Rattling Timing Chain

[st.nick]

If I drive for a little while, then park for 5mins, when I re-start the engine, I get the most horrid rattle from the engine for about 3 seconds. The oil level is fine, but it has been very low on several occasions in the past.

 

When the engine is cold, it takes a little longer to fire, so the oil pressure is up enough to stop the chain rattling.

 

Is it the timing chain do you think?? And how long will it last... Will it just get worse and worse, or will it just break and ruin my engine.

 

The engine gets regular revving up to 5k rpm, but hardly ever past 5k.

 

 

Thoughts?? I don't really want to replace it, but if it has to be done, then I will

[Trev]

What car, engine????????????

[st.nick]

Oh shit... Stupid me!!

 

Its a 4k from a KE70 in a KE36 shell. Was rebuilt sometime up to 10 years ago (apparently), but thats all I know about it. Some of the valves are "mushroomed" on the top of the stems (loose tappets for a long period will do that), to the point where we can't get the collets out to change valve stem seals. Hopefull it will get replaced in about 18months time, so if the timing chain will last that long, I won't bother replacing it.

[Raven]

My 4K I got from a KE70 thats in my KE36 has a double row timing chain..... Whats yours?

[Felix]

Pretty sure all 4k's had single row timing chains standard. After 20 odd years there wouldn't be many engines out there that haven't had a timing chain changed in their life. Easy to fit a double row setup from a 3k. Both single and double row kits are freely available from parts shops.

 

When the single row chains wear and stretch, they get to the point where the tensioner can't do its job properly. When they are real bad the chains actually hit, and start wearing grooves on the inside of the timing cover. :)

 

A badly worn timing chain will cause the spark timing to wander a bit. You can see this with a timing light at idle.

Edited February 26, 2007 by Felix
typo

[MRMOPARMAN]

this is one of those 'how long is a piece of string' questions. it might last 300,000km, it might break tomorrow. no-one will be able to accuratly tell you without guessing.

 

id be getting it done as soon as possible just in case!

[Taz_Rx]

Hey nick, when I changed my cam cost me about $25 for a new chain, timing cover gasket set and a timing cover oil seal.

 

Then all its going to cost you is a few hours of your time.

 

I can also give you some advice to save you time: there is 4 studs with nuts that through the sump into the timing cover, remove the nuts and then double nut these to take the studs out, then when you put it back on, get some little bolts to replace the studs/nuts. this will save you heaps of time and fustration trying to get the timing cover off and back on again.

 

Replacing the chain itself it pretty easy. just make sure you don't move anything around and put it back how it was.

 

 

Oh, and for anybody who doesn't know, the way you tell if your chain is stuff or not is to hold it out horizontally, if it droops heaps and makes a big curve its buggered, or if it stands out straight then it must be pretty new. same concept applies with any chain- pushies etc. :)

[st.nick]

Hmmm...

 

Better get onto it then.

 

 

Thanks all :)

[PMP020]

personaly i wouldnt bother, its a K engine, it will go for months with minimal oil and water.

the ol' 3k in my wagon sounds like a bucket of crap on start up, especailly after sitting for a few minutes and heat soaked nicely.

 

i top up the oil and water once a month as every gasket in the engine leaks and the radiator is stuffed.

 

i constantly rev this engine every morning on the way 2 work and home again wen its dead cold, and it loves it.

 

reali if your that worried about it, do it.

but from my personal experiences with K engines over the years the worse you treat them the more they like it. start messing with em and theyll hate u for ever.

 

cheers scott

[Robert]

^^^ :) Sounds alot like the 3K in my KE25

[PMP020]

just speaking the truth.

mind you tonite after work, i steamed cleaned my engine bay, relai hit it good so u could eat off it.

 

topped up the oil as is didnt even register on the dip stik, also topped up to coolant, took almost 2ltrs.

 

by the time i got home, the block was soake din oil agian becoz the hed gasket is leaking so bad, it it rattles worse with the oil at correct level.

 

i say leave it as a rattle box, the people next 2 u mite think "what the f%@k" but at least ull no its still going strong.

 

cheers scott