LR4 5.0 Chain Guides actual problem?

[ttforcefed]

Since we're having a bubble-bursting moment here, I was talking to one of my indy mechanics this past week after he replaced my water pump. I said well at least I have a late year 2013 with the improved timing chain guides.

Can you tell where this is going?

He just smiled and shook his head ruefully. Told me that he's replaced plenty of 2013 MY "improved" timing chains. He sees them failing at around 100K-ish miles. Yes this is anecdotal (n=1). He did say it made sense to keep up the frequent oil changes but said it wasn't a silver bullet. This supports your experience, @ryanjl. Damn.

he replaced plenty as in after they failed and the motor went ****? or he replaced man 2013s after he heard the noise? i have 85k miles on my 2013 and zero timing chain flapping noise like i have on my 2011 RR SC. An independant just did my 2012 SC for 4k versus the 7100 land rover wanted.

 

[gsxr]

I think it's hard to confirm that proper oil changes won't save the chain/tensioner/guides, unless you have detailed records of every single oil change since new... AND, know how the vehicle was driven during that time. If it had regular 15kmi changes at the dealer but spent a lot of time in "severe service", 15kmi intervals would be inadequate.

On a related note, if the wear was severe enough to wear metal parts (not just plastic guide rails), an oil analysis should show this as abnormally high levels of certain metals. It would be interesting to see an oil analysis from an engine (before repairs!) confirmed to have the problem, and then another analysis a couple of oil changes after the repairs.

 

[ttforcefed]

I think it's hard to confirm that proper oil changes won't save the chain/tensioner/guides, unless you have detailed records of every single oil change since new... AND, know how the vehicle was driven during that time. If it had regular 15kmi changes at the dealer but spent a lot of time in "severe service", 15kmi intervals would be inadequate.

On a related note, if the wear was severe enough to wear metal parts (not just plastic guide rails), an oil analysis should show this as abnormally high levels of certain metals. It would be interesting to see an oil analysis from an engine (before repairs!) confirmed to have the problem, and then another analysis a couple of oil changes after the repairs.

as i said i just had the timing chain done in my 2011 SC. im sending an oil sample to blackstone for analysis. i did annual oil changes since new with some intervals being as high as 15k miles. will let everyone know what comes back from the analysis.

 

[cperez]

he replaced plenty as in after they failed and the motor went ****? or he replaced man 2013s after he heard the noise?

I didn't grill him on it too deeply as it wouldn't have made any difference to my maintenance intervals or oil changing frequency. I just laughed along with him. But he was talking about changing noisy chains, not blown engines.

 

[ttforcefed]

got ya. well i guess the only small blessing, irrespective a model year, is if they need addressing you will definitely hear the noise. what wld be really disheartening is to hear someone lost a motor with no noise warning

and then there is luck as well - as i mentioned maybe in another post - i have a friend who put 200k miles on a 2010 and 185k current miles on a 2011 with original timing chain.

 

[gsxr]

and then there is luck as well - as i mentioned maybe in another post - i have a friend who put 200k miles on a 2010 and 185k current miles on a 2011 with original timing chain.

Now THOSE are the stories I like to hear!

 

[ryanjl]

What year is urs?


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2012, first purchased in December of that year.


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[ryanjl]

I think it's hard to confirm that proper oil changes won't save the chain/tensioner/guides, unless you have detailed records of every single oil change since new... AND, know how the vehicle was driven during that time. If it had regular 15kmi changes at the dealer but spent a lot of time in "severe service", 15kmi intervals would be inadequate.

On a related note, if the wear was severe enough to wear metal parts (not just plastic guide rails), an oil analysis should show this as abnormally high levels of certain metals. It would be interesting to see an oil analysis from an engine (before repairs!) confirmed to have the problem, and then another analysis a couple of oil changes after the repairs.

Mine was originally purchased at the same dealer I bought it at. The original owner was a doctor who lived in Joplin, which is a little over 2 hours south of here. Al the service records were at my dealer, but I don’t remember them including oil changes. It was stuff like water pump, battery, etc.

So it’s possible they stuck with 15k mike intervals at a place local to them, using a more standard oil. But it’s also possible they did it at my dealer and the stuff I saw didn’t include more mundane things like that.


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[ttforcefed]

Are you guys aware of the performance oil changes they do at the dealer? They do an oil flush with an additive that gets rid of some sludge etc.


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[gsxr]

Are you guys aware of the performance oil changes they do at the dealer? They do an oil flush with an additive that gets rid of some sludge etc.

Avoid these like the plague. Flushes and additives are almost always a Very Bad Idea. The only time they should be done, IMO, would be as a last attempt to save a vehicle from going to the junkyard due to severe engine mechanical issues.

I'd be surprised if the dealer did this and it did not void the warranty.