What were the results of the initial valve adjustment. .....
So far you are the only other person here asking what I asked on pge 2 of this 3 page marathon of speculation and inane diagnostics......
so I ask again:
26k miles, PC3, flys out, I have to ask a few other questions...
did you ever do the valve adjust?
curious as to what dealer will say about that, combined with not checking the air filter in 26k miles also...yeah, i think that could cause quite a carbon problem.
oh, reading back to the start, I will say it's IMPOSSIBLE for the timing chain to "jump" unless the tensioner was totally removed, and an attempt was made to start the engine, there simply is not enough slack to jump.
38mpg is awefull milage, and is very real when the air filter is clogged. My 08 with a fresh air filter and fresh valve adjust was getting 50+ mpg 2 up, heavily loaded running slab at high speeds (70-90 mph) combined with aggressive twisty running (Dragon, Charahola, parkway etc)on a 2500 mile trip, this was a definit and accurate reslut, as prior to the filter and adjust, my milage had dropped continually till it was holding at 39-40 mpg....One simple service interval may have been the answer to a very expensive repair at this point. I'd also rule out a clogged Cat, at that milage.
it seams as if a lack of spcified maintainence was the cause of this catastophic failure.
A simple blocked crancase vent, which we have seen a few of here on this bike, could easily cause problems forcing oil and crankcase vapors up past the piston during operation, and add into the feature of this carbon formation in the combustion chamber, but an ill adjusted set of intake valves will be my projection as to the cause, the increased carbon area around the intake side, is a result of combustion taking place during a time when the valves are still open, and thus incomplete combustion and carbon buildup occures. Classic example. VVT functioning will exacerbate this at altitude also, when running hard, and excessive downhill coasting at altitude will further the syndrome.