Timing chains

[m.mcmillen]

I’ve noticed a lot of talk about timing chains lately. Just so you know, it could be worse and you own a Ford. This one had a bad water pump which is driven by the chain. This is a 2013 Explorer

It actually has 3 chains and in order to get the secondary chains set correctly, the cams have to come out.

Also, check out the crazy timing cover torque sequence.

 

[BrianF]

Sorry, I shouldn't laugh. I hate fords with a passion. They seem to have some German engineering overtones. More complex than they need to be.

 

[m.mcmillen]

Laugh away!

 

[Mooseman]

Why I used to call them "Exploders" at work. Leaking fuel, exhaust fumes, melting headlight wiring and some mystery clicking noises in the back. Every time I would start one up, the three tone chime it rang I would sing "I hate Ford, I hate Ford, I hate Ford"

 

[BrianF]

We had one exploder that you just couldn't get it to stop leaking exhaust into the cabin. It was just a windows down kinda vehicle.

I blew the transmission out of one last december. Can only assume I took a out a cooler line running through some finger drifts. It dripped all over the exhaust and made a nice plume when parked. Then one day she couldn't move under it's own power. No love lost.

 

[m.mcmillen]

To be fair, GM didn’t do much better with their 3.6 engine and I had to pull this one out to change the chains.

 

[Mooseman]

This is true. Basically have the same discussions with snowmobiles. Ski-Doo engines suck ass but their suspensions are bad ass. Yamaha engines are bad ass but their suspensions suck ass. And nobody loves Polaris .

 

[TollKeeper]

To be fair, GM didn’t do much better with their 3.6 engine and I had to pull this one out to change the chains.

View attachment 95861

Same engine thats in my Rendezvous. So far I like it, but you dont run this engine by the OLM, you MUST change the oil every 3k miles with quality oil, or your doing that. Hope you changed the rear valve cover gasket that was updated! I do think I am going to get rid of this Rendezvous soon thou. Although a good truck... I dont trust any VVT engine.

 

[m.mcmillen]

My Acadia has that engine also. It has been burning oil pretty bad lately and I'm wondering if I should change the valve cover gasket on it, too. I did have the dealership change the chains on mine a couple years ago so I would assume they should have updated it then but who knows. I don't like sending stuff out to get fixed but I was working on changing the cylinder heads on our Honda minivan at the time so I didn't have any choice.

 

[mrrsm]

I STILL Carry the "Three Timing Chain Tensioner Grenade Pins" on my Key Chain to Stab me in my Right Leg (...My Good One) and REMIND me every Day to NEVER offer to do this job on a Transverse Mounted Engine jammed inside of a 2007 Nissan Quest Van ...EVER again:



23 Days away from Home... Working alone and out in the Boonies during Bad Weather... Fighting with Three Timing Chains,, Three Timing Chain Tensioners, Five Timing Chain Guides losing Three Whole Days Fighting with about 2,500 Ft Lb TTY Torque holding "The Jesus Bolt" onto the Crank-HB Nose, Wrestling in and out the Five Section Valve Cover, and having an absolutely MISERABLE time while doing the Job.

BUT in the End ...I conquered THIS SOB and its still running Quiet, Smooth and Powerful ...well over a Year and Half Later:

 

[Mooseman]

Looking at these, I'm ashamed that I bitched about the single chain job on the TB. Seems simple now compared to all these other engines.

 

[m.mcmillen]

I STILL Carry the "Three Timing Chain Tensioner Grenade Pins" on my Key Chain to Stab me in my Right Leg (...My Good One) and REMIND me every Day to NEVER offer to do this job on a Transverse Mounted Engine jammed inside of a 2007 Nissan Quest Van ...EVER again:

I feel your pain. Well, not the stabbing in my leg part because I didn’t put the pins on my keychain.

 

[BrianF]

That's why I bought a cummins. I will take the rattley ass gear driven boat anchor any day over that labyrinth of chain.