Let's try to get the facts down on tensioner issues

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Quijote

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We've discussed tensioner-related issues a lot on this board over the years. I think it would be helpful to summarize what we know.

I'll start with a poor attempt and hopefully we can get to a consensus.

1) We all agree with the fact that the oil change interval should be reduced from the factory recommendation of 15k miles to 1/2 or 1/3 (5-7.5k miles) using a good synthetic oil of the proper weight if not using the expensive recommended Castrol oil.

2) Theory is that not doing so will impact tensioner function causing the chain to slacken and leading to bigger problems such as possibly skipping a tooth if severe enough.

3) There known are issues with the the guides wearing on earlier (pre ~2013) models. Aside from the point 2) above, but likely in addition to it, a deep pocket eventually is created on the aluminum guides causing even more chain slack.

I think that summarizes my understanding of the issue. Feel free to add links for images/videos or expand.

What I want to discuss is the "2013 fix." I know there are reports of "failures" or at least tensioner jobs on 2013+ and SCV6 LR4's. But we know there was a fix to the guides with a steel insert to prevent wear on the aluminum guides.

The question I have is, are the tensioner issues on >2013's related only to chain slack (point 2) above)? Has anyone who has followed a known shorter oil change interval had any issues on a 2013+ model? Any evidence that the 2013+ guides are wearing? Any catastrophic failures on >2013 LR4's?

My point is, it's possible that >2013's see tensioner/chain issues if oil change intervals are long. But since (hopefully) the guide wear issue is resolved, the magnitude of the issue should be less and hopefully eliminated with more frequent oil changes. This would also apply to pre-2013 vehicles with the updated guides.

Could people chime in with tensioner/chain anecdotes and mention:

1. Model year
2. Known oil change history
3. Type and extent of issue (engine failure, CEL, noise)

Anecdotes from Jaguars using the same 5.0L V8 would be helpful as well.
 

PaulLR3

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2013 LR4 with 121,000 miles
Oil changed every 7500 miles with Mobil 1 EP up to 100,000 miles
Oil changed every 5000 miles with Mobil 1 AP after 100,000 miles
No chain noise yet.
 

umbertob

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2013 5-liter V8 with 225,000 miles. Been changing oil and filter religiously myself every 7500 miles since it was in the teens, at first with regular Mobil 1 5W-20, then with Mobil 1 5W-20 EP, and for the past 60K miles or so with Mobil 1 5W-30 EP High Mileage. No noises, no CELs, no engine issues.
 

DaytonaRS7

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2011 LR4 5.0 V8
New to me at 135k. currently has 140k.
Carfax indicates it was maintained at dealer, approx every 7500 miles. oil change assumed at this interval.
Carfax and previous owner did not indicate failure.

No sign of noise or impending failure.
Inspection of chain through oil fill cap shows chain is not loose.
 

mbw

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2013 LR4 5.0 V8
Bought it new. ~76k miles on it now.
I try to do 6-7k mile oil changes, but lately its just spring/fall changes since I put fewer miles on it lately.
5w-20 Mobil 1 EP
I hear the injectors a little, but just like new. Chain seems fine, I've poked it left hand side chain through the oil filler area before.
 

DirtyHal

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2011 Bought at approx 62k Miles in 2018
-Unknown previous oil change intervals
-I have since changed the oil every 6-7k with various different synthetics
-Currently at 124k miles,
-Next oil change switching to new spec 0W-20 Liqui Moly oil and also using the ceratec oil additve as well as the liqui moly oil saver additive. I am also going to do their Oil flush product to get everything out.

I've been wondering if the ceratec would be a good treatment for these motors ever since I learned about it. You'd think a friction modifier would prevent excessive wear. Although I did some research and found a guy on this forum that did the ceratec but still had his tensioners fail which makes me wonder if some of the guides were just made incorrectly and wear prematurely more from a manufacturing defect than anything else?

About 1 year ago at the 103k mile mark one of my wheel bearings went out and the only place in town that had the part on short notice was the dealership, when they were fixing my wheel bearing they indicated that they thought the timing chains were making noise and needed to be repaired, I took it to my Indy shop and they said they inspected the engine and listened to it with a stethoscope and did not hear any noise. 20k miles later and the engine is still going, no CEL or excessive noise. Its just kind of a loud engine.
 

Quijote

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I suppose I'll add my own data but it has too low a mileage to matter, I think.

- July 2013 production. Bought new. Now ~43k miles
- Oil changes yearly or at most every 7.5k miles with OEM Castrol during 4-years of warranty and Mobil1 EP 5W-20 since.
- No engine issues at all.
 
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cperez

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2013 5.0L with 71K miles. I acquired it at 30K and have done 6-7 oil changes in that time, all with Castrol recommended oil. Can't speak to maintenance or OCI prior to Oct 2017 but it was extremely clean when I brought it home, got an excellent bill of health from my indy, and is running quiet and smooth.

I hope this thread doesn't annoy the Land Rover gods and curse us all. :oops:
 

TrinidadLR4

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2013, 92k. Bought at 65k two years ago, 5k oil changes with M1-EP 5w20. No noises.

The amount of panic mongering out there about this(mostly by LR3 owner keyboard warriors on FB) is unbelievable.
 

mpinco

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FYI ............from the Jag forum:

5.0 V8 chain problems. Survey.

Some time around March 2014 JLR changed the timing chains, tensioners and guides on the AJ133.

The chains were beefed up from 6.3 mm wide to 8.0 mm wide, the tensioners were improved and most important of all the guides were changed with a new hardened steel insert where the tensioner impacts.

As Luciano says you can't mix and match these components, if you want to upgrade to the newer/bigger/better ones it's all or nothing!
 

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