Engine in my sig, I just pulled the plugs to take a look and they Look SWEET after 2000k on the engine. Went to set my lash while the plugs where out, and found ONE rocker looking all nasty gunky oily. What's this from? It's exhaust on #8, and the #8 plug shows NO signs of burning oil, and I fired her up with the covers off and that rod is supplying oil.

What's up?! http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_img_a/331508_100_full.jpg

I had a couple pushrod tips fail, causing a lack of oil to the rocker arm and pivot ball making them overheat and turn black. Luckily I caught it quick. I'd take the rocker off and check it and the pushrod.

Pushrod looked perfect, didn't really notice any gaulling on the rocker, but I think I'm going to replace the pivot ball as per a friend's advice.

Weird it's just the one no? It also happened to the be loosest rocker too... wonder if my cam is wiping or if the heat made it loosen or what. It was off by .015 and the others were .02-.07

That's exactly what that's from; overheating, due to ball fulcrum friction.

You'll probably need to replace the rocker.

What most likely happened, was that the ball didn't rotate inside the rocker. Maybe got itself stuck on the stud. I'd bet the ball has a funky rocker-shaped groove worn in it, and the rocker's ball seat is probably not round any more either.

The reason that one was developing extra lash, is because the rocker and ball were wearing. It probably has nothing to do with the cam. You can compare push rod motion to another valve with a dial indicator to make sure.

I'd also suggest replacing the rocker stud, even if it doesn't break off by itself when you back the rocker nut off. You'll find that the rocker has got so hot that it's turned blue under that coke mess; the stud has got that hot too, maybe hotter, and has now lost its heat treatment.

I had a couple llok like that and even a little worse on my pump-gas 468, also Magnum Tips. I ended up galling my #7 exhaust rocker ball enuff to where I feared I'd lost the cam. My machinist told me that I'd be better off switching to full roller rockers, since I like to buzz my car down the highway pretty good on road trips (3500+ rpm). I switched to Comp Pro Magnums, with Felpro 5/16 gaskets under my stock covers. So far, so good; though I haven't re-inspected them yet.