How to Care for Your Lycoming Camshaft

Often called the Achilles heel of the Lycoming engine, here’s how to keep that camshaft doing what it should.

Thursday, May 05, 2022 at 08:41 AM ET

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It is easy to look at the camshaft and tappet body using a flashlight and inspection mirror. [Photo: Richard Scarbrough]

Key Takeaways:

"Making metal" in an aircraft engine signifies internal wear, with ferrous metal (attracted by a magnet) indicating severe damage to rotating parts like camshafts, leading to costly repairs.
Camshaft and tappet body failures, particularly in Lycoming engines, are often due to engine inactivity causing corrosion, and can be detected in oil filters or by inspecting piston skirts.
The primary prevention method for these issues is consistent flying; otherwise, engines should be properly preserved for long-term storage, along with regular oil changes and filter inspections.

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You are making metal. I am sorry about that. Everyone needs to take a deep breath and back away from the screen for a minute. Better? OK, let’s try this again. If you know, you know.

If you don’t know what that means, consider yourself among the lucky few owner-operators who have not heard that term. Allow me to break it down for you. The phrase “making metal” occurs when someone finds tiny metal flakes in the oil, typically in the oil screen or oil filter. Do people even still use oil screens instead of a filter these days? Yes, and they are excellent at stopping rocks from flowing through your engine.