When to change the timing chain on my vehicle ?

[4MyEgo]

Have a 2016 Ford Ranger which has 150,000 clicks on it and I spoke to Ford about changing the timing chain, guy said no need until engine starts making some noise, w-t-f-

 

I would have thought 150,000 clicks would be at the upper level, but then again with technology times change, so if anyone here has a genuine idea on when and if it needs changing would be appreciated, as far as the manuel goes, it's in Thai and the wife couldn't find anything in it talking about timing chains and Google was little help.

[petermik]

Nothing to stop you having it done now for your peace of mind... personally I would wait until 250k...????

[herfiehandbag]

Well eventually it will make a noise, in fact quite an exciting selection of rather dramatic noises, followed by a deafening silence.

 

At that point you will definitely meet to change the timing chain, and quite a lot of other bits as well.

 

Personally I would change it now - 150,000 km is quite reasonable. Perhaps above 200,000 km is pushing your luck.

Edited July 21, 2020 by herfiehandbag

[Cake Monster]

If it is a Timing Chain and not a Bonded Rubber Belt, just leave it alone.

There is no need to change it.

A Bonded Rubber belt would need changing every 160 Km or so, purely  for peace of mind, but a chain does not need changing.

[Brer]

Why change it if there is no problem.

The Ford guy is right, if you start to a hear a few rattles which can come and go or get some misfires then investigate the chain and tensioners. Usually you can hear when the chain is asking for help through the cover.

Regular oil changes will also prolong life as the chain requires lubrication, forgoing oil changes will result in your engine oil breaking down and not lubricating chain, tensioners, guides etc.

As they say here “up to you”

[KhunKenAP]

If it keeps time, no reason to change.

[DaLa]

Even with a timing belt, failure does not mean disaster in a non-interference engine.  I personally wouldn't think about timing chain problems as most of our vehicles are low mileage. Even though it's more expensive ( and still half price of the UK ), I always use the main dealer for servicing. In my experience in this country you are seen as a valued customer and the customer service is excellent.

[ravip]

Normally I change it before the 100,000KM. Some vehicles (like the Prado has a warning light). The point is, if it breaks, some engines will almost be destroyed.

(apparently, there are two types of engines. The first type will definitely be destroyed by the TB failure, while on the 2nd type the engine will merely stall on the TB failure. Someone explained this to me a long time ago, unfortunately I cannot remember the details now)

Here you will find some tips and I hope will answer your question >>> https://www.fixter.co.uk/blog/when-do-i-need-to-change-my-timing-belt/

 

More >>> https://driving.ca/column/troubleshooter/troubleshooter-when-should-you-replace-your-timing-belt

 

https://www.yourmechanic.com/estimates/ford/ranger/timing-belt-replacement

 

https://www.yourmechanic.com/estimates/ford/ranger/timing-belt-replacement

Edited July 21, 2020 by ravip

[tiocfaidh]

I have a fleet of Mercedes saloons which clock up to 700,000 kilometres before we sell them off and we've changed 2 Cam chains in the last 15 year or so. (Terrible job, at back of engine)

Regular servicing and a good quality oil are paramount.

You will know when the chain gets noisy and that is the time to change it.

[Bob A Kneale]

2 hours ago, ravip said:

Normally I change it before the 100,000KM. Some vehicles (like the Prado has a warning light). The point is, if it breaks, some engines will almost be destroyed.

(apparently, there are two types of engines. The first type will definitely be destroyed by the TB failure, while on the 2nd type the engine will merely stall on the TB failure. Someone explained this to me a long time ago, unfortunately I cannot remember the details now)

Here you will find some tips and I hope will answer your question >>> https://www.fixter.co.uk/blog/when-do-i-need-to-change-my-timing-belt/

 

More >>> https://driving.ca/column/troubleshooter/troubleshooter-when-should-you-replace-your-timing-belt

 

https://www.yourmechanic.com/estimates/ford/ranger/timing-belt-replacement

 

https://www.yourmechanic.com/estimates/ford/ranger/timing-belt-replacement

His Ranger has a timing chain, not a belt.

[quake]

2 hours ago, DaLa said:

 I always use the main dealer for servicing. In my experience in this country you are seen as a valued customer and the customer service is excellent.

Some times if your lucky.

[Cake Monster]

There is more likely to be a problem down the line from a Tensioner Pulley Bearing, or if the Pully is a cheap Plastic thing that could also fail.

This is the same for a Chain Timing or Rubber Bonded Belt Timing.

 

[HauptmannUK]

Many of you are confusing rubber timing belts with steel timing chains.

Belts can spontaneously snap and wreck the engine. They need to be replaced at a specified age/mileage interval.

Chains very seldom break.  They slowly wear, resulting in the chain becoming longer. At some point the chain becomes excessively long and can 'jump' on the sprockets resulting in pistons hitting valves.

The Ford Ranger engine uses a chain.

 

You will hear a slack chain rattling away long before its dangerous. Normally it begins with a loud clatter when you start a cold engine. If the oil has been changed regularly then this will be at 200-300k km, or even more.

You cannot change the chain alone, you need to buy a full kit with sprockets and guides. In the UK I pay about £100 for this (trade account price for an aftermarket kit from our factors).

[DaRoadrunner]

Depends whether your engine is the interference type or not. If it is, when the chain breaks, the pistons and valves will have an unhappy meeting and you will get a big bill. In a non-interference type you will only have to change the chain, sprockets and tensioners. Never re-use old sprockets and tensioners with new chain, change the whole assembly.

 

Timing chains are capable of high mileages. As for the rubber belt type, they recommend changing every 60,000 kms.

 

 

[HauptmannUK]

18 hours ago, DaRoadrunner said:

Depends whether your engine is the interference type or not. If it is, when the chain breaks, the pistons and valves will have an unhappy meeting and you will get a big bill. In a non-interference type you will only have to change the chain, sprockets and tensioners. Never re-use old sprockets and tensioners with new chain, change the whole assembly.

 

Timing chains are capable of high mileages. As for the rubber belt type, they recommend changing every 60,000 kms.

 

 

He's got a Diesel.  Basically you can't make a Diesel that is not interference on account of the high compression ratio.

Belts usually have an age/mileage limit. Most are more than 60k km. E.g. the small Ford EcoBoost are 160k km or 10 years. Ditto on the big Honda V6.

My experience is that its other components (WP, tensioner) that let the side down before the belt snaps.  The exception would be Ford CVH which could snap a belt if you sneezed on it...  I saw one fail at 14000miles/one year old car!

[Lancashirelad]

On 7/22/2020 at 12:53 PM, HauptmannUK said:

Many of you are confusing rubber timing belts with steel timing chains.

Belts can spontaneously snap and wreck the engine. They need to be replaced at a specified age/mileage interval.

Chains very seldom break.  They slowly wear, resulting in the chain becoming longer. At some point the chain becomes excessively long and can 'jump' on the sprockets resulting in pistons hitting valves.

The Ford Ranger engine uses a chain.

 

You will hear a slack chain rattling away long before its dangerous. Normally it begins with a loud clatter when you start a cold engine. If the oil has been changed regularly then this will be at 200-300k km, or even more.

You cannot change the chain alone, you need to buy a full kit with sprockets and guides. In the UK I pay about £100 for this (trade account price for an aftermarket kit from our factors).

At last someone talking sense. So much misinformation and confusion between belts and chains in this thread.

Edited July 26, 2020 by Lancashirelad

[Lancashirelad]