- Joined
- Jun 2, 2002
- Messages
- 4,197
Well, my 17 year old Nissan pickup truck had to come into the garage for some repair work this 4th of July weekend. I've had horrible chatter/rattle during start-up for years and after a recent oil change it got to the point that I was afraid something was going to come apart while driving down the road.
So, the first thing friday morning I pulled the truck into the garage and got to work. I spent about four hours removing belts, hoses, radiator and shroud, alternator, oil pan, everything that makes up the front of the engine. My work was not in vain though.
As I removed the front timing cover I was shocked. The entire timing chain guide had disintegrated and was laying in the bottom of the oil pan. The plastic part was long since gone and the metal part had nearly worn completely through. I'd say that this issue had been going on for about 5 years. The banana shaped tensioner guide was still intact and doing its job but it was worn completely out also.
I suspected all of this based on the sound of the engine at idle and start-up. But what shocked me was the amount of nasty, ugly varnish on the engine. The oil pan was OK but there was a small amount of carbon on various pieces and the area around the timing chain was HORRID!
I always cut my filters open and check things out and there's always an above average amount of carbon in the media and now I know why.
Going forward, I'm going to be doing more frequent oil changes and stick to Nissan's severe service intervals for everything.
I'm lucky the timing chain hasn't broken on this thing. The gears are horribly worn and the chain is stretched - likely due to excess heat.
So, the first thing friday morning I pulled the truck into the garage and got to work. I spent about four hours removing belts, hoses, radiator and shroud, alternator, oil pan, everything that makes up the front of the engine. My work was not in vain though.
As I removed the front timing cover I was shocked. The entire timing chain guide had disintegrated and was laying in the bottom of the oil pan. The plastic part was long since gone and the metal part had nearly worn completely through. I'd say that this issue had been going on for about 5 years. The banana shaped tensioner guide was still intact and doing its job but it was worn completely out also.
I suspected all of this based on the sound of the engine at idle and start-up. But what shocked me was the amount of nasty, ugly varnish on the engine. The oil pan was OK but there was a small amount of carbon on various pieces and the area around the timing chain was HORRID!
I always cut my filters open and check things out and there's always an above average amount of carbon in the media and now I know why.
Going forward, I'm going to be doing more frequent oil changes and stick to Nissan's severe service intervals for everything.
I'm lucky the timing chain hasn't broken on this thing. The gears are horribly worn and the chain is stretched - likely due to excess heat.