What Are The Symptoms Of A Malfunctioning Camshaft In GMC Duramax Trucks

The GMC Duramax is well known for its raw power & durability which makes it a very popular option for millennials looking to own a truck. However, like other pickup trucks, the GMC Duramax also encounters a fair share of issues, and one such problem is associated with the camshaft of the truck which can take a toll on its performance.

The camshaft is a crucial component that helps in the efficient functioning of the engine of your GMC Duramax. Here in this article, we will discuss the symptoms associated with a malfunctioning camshaft in GMC Duramax.

Misfiring Engine

The engine is the most important part of your truck as it generates the power to move the vehicle and the primary symptom you are going to witness whenever the camshaft fails in your Duramax is engine misfires. The camshaft is responsible for controlling the opening and closing of the intake & exhaust valves in your truck.

Now, with a malfunctioning camshaft in your truck the intake and exhaust valves will fail to open and close at the right time and this is going to play spoilsport with the combustion process of your vehicle. The inefficient combustion process gives rise to a host of issues when you are driving your Duramax.

You might get to encounter jerking or hesitation, uneven engine operation, and reduced power output while driving along with the misfires that can bring your truck to a complete halt. Besides that, the engine misfires are also going to trigger the check engine light located on the dashboard.

The moment you notice engine misfires coming from your truck then you must get in touch with a certified mechanic to get the trouble codes decoded with the help of a scanner & get the issues fixed.

Drop in Performance

The pickup trucks like GMC Duramax are known for their aggressive performance, however, with a malfunctioning camshaft under the hood of your truck your performance is going to get degraded. The combustion process in your vehicle is very complicated and the camshaft helps in ensuring proper timing of the intake & exhaust valves.

However, as the timing goes haywire with a failing camshaft, the compression & combustion also suffer and this is when you get to face a sluggish acceleration when pressing the accelerator pedal. Moreover, you will face difficulties in towing heavy loads & you will mark a drop in the overall response of your truck.

Driving a GMC Duramax that is showing a considerable drop in its performance can become very concerning because it will obstruct the truck from carrying out its intended task. Some drivers have this habit of ignoring the problem and keep on driving & this is something you must desist from because it can adversely affect the other components of the engine & lead to hefty repair bills.

Unusual Sounds From the Engine

The only sound that drivers of GMC Duramax would like to hear is the roar of the engine when they press the gas pedal. Nevertheless, with a faulty camshaft under the hood, you are going to come across a host of unusual noises in the form of ticking, tapping, or knocking sounds when driving.

Moreover, these unusual sounds signal excessive gap has been created between the camshaft and the other components of the engine like the lifters and rocker arms. Besides that, worn-out camshaft valves might also lead to metal-to-metal contact that gives rise to grinding or clicking sounds when you are driving your truck.

Increase in Emissions

Now, this is something that every GMC driver guards against and the moment you notice heavy smoke coming out of the tailpipe of your truck then it signifies issues that need to be sorted. A malfunctioning camshaft completely disrupts the air-fuel ratio & subsequently, the combustion process also gets affected.

This is when you get to see an increase in the emissions coming out of the tailpipe of your truck. In fact, the failing camshaft affects the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and diesel particulate filter (DPF) systems resulting in excess emissions from your vehicle.

Whenever you come across this problem you must immediately get in touch with a certified technician to get your malfunctioning camshaft inspected & replaced with a new one.

Finally

The above-discussed factors are some of the symptoms associated with malfunctioning camshaft in your GMC Duramax. Now, driving with a malfunctioning camshaft is certainly not desirable & you must get in touch with a professional mechanic to get it replaced as quickly as possible.

Royalty Auto Service is a leading auto service and repair facility located in St Marys, GA and also has its presence in Kingsland, GA. We are having years of experience in looking after luxury cars and now we provide pickup van services.