It seems to me we are hearing more and more about flat tappet cam failures than we ever did in the old days, even when the cam is broken in properly. I know we hear about oil today "not having the good stuff anymore", but sometimes cams fail even when additives are put in to replace some of those things.

Before I knew what I was doing (not that I know much more now) I remember installing a lot of cams in Pontiacs, Fords, Chevys, and other engines without even doing a breakin procedure, I would just install it, fire it up, and let it sit there and idle for a while. And yet, I don't ever remember one of them wiping out a lobe.

Are cams made of different metals now, or are we using higher spring pressures or more lift, which is affecting how they rub the lifter base? Just curious what our more educated members think is causing this to happen.

Don