An engine, such as a variable displacement engine, has a camshaft retainer. The camshaft retainer has a cap adapted to cooperate with a carrier to support first and second overhead camshafts for rotation. The retainer cap forms a housing for a camshaft journal bearing. The retainer cap also forms a retainer land defining an open channel adapted to provide a jet of lubricating fluid from the bearing housing to externally lubricate a cam. The retainer land is adapted to mate with a sealing land of the carrier to enclose the open channel.