Wow! You could eat off of that engine! I need to wash mine now

As for the timing chain, I had a 2004 Ford that Ford told me I would never have to change the spark plugs. Well, it needed a tune up after 80,000 miles and in order to put new plugs in it because a couple were fouled (the plugs will break off in the heads) out I had to buy 2 brand new aluminum heads. Tune up = $3,459.00

I don't believe anything the dealer tells me!

 

Timing chains do stretch over time. Not as much as belts do, but eventually. If you're going to replace the tensioner, might as well replace the chain as well. Sorry, didn't mean to get off topic.

 

Yep! Your right. A little maintenance can save you big bucks in the end. I don't go to the dealer either. If I can't do it myself, I pay a good local guy to do it for me.

 

I do all my own work I don’t trust shops.

It’s not that I trust any dealer I have never heard of any 2.5 tossing a timing chain yet in 14 years of reading forums. Even though a new chain may tighten up my timing response

These are little 2.5 engines you know not powerful V8's those eat up chains all the time have you seen the chain setup on a 2.5 very simple and very short not much room for stretching at all.

 

I've never heard of one losing one yet either. I am actually a GM guy and I may be just old fashioned too. I know an old rule of thumb was oil every 3k and a timing chain/belt every 60k. But I am an old school Chevy guy!

 

You got my interest up so I looked real hard for info on the 2.5 chain and how long they may last. This is what I found mainly from some Jeep forums yes the chain may go on you but usually around 200K but the chain tensioners can go way before the chain so replacing the chain tensioner is a needed job around 100K and this may stop the chain from needing replaced at all in the future.

Info I found

1 http://www.wranglerforum.com/f5/clacking-noise-front-of-engine-98-2-5l-fixed-timing-chain-79019.html

2 http://www.cherokeetalk.com/forum/f8/replacing-timing-chain-tensioner-2-5l-5925/

3 http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f12/timing-chain-set-replacement-2-5-backyard-gorilla-moonshine-style-782349/


daveyboy312005 Thanks for waking me up some.

I was planing on replacing the chain tensoner some time this year so it was in the works but never concidered it a must do kind of job.

Now I know its a must do project and needs to get done. She only has 120K on her so Im cool.

Thanks

 

Great info man! I replaced the chain twice already (my shop did) and I can't remember if they mentioned anything at all about tensioners. I do know that before I did the chain the first time there was a loud rattling coming from the front of the engine (sounded like a water pump pulley), and after I paid to have the chain replaced the noise was gone. But I think I'm gonna look at some of my old records and try to see what was done because now I can't remember. Thanks for the heads up!