timing chains help

[sms78]

Hi ladies and gents .

You've probabley been asked this question a thousand times so i appologise ,But
how long do timing chains last because im confused . Some people say you dont have to changed them until they start rattling. Some people say you dont have to change them if you do regular oil changes with a good quality oil, Also on one web site it said they could last for 30 years! The reason i ask is that i own a 2001 W210 E320 CDI its done now about 133k but it never leaves the motorway and never goes above 70m.p.h. As i do approx 800 to 1000 miles a week and i dont thrash the car just cruise about i was wondering if anybody had any advice on if or when i should change it as i suspect you cant do it at home or need speacial tools etc .As the car is just cruising up and down the m1 every day i was also wondering what mileage the car would go up to before nothings left of it lol . Any advice would be gratly appreciated.

 

[television]

I would come back and ask again in 50k miles time, some have 250k miles

Yes you can do it at home, but you are so busy driving that makes it hard

 

[sms78]

timing chains

so do you think i can get over 200k before i have to change the chain?

 

[jberks]

No reason why not. As Malcolm says, many do well over 250k. A lot of the paranoia around timiing chains comes from experience with timing belts where mileage related failures are very common and they fail silently. One min everything is fine, smooth and quiet, the next your engine is wrecked.

A timing chain will normally get noisy long before it fails. It will clatter around as the tension is lost and make it's imminent demise very apparent. So have a listen once a week and if you start hearing any unusual rattling noises get it checked.

 

[television]

so do you think i can get over 200k before i have to change the chain?

When you hear a slight rattle at start up, lasting for a few seconds then think about it, many get past that figure at some point you could take off a rocker cover and look at the teeth on the cam wheels, if they are getting sharp and pointed then do the change.

 

[sms78]

timing chains

Thanks guys you are awesome . Ive never been let down yet by this site for advice