I have a 240 wagon but my question is regarding my wife's Mercury Villager. I know it not the right forum but I could not find an active Villager one plus I always get great input from the 240 owners.

Last month the local dealer changed the timing belt on my wife's 1998 Villager. Today I was told by the same dealer that the engine has a broken camshaft and it was caused by the low cost Quaker State oil that causes wax to build up and prevented cooling of the bearing closest to the timing belt.

I am wondering if an over tightened timing belt could have acted like a cantilever load over the unsupport part of the camshaft could have caused the failure. Do you think a metalury lab could tell what caused the failure. I offered to pay for everything is it was temperature related but want agreement that the dealer pay for all work if it is not temperature related.

I have the feeling the dealer will find any way possible to get out of this one. The failure so close to the installing the new timing belt is hard to ignore. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Either way I expect a new (used) engine to be the next powerplant. Thanks in advance