Timing Chain Life

[Shel_B]

Not too long ago, I read an article that suggested changing a particular engine's timing chain at 125,000 miles. I don't recall the engine in question, however I believe some engines can get more mileage from a chain than others. Design, materials, engine power and lubrication all contribute.

Are there any engines that you know of that have a recommended interval for changing the chain, or for inspecting it?

 

[zzyzzx]

If It's a simple, relatively short chain, like on my 1999 Alero V6, it will most likely never need to be changed. If it's really long and goes around a bunch of pulleys, change it. By change it, I mean change it when the water pump it's powering goes out or when doing some other maintenance in the area.

 

[Corollaman]

I think the Chevy 1.3 turbo engines have a 150,000 mile replacement timing chain interval. It's kind of weird because the wet timing belt in the 1.2 Chevy turbo has a 150,000 interval (same as the chain).

 

[joekingcorvette]

Not sure but my Civic has 148,000 miles on the original timing chain and I do not plan or replacing it.

 

[JTK]

It seems like years ago with MPI engines, you rarely heard of OHC timing chain issues and vehicles went to the crusher with the OEM timing set in place. Not so much anymore. Is it the GDI? Is it just the lightweight, higher compression engines of today? The "thinner" oil recommendations of today?

 

[Jetronic]

Timing chains rarely wear out without getting noisy. I passed a Kia where the timing chain was obviously past due the other day, it was the first thing I heard when approching the vehicle from the rear

 

[supton]

Seems to be very dependent on the engine model. Remember the 70's? They had the bright idea of using nylon gears to quiet things down, and I want to say, they were notorious for not going 100kmiles. Mind you, that was with a short chain. Want to say even the ones with metal gears did not last forever.

These days they seem to go the distance (200k+)... unless if it's a problem model. And then I'm not sure if it's always the chain. Tensioners and guides might be more failure prone for all I know.

Anyhow. I don't know of any model where a chain replacement is on a schedule. I want to say JHZR2 had shown in the past some MB's with the ability to measure and accommodate timing chain wear? I could well be remembering wrong.

 

[UncleDave]

It seems like years ago with MPI engines, you rarely heard of OHC timing chain issues and vehicles went to the crusher with the OEM timing set in place. Not so much anymore. Is it the GDI? Is it just the lightweight, higher compression engines of today? The "thinner" oil recommendations of today?

GDI and its related soot, and pumping pressures changed the game.

 

[barryh]

It seems like years ago with MPI engines, you rarely heard of OHC timing chain issues and vehicles went to the crusher with the OEM timing set in place. Not so much anymore. Is it the GDI? Is it just the lightweight, higher compression engines of today? The "thinner" oil recommendations of today?

In some cases manufacturers have moved from a duplex chain to a single row chain for the usual modern reason of shaving factions of a % off emissions and fuel consumption.

It's got so I would now much prefer a belt because at least they are easier to diy replace than a chain and you won't need to replace the sprockets as well. The cost of Professional timing chain replacement on my 15 year old car would write it off.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Timing chains usually never fail, except on specific models known for timing chain problems

 

[wpod]

Add 20 wt oil to all the other causes.

 

[Jetronic]

In some cases manufacturers have moved from a duplex chain to a single row chain for the usual modern reason of shaving factions of a % off emissions and fuel consumption.

It's got so I would now much prefer a belt because at least they are easier to diy replace than a chain and you won't need to replace the sprockets as well. The cost of Professional timing chain replacement on my 15 year old car would write it off.

I don't think that matters in case of the silent chains, they have at least double the amount of area contacting the pins that a single row chain has.

 

[Strumpan_]

It seems like years ago with MPI engines, you rarely heard of OHC timing chain issues and vehicles went to the crusher with the OEM timing set in place. Not so much anymore. Is it the GDI? Is it just the lightweight, higher compression engines of today? The "thinner" oil recommendations of today?

A lot of MPI engines have issues with timing chains

 

[Jetronic]

Add 20 wt oil to all the other causes.

Yes, if you leave it in too long. Once the soot particles get bigger than the MOFT in the chain pins they're going to cause wear. Soot particles become bigger as dispersants get occupied with more debris in the oil. Thicker base oil (10W-20 or 5W-20) will help. Or changing the oil a bit sooner, especially as the engine ages and starts producing more soot in the oil.

 

[Trav]

A lot of the timing chains jobs I have done are not necessarily due to worn chains but broken plastic guides. What suck is pulling the engine out just to get to them and finding out the aftermarket has high quality aluminum ones for not much more.

 

[Analog-1]

08 Honda Civic 1.8 L 234.000 miles original chain no issues and i have no plans to ever change it. Been using 5w20 the entire time.

 

[Fitter30]

03 chevy astro van 4.6 250k after first oil change synthetic 3 k - 5k changes with standard filter.

 

[barryh]

I don't think that matters in case of the silent chains, they have at least double the amount of area contacting the pins that a single row chain has.

Mines a normal roller chain on the M271 engine which is known for timing chain and sprocket problems. They replaced it with an inverted tooth chain on the next engine.

What gets me is that chain drives are not rocket science, they have been around a long time so they are well understood and the manufacturers must know what needs to be used for durability but they have still managed to penny pinch the solution on some modern engines.

 

[Jetronic]

Mines a normal roller chain on the M271 engine which is known for timing chain and sprocket problems. They replaced it with an inverted tooth chain on the next engine.

What gets me is that chain drives are not rocket science, they have been around a long time so they are well understood and the manufacturers must know what needs to be used for durability but they have still managed to penny pinch the solution on some modern engines.

roller chains do better in fuel efficiency tests, that's why.

 

[Marcozi]

Some MBz need to have their timing chain replaced every 100k miles. So much for great German engineering.