Engine failure / timing chain slipped

[Asserti]

I'd like to know when most of the people here had their enginge broken down.

I've seen some threads about broken engines, due to the pan gasket shift and the chain skipping a tooth or two. We all know how it happens.

What I want to know is if this is mileage dependent. Also, the model year of the car can play a role.

So the question is; when did your engine die due to a timing chain slip, pan gasket shift, ... and from what year was the car.


Mine was a nov '89 with 224 000km, 139 200miles and failed due to the timing chain slipping some tooths, intake valves bent, no lose oil pan bolts tough.

[batsbats]

I'm curious about this too.

About to 100k. I was thinking about changing the tensioner and chain within the next 10k miles or the summer, since it's about 17-18 years old.

[strad]

My motor has 202k on it. New tensioner at about 195k (replaced original!). No timing chain rollers in pan (last look was at 198k). Definite signs of wear on the cam sprockets (checked at 201k or so) but no abnormal noises. Will probably do a timing chain replacement sometime within the next year if I decide to keep the M42 between the frame rails.

[pbgd3skier]

When I got the car the engine was shot, needed head work, valves, and bottom end work. Not sure what the PO did, no oil changes, maybe antifreeze leaked out who knows.

Read 115 miles on the odo.

1991 e30.

Bought a junk yard engine that had certain good bits (like the head) and build 1 good engine out of the bits. Have alot of spares around from that engine too, which is good.

[hoevesruperd]

i guess it all depends on the maintenance done.
my cluster indicates 165k kms and the timing chain sprockets are already pointy.
will my new timing chain tensioner at least prevent the chain from skipping?

[Asserti]

I think as long as you don't find bits and pieces in your carter your okay...

Mine has 150k kms now and rattles from 3 to 4k rpm. Whil be revising the distribution sometime soon.

[Vorpal]

My odometer indicates 166k, but it's broken and likely has been for some time, so I put 186k+ on the poll. Still going strong, no problems besides a little lifter tick (not audible from inside the car unless the windows are rolled down and I'm driving next to something that will reflect the sound), which I understand is pretty much normal on an older engine. I pulled the valve cover and the cam sprockets still look nice and square. I dropped the lower pan and found no loose or missing bolt or even any rollers from the timing chain. Everything looks top notch! (knock on wood.) I have a new chain tensioner that I'll put in before too long, since everything else checks out.