Why to Replace Your Car’s Camshaft Seal

Posted on | 14 Feb 2018 By Anita Gaal

Your car’s engine is made up of different parts and materials, all of which can potentially become damaged or worn and eventually fail. The recommended service plan for your vehicle will likely differ from that of other cars; however, it’s most important that the service plan is adhered to, or that it’s altered based on your own unique circumstances. For instance, a driver who only uses their car to drive to and from work on a flat highway will likely need to attend to their car’s needs at a different pace than a driver who typically drives on rough terrain. Likewise, a driver who rides their car rough will need to replace items at a different pace than a driver who keeps their car parked in a garage and rarely drives it.

The camshaft seal is a small engine component that performs an important function and generally lasts a long time, so it’s something that drivers don’t typically concern themselves with on a regular basis. Camshaft seals are easy to overlook as the source of a problem if you’re not familiar with its purpose. Therefore, if you notice any concerning symptoms, it’s best to bring your car to a professional for examination. If your car recently was diagnosed with a faulty camshaft seal, here’s a little more information about the part and how to fix the issue.

What is a Camshaft Seal?

In any internal combustion engine camshaft controls the mechanical process that opens the valves that release air and fuel into the engine as it’s driving at different paces. Sounds pretty basic, right? Well, yes and no. Turns out, the camshaft plays a huge role in whether or not your car performs well. The camshaft seal sits between the cylinder head and the cover gasket for the valves. Since oil is free-flowing through your engine, there are oil-related symptoms associated with a damaged camshaft seal—we’ll talk about these in a moment. To a European luxury import owner, it can be devastating when a camshaft seal begins to fail.

How to Recognize the Signs and Symptoms Associated with Failure

As previously mentioned, the symptoms associated with camshaft seal failure usually involve signs of an oil leak. If you notice any oil beneath your car, then you should have the issue checked out immediately. Oil leaks can be due to any number of issues or failing parts, so a differential diagnosis by a professional repair shop is critical. You might also notice smoke coming from your engine while driving. When engine oil touches any hot, metal part of your engine it will begin to smoke.

The Effects of a Damaged Camshaft Seal

Oil leaks are concerning because oil is the fluid that keeps your engine lubricated. When your engine can’t keep lubricated, other parts can become damaged and the oil itself can become contaminated with debris. Due to the positioning of the camshaft, oil leaks in this area are particularly damaging to your engine.

The Importance of Routine Inspections

One of the best ways to counteract potential camshaft failure is to schedule routine inspections as part of your ongoing vehicle care and maintenance. When you bring your car to your automotive specialist often, they can track your vehicle’s health and take care of issues before they become serious. Camshaft seal failure is difficult to detect ahead of time if no symptoms are present, so it’s important to choose an automotive shop that is especially thorough.

How We Can Help

The professionals here at Euro Automotive have serviced a wide range of vehicles from the nearby areas of: Dallas, Garland, Arlington, and Fort Worth, TX. Our background and expertise is in a variety of European import vehicles, including: Porsche, Audi, Volkswagen, Volvo, Jaguar, BMW, and Mercedes. These cars require specialized attention and ongoing care to prevent issues from occurring, but they require specially-informed diagnostic technicians to anticipate and accurately locate the source of any issues that do arise. If you have noticed the signs of potential camshaft seal failure like smoke coming from your engine or an oil leak in your driveway, please contact our shop to schedule an appointment. We look forward to getting your car safely back on the road and performing its best.