Interference engine

[JalanX]

I know we have a timing chain. Do we have an interference engine? I think we do. Has anyone heard any issues with the timing chains failing or having issues? I know not many have high mileage yet. I guess not much maintenance to do with timing chain.

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[Frenchy]

At this point it is unknown if we have the timing chain problem. Thankfully Ford has been pretty good on thier stuff compared to other manufacturers. Other than that i dont have much else for you

 

[Dgc333]

The 2.3 Ecoboost engine is an interference engine as are most modern OHC 4cyl engines.

Also the current architecture of the 2.3 has been around since 2010 when the 2.0 Ecoboost (2.3 is a stroked 2.0) was released and I have not heard of any issues with the timing chain.

 

[Apples]

Absolutely, the number one culprit which causes engine failures, is lack of oil! Far too many wait until the oil light comes on before they even think about an oil change. Making things even worse, too many dealers tell customers, they don't need an oil change until 10,000 miles! This without any consideration of how hard the vehicle has been driven.

Incidentally, one of the first failure points are the timing chain guides.

 

[I_smell_like_diesel]

Depends on the quality of the chain. I used to work as a GM Dealers engine mechanic and their 2.4l and 3.6l chains would wear "stretch" all the time. They would come it with CMP/CKP correlation codes all the time, past 60,000 miles. Hopefully its not the case with our engines but the VVT systems on modern engines add another stress point to other timing components, such a chains, guides, and tensioner.

I've heard also heard of Saab and some Korean auto manufacturers having service intervals on their timing chains, so not all chains are service for life.

 

[JalanX]

Appreciate all the info/comments. I had an 07 Nissan Xterra for 13 years with timing chain & they were notorious for guide wear. Nothing to prevent it just change when it gets loud. Expensive fix. It was also interference engine. Was a 4l V6. So I was just wondering if anyone heard or had issues. I will be very interested in how the 19-22’s do when many hit 100k miles. I’m at about 1600 so I have a while to go..

 

[Frenchy]

Appreciate all the info/comments. I had an 07 Nissan Xterra for 13 years with timing chain & they were notorious for guide wear. Nothing to prevent it just change when it gets loud. Expensive fix. It was also interference engine. Was a 4l V6. So I was just wondering if anyone heard or had issues. I will be very interested in how the 19-22’s do when many hit 100k miles. I’m at about 1600 so I have a while to go..

Yeah the early 4.0 had an issue with the material on both tue guide and the secondary chains. This issue got fixed about a year or two later. I know about it as I used to work at a few Nissan dealers. Lets just say over the years Nissan hasnt had the best history with timing chains. Just look at the juke on how it had to replace so many under recalls because they would fail so quickly and cause engine failure.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

I know we have a timing chain. Do we have an interference engine? I think we do. Has anyone heard any issues with the timing chains failing or having issues? I know not many have high mileage yet. I guess not much maintenance to do with timing chain.

HI J,

I think you are correct that the motor is not free wheeling.

Back story,

The 1981 Escort 1.6L was not free wheeling...it was corrected in 1982. The Escort engine initially tested for life time for the rubber cog belt...but the directive from Car was to reduce the length of the engine in this East/West configuration and the took the length out of the front of the engine, so the belt was shortened in width. Testing showed this reduced the life from infinite to roughly 70,000 miles, so the Car Engineering solution...put in the owner's manual that the belt had to be replaced at 70,000 miles. Sheesh. Belt break on a 1981 handed you a motor with the crankshaft exiting the motor... Stupid, Stupid, Stupid... Should have widened the Escort by a half inch... We engineers in Truck were just mystified by this decision.... A few folks lost their jobs for such a stupid decision...

Best,
Phil

 

[Fitzmotor]

The 3 valve 5.4 is another Ford timing chain engine that requires chain maintenance, the rest of the engine can go the distance for the most part.
I wonder if a SHOC 427 ever lasted long enough to wear out the chain, it was only 7 feet long, Ha!

 

[Jason B]

they are considered lifetime components.
dont worry about it.

And if it breaks at 50,000, or 70,000, or 100,000, they will say that is the lifetime of the chain.

 

[dtech]

GM was known for timing chain issues in it's v6 engines - iirc one of the issues was going cheap on the chain itself .

 

[VAMike]

And if it breaks at 50,000, or 70,000, or 100,000, they will say that is the lifetime of the chain.

It's hard to believe that if it were 50/100k it wouldn't simply be listed as a maintenance item.

 

[MountainGoat]

Usually it will give some warning in the form of whining engine noise. Sounds like an old supercharger. My old Nissan started doing it right at 200k miles.

I don't see anything on scheduled maintenance about a timing chain, only "Replace the accessory drive belt or belts." at 150K.

 

[I_smell_like_diesel]

Usually see a cam/crank correlation codes way before you'd have a timing chain failure due to wear, at least with modern engines. GM 3.6's would do this. They they actually reprogrammed the PCM's to allow a greater variance between the crank and camshafts, because it was such an issue. Once your CEL came on again, you got a set of chains under warranty (up to 120,000 miles).

 

[Porpoise Hork]

Usually see a cam/crank correlation codes way before you'd have a timing chain failure due to wear, at least with modern engines. GM 3.6's would do this. They they actually reprogrammed the PCM's to allow a greater variance between the crank and camshafts, because it was such an issue. Once your CEL came on again, you got a set of chains under warranty (up to 120,000 miles).

You also hear the tell-tale sounds of the chain slapping against the guides or cover at startup or idle on high mileage engines. That's what my old '97 crown vic with the 4.6L would do when the chain tensioner actuators went bad at 143K miles. Replaced them and the guides and drove it for another 50K on the original chains before I got t-boned by a jackass with no insurance who ran a red light.

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