Rust on cam lobes

[edjr.]

Hello, just purchased my Sonic five days ago. After filling the gas tank for the first time I checked the oil, and out of curiosity removed the oil fill cap. When I looked inside I saw what appeared to be rust on the cam lobes. Also, the surface of visible lobes has an odd look to them.
I'm not a professional mechanic, but I’m pretty sure the rust shouldn’t be there.
Just wondering if anyone else has seen anything similar?

 

[BoG233]

Ok its cool don't worry about it . The car has sat for a while in shipping . Some rust is normal . you will see and here rust in the engine and on the brakes and in the shifting of the tranny . Oil needs to soak into all the metal surfaces . That is the braking in is all about . Also that looks like some assembly lube mixed in there witch is made to help with brake in's .

Welcome to the forums there is tons of great info .

 

[omniman]

Is it a 1.8 or 1.4 motor ill look at my 1.8 tomorrow? I work at a dealership i looked for any info on your problem not seeing anything.I will look at stock units also to see what they look like. If you get more info post findings thanks from N.J.

 

[omniman]

I think BoG233 has it right posible from sitting.

 

[Danny5]

I am fairly certain that isn't the camshaft you are looking at either. You shouldn't be able to see the camshaft through the oil-fill. Might be a rocker arm?

 

[edjr.]

Thanks for the quick replies. It’s the 1.4 motor. It makes sense that after sitting dormant for a few months some moisture would make its way in. Thanks, BoG233, for giving me some piece of mind. I’ll keep an eye on it and see what happens. Right now its running great, just looked weird to me.
Does anyone know what I’m looking at if this is not the cam?

 

[BoG233]

That is the cam you have 2 over head cams you are looking at the intake cam .

 

[edjr.]

Correction: peace of mind

 

[edjr.]

Cool, thanks. I thought I had it right.

 

[Danny5]

That is the cam you have 2 over head cams you are looking at the intake cam .

Wait, this would be a very odd motor to have a cam literally up against the edge of the valve cover. Normally cams are found at the 1/3 and 2/3 position relative to the width of the head.

 

[dvn]

I am fairly certain that isn't the camshaft you are looking at either. You shouldn't be able to see the camshaft through the oil-fill. Might be a rocker arm?

That is definitely a cam shaft. It's a DOHC engine. There are no "rocker arms".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQPh2OdBGgI

 

[Savage_383]

That is the cam you have 2 over head cams you are looking at the intake cam .

That's the exhaust cam. It's on the exhaust side of the cylinder head.
Not to hate or be nit picky. Just so there isn't any confusion

My Yamaha is the same way. The cams are clear at the edges of the cylinder head. They do this so the valves can be set more at an angle. This makes it more of a direct shot into the exhaust manifold and from the intake. MORE AIR :banana:

I wouldn't worry about the rust. Should be gone by the second oil change

 

[Danny5]

That is definitely a cam shaft. It's a DOHC engine. There are no "rocker arms".
DOHC 4 cylinder engine Video - Part 1 - YouTube

I stand corrected. But something real funky about that first picture, because the cam lobe looks to be on TOP of the mounting point. And that is unpossible.

 

[dvn]

I stand corrected. But something real funky about that first picture, because the cam lobe looks to be on TOP of the mounting point. And that is unpossible.

It is called a cam over bucket and yes, the cam is directly over the valves.

 

[AxelRipper]

It is called a cam over bucket and yes, the cam is directly over the valves.

Close but not quite. GM doesn't run buckets (at least not on the 1.4 or big ecotecs, maybe the 1.8), but rockers under the cams with hydraulic adjusters to set lash.

these are the best shots I can find of the style of rocker:

 

[BoG233]

Ok I was wrong about the intake but there are no rockers or bush rods . Straight from the cam to the bucket or tappet shims to the valves

 

[dvn]

Ok I was wrong about the intake but there are no rockers or bush rods . Straight from the cam to the bucket or tappet shims to the valves

That is what I thought as well but AxelRipper is correct. The 1.4 uses Roller-finger camshaft followers
Roller-finger camshaft followers: A low-mass DOHC roller-finger camshaft follower is used to minimize friction and maintenance. It operates with very low frictional losses, helping enhance efficiency and lower emissions. The hydraulic lash adjusters and the chain cam drive require no maintenance during the life of the engine.

 

[BoG233]

Now why would company put all that parasitic loss back into a engine it just sound ass backwards to me . The extra weight . the added complication .Iwas figureing the eggheads would have thought it out like the motor cycle brainyaces did 30 year or more years ago . oh well this sucks .

AxelRipper I am sorry my sonic is a 1.8L

 

[BoG233]

GM's 1 4L Ecotec turbo airflow animation - YouTube
I hate not knowing opcorn:

 

[BoG233]

GM 1.4-liter I4 Engine @ NAIAS 2010 - YouTube

About half way through they explain What the rockers do to help reduce friction .