What Happens When a Camshaft is Damaged?

The camshaft controls the opening and closing of valves to achieve precise fuel and air mixture, ensuring efficient engine operation. Once the camshaft is damaged, such as through wear, fracture, or deformation, its valve timing will be misaligned, leading to abnormal valve operation. When the camshaft is damaged, the engine may experience symptoms such as reduced power, unstable idling, and sluggish acceleration. Due to the disordered intake and exhaust timing, the combustion process will be incomplete, resulting in increased fuel consumption and black smoke from the exhaust. In severe cases, the valves may not open or close properly, causing insufficient air intake or exhaust gas retention in the cylinder. If camshaft damage is left unaddressed for a long time, wear inside the engine will worsen, and components such as rocker arms and tappets may be damaged, potentially leading to serious failures such as piston-to-valve collision.