A word on clogged Camshaft Solenoid

[oragex]

I replaced my intake solenoid because it was clogged - much the same way the transmission solenoids were affected. The actuator was still working but the sleeve inside wouldn't fully open. There is a new redesigned solenoid part. This solved the following issues

- poor engine timing caused by the solenoid not fully opening
- engine pinging (pre-ignition) under acceleration even with higher gas octane and the cylinders being clean with new spark plugs
- top of the engine getting overly hot as a consequence of the pre-ignition (the temperature gauge will stay at 12h)


The pictures in order
1. Location of the solenoid (exhaust one pictured)
2. Newer design of solenoid. It has a stainless screw that won't rust like in the older design
3. Old design of solenoid with a rusted screw head

[vtl]

Compare to clean solenoid passages on 2002 V70 (same engine) 3 years ago, at 124k miles then. Engine was running on Amsoil synthetic for couple of years, some crappy oil and long OCI before that - first short oil drains were like a tar, plus the VVT hub managed to die.

[oragex]

Looks clean indeed, no varnish at all