ? Should the cap retaining bolts be replaced also ?

Big End Shells are a simple job.
I do them for €300
(That includes the bearing shells plus oil & filter change)

===

Basically drop the sump and do the shells. Book says to renew cap bolts but I never have and never had a problem.
If you've a lift it's 2.5 hours.

Be careful with the shells - there's a 'Sputter' shell that goes on the thrust side (top).
Kolbenschmidt are my preference

dooroy

Big End Shells are a simple job.

Thanks , that's what I was hoping to hear.:)

Do you deal with Kolbenschmidt directly ?
I see they do a camshaft kit which includes bolts and shells and I was hoping to get that also.
I can get a camshaft kit from the UK for £154 which includes everything but no one seems to know how much duty could be added on at customs.

newmember2

BavarianCare wrote: »

Big End Shells are a simple job.
I do them for €300
(That includes the bearing shells plus oil & filter change)

===

Basically drop the sump and do the shells. Book says to renew cap bolts but I never have and never had a problem.
If you've a lift it's 2.5 hours.

Be careful with the shells - there's a 'Sputter' shell that goes on the thrust side (top).
Kolbenschmidt are my preference

Are they not stretch bolts?

BavarianCare

newmember? wrote: »

Are they not stretch bolts?

Yes.
However, loads of us do not use new bolts for certain applications.

Head Bolts are always use new.
Ali bolts on sump of latest BMW - use new.
===
But on these most of us just use original Nm torque setting +90Deg
Never had a problem.
===
Technically, new bolts should be used.

BavarianCare

dooroy wrote: »

Big End Shells are a simple job.

Thanks , that's what I was hoping to hear.:)

Do you deal with Kolbenschmidt directly ?
I see they do a camshaft kit which includes bolts and shells and I was hoping to get that also.
I can get a camshaft kit from the UK for £154 which includes everything but no one seems to know how much duty could be added on at customs.

No, just my local machine shop.
I don't want to name one but there must be one near you.
I've no experience with camshaft kit that you say they do.

Only have used their rod bearing kit on BXE engine

dooroy

I would agree re big end bolts as they don't have any great pressure to withstand compared to head bolts for example.
Was trying the motor factors without much luck - engineering works make more sense.
Know of 2 in my area so will try them for the bearings. Thanks:).

newmember2

BavarianCare wrote: »

Yes.
However, loads of us do not use new bolts for certain applications.

Head Bolts are always use new.
Ali bolts on sump of latest BMW - use new.
===
But on these most of us just use original Nm torque setting +90Deg
Never had a problem.
===
Technically, new bolts should be used.

OK, although they're not exactly expensive.
The fact you haven't had any reported failures may be due to the fact that rather than letting go they instead may not be torquing the bearing shell correctly - leading to premature wear/failure.

BavarianCare

newmember? wrote: »

OK, although they're not exactly expensive.
The fact you haven't had any reported failures may be due to the fact that rather than letting go they instead may not be torquing the bearing shell correctly - leading to premature wear/failure.

Nothing to do with cost.
It's having them 'on the day'.

IIRC it's 60Nm +90

PS: Dealers don't (well, back in the day) never did either unless it was warranty claim

PPS: Reading between the lines about premature failure - NOPE, it's the service intervals & oh, jeez, loads of stuff...
Just replace the shells

dooroy

Getting around to this shortly.
Have removed sump - just wondering would replacing the oil pump and chain be advisable as they seem to be the cause of some failures ( car has 270,000 Km on the clock) ?

BavarianCare

dooroy wrote: »

Getting around to this shortly.
Have removed sump - just wondering would replacing the oil pump and chain be advisable as they seem to be the cause of some failures ( car has 270,000 Km on the clock) ?

No.
You're mixing up engines and using Dr Google too much

dooroy

Thanks for reply.
I had heard of the 2L Tdi (A4 etc) having oil pump failures and have been using Dr Google - but it was a mechanic with many years experience who told me that he had seen a few BXE's where the chain driving the pump broke leading to disaster for the engine.