Hydraulic Timing Chain Tensioners

[Broosedamoose]

07 Ranger 4.0 SOHC: So I did a search for "Hydraulic timing chain tensioners" and didn't find much. After changing my oil this time I am noticing a rattle at start up. It's never done this before. I don't know if the tensioners were ever replaced but I doubt it. The engine has 250k on it so I don't think it would hurt to change them. I know most people, as do I, prefer OEM parts but I thought I read on here some place that Cloyes work just as well and are much cheaper. Does anyone have an opinion of these, good or bad?

 

[Vindictus]

I did mine a couple of weeks ago. Not hard at all. I stayed with OEM tensioners. Google timing chain tensioner replacement 4.0 sohc lots of videos to show you whats involved. It took me less than a hour

 

[RonD]

Yes, OEM and soak them in oil first, prime them

Unfortunately if you "hear the rattle" damage may be done already, cross your fingers and replace the two long chain tensioners, ASAP

Use Clear Flooded Engine routine to start engine for now
Turn on key
Press gas pedal down to the floor all the way and hold it down(turns off fuel injectors)
Crank engine, count to 4 or 5 and release gas pedal, engine will start, hopefully with no rattle
You are pumping oil pressure up before allowing engine to start

 

[ekrampitzjr]

I'm seeing lots of comments elsewhere to use OEM tensioners only, not Cloyes. These were not Ford–sponsored sites, so I'd believe them. Seriously. This is not a place to scrimp.

The two tensioners from Motorcraft will run a total of ~$100. Get two of the metal ring gaskets (one for each), as they don't come with the tensioners. Only in a pinch would I reuse the old gaskets.

My mechanic buddy is taking care of these and some other work next weekend, all preventative, including an aftermarket Simmons aluminum thermostat housing.

 

[DILLARD000]

1997~2011 Ford V6~4.0L~SOHC engines all use the same two OilPressurized TimingTensioners;
around 2001~2002 the internal valves+springs were improved, but otherwise they are identical.
Have done several using OEM; only one buddy wanted Cloyes, which seemed well made, but unsure of their relative longevity.
Click here for more info.

 

[ekrampitzjr]

I found my Motorcraft (Ford OE) part numbers, but Dillard000 includes them above. Here they are as a quick reference to avoid confusion. They are the exact part numbers my Ford dealer provided. RockAuto doesn't carry these Motorcraft parts, only aftermarket.

Driver's side (LH, long): 6L2Z-6K254-B
Passenger's side (RH, short): 6L2Z-6K254-A
Gaskets (2 total required): XU2Z-6M252-AA

The two tensioner part numbers are the same, except the last letter.

I primed mine yesterday with the same synthetic oil I use in the engine. There is only one tiny hole under the hex head to fill the tensioners, so priming seems like a great idea. Otherwise letting engine oil pressure fill them might take a little too long for comfort.

For each one, I used a clean prescription-pill bottle just larger/taller than the tensioner and filled it with oil so the level was just above the hex head with the plunger toward the bottom. With the hex head up and the plunger down, I pressed down several times to compress the spring and force out air. The air bubbled out. After doing this a few times, bubbling stopped and the effort to compress the plunger became too great. The tensioner was full of oil and primed.

The two tensioners are back in their original boxes wrapped in a paper towel, inside a zip bag. They are plunger end-down in a box of other parts for my mechanic buddy. Little oil is likely to come out of the hole in each one, but there's no sense losing any unnecessarily.

Hope this helps.

 

[ekrampitzjr]

If it becomes necessary to service the whole timing-chain system, I'd consider the Cloyes kit, but still use the Motorcraft tensioners. But I'm just OCD like that.

 

[Broosedamoose]

I replaced them with the OEM parts. Not a hard job at all! The rattle is gone so hopefully I got it in time and I can get some more mileage. Thanks for all the comments!

 

[Roert42]

I've used Coyles on both my trucks and had no issues. They have a lifetime warranty (to be fair if they fail you don't need them anymore because you engine is toast).

They came with metal gasket washers.

Installed them without priming them, then used the clear flood mode to cycle the engine for 20/30 seconds to get everything primed up.

 

[gw33gp]

I did not prime the timing chain tensioners when I rebuilt my cam timing chain system with OEM parts. I did not know to do this. I also did not think about doing the flood mode start up to build up oi pressure. When everything was back together, it fired right up when I turned the key and got no rattle at all. So, it is possible to get by without priming, but I think it is better to do it just to be safe.

 

[RonD]

The new design does have better springs so priming shouldn't be needed, but............lol

The springs were the issue and what caused the guides to break
On start up the only thing holding the chains tight are the springs
If a spring was weak or broke then chain would bang against the guide on startup
Repeat that enough times and any guide WILL break
So the design flaw was the tensioners, not the chains or guides

That's why I recommend changing the tensioners at 100k OR when ever you get a 4.0l SOHC engine, i.e. a used car/truck