Timing chain replacement early??

[sunshine1531]

We run Mobil 1 full synthetic in our 2011 LLT, but changed the oil whenever the car told us to. Car is at 100K, do you guys think maybe I should just do the timing chain with Cloyes for shits and giggles, or are there any early warning signs of issues usually??

[Black_SS10]

Go with OEM parts. 100k is about right for a timing chain. Check your owners manual as it will inform you of the maintenance intervals.

[jd10013]

a timing chain should never need replaced, and certainly not at 100k. a chain should last the life of the vehicle. even belts last 70k miles. at most, it's usually the guides that will wear out. and that's a pretty expensive repair (unless your doing it yourself and not counting your time) to do for "shits and giggles"

[Avenging Orange]

If it aint broke........
if you maintained it well, as said, it should last the life ofyour car.

[Black_SS10]

What are you talking about chains not,needing replacment??? They wear out over time along with the guides. I agree with if it ain't broke dont fix it...but that is also why they call it preventative maintenance...so it doesn't break.

[jd10013]

Originally Posted by Black_SS10

What are you talking about chains not,needing replacment??? They wear out over time along with the guides. I agree with if it ain't broke dont fix it...but that is also why they call it preventative maintenance...so it doesn't break.

no, they on very rare occasion stretch, but they don't break unless you severely abuse the car, or there is some sort of defect. hell, pistons and rings wear out over time too, do you replace those every 100k miles? I've owned cars with timing chains for the last 25 years and never needed to replace one, and never put less than 200k on them. a timing chain isn't a maintenance item, a timing belt is. you do realize that the chain is internal and you have to tear down a good part of the engine to replace it don't you? it isn't external behind a cover like a belt.

[redcoats1976]

i broke one in my 1966 pontiac but i beat the hell out of that car and it had 150,000 miles on it when it broke.

[jd10013]

Originally Posted by redcoats1976

i broke one in my 1966 pontiac but i beat the hell out of that car and it had 150,000 miles on it when it broke.

yea, if you abuse it enough it will break, so will every part of your car. but those things are heavy duty, 3/4 inch think or so. I once had a car with about 250k miles on it where the guides stated to go cause it was run low on oil, but never had a chain break or even need replaced. it's probably the reason a lot of manufactures have gone back to them and scrapped the replace every 60-70k miles belts.

[Black_SS10]

Pistons don't have a tensioner or guides like chains. They also only move in a straight pattern. Just because YOU don't replace them or haven't had a issue with them doesn't mean that they don't break or need replacment. Lets not make your experience a blanket statement.

[Memphis SS]

Any other time I would say belt replacement only, chain should not have an issue at 100,000 miles.. However I have read on the site about the V6 early production (2010 -mid 2011) have weak chain issues. I would to see if yours under the production time frame.

[sunshine1531]

See that's what I was talking about is the known issues about our timing chains, yes I know normally timing chains last the life of the vehicle, but these are known for having issues, ours is 2011, so I'm not sure. I guess the dealer will know? And yes I would replace them myself, so I figured instead of having the motor grenade one day, just replace it now. I hear Cloyes is better than OEM...

[MagnumForceGB]

Looks at your window sticker to see where the engine was made. The ones from Mexico seems to be the ones with issues. Mine was made in Canada but I replaced the chains at 60k miles since I put new cylinder heads in when I did a cam upgrade. The chains were the same length as the new ones even after 15+ PSI of boost and hundreds of quarter mile runs.

[Avenging Orange]

OP, you do what you think is right. If you spend time searching just this forum...you'll find legitimately broken timing chains and related parts are a rarity......much like the oil pump failures.

[sunshine1531]

Originally Posted by Avenging Orange

OP, you do what you think is right. If you spend time searching just this forum...you'll find legitimately broken timing chains and related parts are a rarity......much like the oil pump failures.

Yea, I just figured I would check, car is stock so I'm thinking it will be fine, was also wondering if maybe it has a lot to do with poor maintenance as to why they happen. Thanks for the reply though.