It's a mechanical failure
Your camshaft is a vital component to your engine. For your camshaft to break it had to have a lot of force that caused the engine to stop suddenly and that sudden stop caused the camshaft to break into three pieces. In this case it was due to the timing belt breaking on a diesel engine. That sudden stop when the timing belt broke caused the camshaft to take the impact.
Once the belt failed, the camshaft and crankshaft were no longer moving in sync. The pistons kept traveling while the valves stopped in the wrong position, creating a violent internal collision. That force was enough to shatter the camshaft into three pieces and cause major damage throughout the valvetrain.
When this kind of failure happens, it is rarely just a broken belt. In most cases, there is also damage to the valves, lifters, rockers, and sometimes even the cylinder head. On a diesel engine, the internal parts are built to handle high compression, but that also means the damage from a sudden timing failure can be severe.
This is why timing belt maintenance is so important. Replacing the belt at the recommended interval can help prevent a catastrophic engine failure like this one. What may seem like a simple maintenance item can end up saving you from a much larger and more expensive repair.
Catching the full extent of the damage early can help you make the best repair decision. Give us a call and let us take care of you.
Happy Adventures,
Heather
Our specials can be found here
Got Questions? We have a FAQ page for you.
Would you like to join our merry band of misfits?
Want to know more…
https://www.facebook.com/JHAutomotiveInc
https://www.pinterest.com/jhautoinc
