I pulled the passenger side valve cover off my 05 Expedition. Everything looked the normal brown color you would expect except for the cap and cam between the #3 and #4 cylinders. That area is totally black. What could cause this? Stuck valve? Bad lash adjuster? Is it a problem that can be remedied or would a new head be needed?

 

Is it right about where the PCV valve inlet would be sitting if the valve cover was on?

 

No. there isn't anything that connects to the valve cover anywhere in that area. The area in question is near the back of the head on the pass side.

 

Alright, so i just pulled the driver side valve cover. Three of the cam caps were busted. Completely broken between the two bolts on the caps. A fourth cap has clearly been digging into the cam & i'm sure it would have broken, too. Anyone ever heard of this? What would cause this?