While checking valve retainers, clearances and the cylinder with an endoscope, I've found marks on the intake cam lobes, cylinders 1 and 4. There's enough there that you can feel it with a fingernail, but it almost feels proud of the surface rather than into it? 12k miles and ~10 track days ago, it was fine. Is this anything to worry about?
S2KI threads I've found are inconclusive (https://www.s2ki.com/.../s2000.../cam-lobes-wear-868838/) or "rust damage" followed by "oil change and run it for a while and it'll be fine" (https://www.s2ki.com/.../s2000.../burnt-cam-lobes-1184865/) - and neither thread was followed up on

This is a MY07 UK F20C "Facelift". Any thoughts or information would be very much appreciated...


Cam lobes for intake valves cyl 4

Cam lobes for intake values cyl 1

 

Water damage from prolonged exposure, engine sat dormant for a long period.

 

Thanks @Billman250 . Sat on the drive for ~9 months during lockdown in British weather, didn't expect that amount of hurt from that - it sounds like I might well have been wrong. Time to look at cam replacements.

 

All camshafts for the S2000 are junk except for oem. Does your car have a catch can? Not only do they catch oil, they catch water and spew it into the engine.

 

Nope, no catch can although I was thinking of installing one. That's me told. Also, bloody hell are OEM cams expensive. £1300 for the pair in the UK (imported from Japan)

 

If the price of OEM replacements are a deal breaker, maybe you can clean them up a bit, and / or add oil and see what happens with the ones you have. If and when you need new ones, you really should get the OEM ones as Billman recommended.

 

As a person who "upgraded" my 2007 with aftermarket everything, it is nice when I now look at it and it is 100% OEM other than the ASM hood and Mugen exhaust. It now is near 400,000 miles and going strong.

Be sure to go OEM with replacements as needed, especially internals!

 

If you are going to try to use those damaged cams, prolly a good idea to frequently change the oil and oil filter.

 

Using damaged cams definitely wasn't part of the plan!

 

what ? can you speak more on this further ?