2.3 Chain

[rudders]

Hi all, i have had a galaxy now for 6 months and it is a R reg 2.3 ghia x and done 73k. I know the 2.3 is a chain but i do not know how long it last's before it needs changing. like on the belt is say 50k. Can anyone help me out on this please. Cheers all :ph34r:

[neiluk]

Everything I've read on this forum says it's good for the life of the car, but I've seen 2 cars on Ebay that needed/needing the chain changed :lol: . I've just bought a 2.3 myself yesterday with 120,000+ miles on the clock so I'm interested in a definitive answer myself.

 

I'm VERY happy on the whole with my new Galaxy. My family said it made them feel like Royalty :D .

 

Neil.

[decappo]

Hello

 

As far as I know, the chain will last as long as the motor. Some people have it checked at the Ford dealer around 120Tkm, but the Ford 2.0 and 2.3l motors usually have no problems. The V6 on the other hand.... :lol:

 

Decappo

[mattkh]

The V6 on the other hand.... :lol:

Decappo

 

The V6 with the VW 2.8 engine also has chains.

[Guest wolfie]

I believe decappo was hinting at the fact that VR6's have a reputation for eating themselves when their timing chains fail! although mine is showing no signs off doing so! YET! and it's way past the normal mileage when they start to show signs of popping their clogs :lol:

[El Dingo]

Regular oil changes will help to keep the timing chain in good condition. Change the oil more often if your Gal is used for a lot of short journeys, especially in cold weather, where the engine never really gets to warm up.

[tdi90]

We were told (for a vectra with a chain) that as soon as you hear sumint rattling, get it in and changed quick!

[rudders]

Cheers for that all, at least i have not got to worry about that at the moment, and with doing only 5k a year it should last me for a long while. :blink:

[tim-spam]

If a cambelt snaps, the damage is usually very serious, and a new engine may be required. If a cam chain snaps, a new engine will be required.

 

However, the advantage of a cam chain is that it gets noisy before it fails, whereas a belt can stay virtually silent until it snaps. There is no problem with either system so long as the belt and rollers are replaced at the specified intervals or the chain (and tensioner) is replaced when worn.

[rudders]

If a cambelt snaps, the damage is usually very serious, and a new engine may be required. If a cam chain snaps, a new engine will be required.

 

However, the advantage of a cam chain is that it gets noisy before it fails, whereas a belt can stay virtually silent until it snaps. There is no problem with either system so long as the belt and rollers are replaced at the specified intervals or the chain (and tensioner) is replaced when worn.

 

 

 

That's what i was trying to find out, what are the specified interval for getting a chain replaced. They should out live the car or is that not right tim-spam ?

[tim-spam]

Chains are usually designed for the life of the engine, but should it get noisy, it should be replaced together with the tensioner components. If the sprockets are also worn, it would be a good idea to replace these as well. Failing to change a noisy cam chain could well lead to it defining the life of the engine.

 

On my wife's Mercedes, I replaced the chain, tensioner rail, tensioner and guides at just over 200,000 miles (the sprockets were OK) due to noise. When I took off the cam cover, it was possible to lift the chain away from the cam sprocket slightly, indicating significant wear in the chain.

 

However, if all is quiet, leave well alone.

[El Dingo]

When I took off the cam cover, it was possible to lift the chain away from the cam sprocket slightly, indicating significant wear in the chain.

 

Good advice - this is an excellent indicator of wear, and proof of how tolerant these chains can be.

[rudders]

Cheers for that tim-spam :(

[CROSSFIREROB]

I have a cam chain that rattles on start up , which is the oil pressure not being up into the tensioner on the chain tensioner its self,the oil drains back from this part and so leaves the chain slack, so on start up you will here the chain rattle untill pressure is up , then the tensiomn is taken up on the chain and the rattle goes away ,this i belive thi is a fault in the tensioner and there is a special part to replcae the faulty part,if the rattle is longer than say 20 seconds on start up you have a problem, if its only a few seconds and then all is well, you have a problem but need not rush to sort it out , but do sort it out somewhere along the line , i am hoping i will only need the tensioner on my 60.000 mile motor , but in the worst case it could be the entire set up chain sprockets tesioner kit the lot on a high millage motor.