Nissan 3.5 VQ - oil to protect timing chain guides

[datech]

What most people are saying is that the startup rattle will damage the plastic chain guides over time, and the chain can wear more and eventually might jump a tooth and screw up the timing.

 

[Brons2]

It would be nice if manufacturers would build in some sort of maintenance port where you could open the port and have a window on the timing chain to check chain stretch.

I mean - I have a $5.00 tool to check chain stretch on my bicycles. When it gets to .75 over - replace chain. Simple. Which is about 2000 miles for me on my long distance bike usually.

It would be nice to be able to do that with my cars. I have some startup rattle on my Kia and I'm wondering if I should replace the guides, or replace the guides and chain, or just do nothing. The car is just about 100K.

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: Brons2
It would be nice if manufacturers would build in some sort of maintenance port where you could open the port and have a window on the timing chain to check chain stretch.

Mitsubishi has something like that on the 4B11T.

There is a sensor attached to the timing chain tensioner. As the chain and guides wear, the tensioner picks up the slack. A warning light goes on if the tensioner has gone out to far. Some call it "The orange triangle of death"

I'm not sure if other engines use this feature.