Bought a used (2014) pioneer, will be replacing camshaft, after reading it is a somewhat common(?) ailment. Have owned and ridden motorcycles all my life, many Honda’s, including generators, 4x4’s etc., I have a theory on camshaft failures. Mine has only like 375 miles on. It is started and run only a few minutes to fetch mail, haul garbage cans etc., so the normal cold-metal condensation never gets cooked-off. I’ve seen this on my motorcycles with sight-glasses, it’s any engine that’s cold. Most are run or operated until “operating temperature” so it’s never apparent. So after cam replace and whatever else I see/find, it’s going to be to wife and grandkids, if you start it, run it until it’s hot. Have used synthetic oil in all I own for 35 years, but you mix enough water with it, cannot properly protect. Especially “sliding” wear like cam vs roller bearings or babbits. Just a thought.
