oil pressure timing tensioner brand

[dashhho]

Rockauto does not have any motorcraft oil pressured timing chain tensioners. What is the verdict? Do I need to go to my local Ford dealership to get these suckers? Or are the aftermarket okay?

 

[DILLARD000]

Search+Order online. Best to not use anything but Ford OEM for these.
Left Tensioner Ford# xu2z-6k254-aa
Right Tensioner Ford# xu3z-6k254-ba
Gasket\Seal\Washer Ford# xu2z-6m252-aa, 2 required
Click here for more info.

 

[dashhho]

Well I'd have to say Im having a really hard time finding a source for the ford ones in Canada. Seems there is a bit of stock in the USA but they wont ship to Canada. Is there chance a dealership might have a few lying around?

 

[sgtsandman]

Cloyes is a popular alternative. That's what I'm running.

 

[dashhho]

Thanks sgt. I was on the fence between Cloyes and Melling.
Engine has 225k kms so better now than never.

Should have taken the advice to do the front one while I was replacing the thermostat housing but oh well.

 

[Roert42]

I’ve put cloyes in both mine without issue.

I have found that you do not need to pull the thermostat to do the front one, but I did have to pull the intake on one of my trucks.

 

[OldBlue61]

Pardon the dumb question, but is there a recommendation on when the chain and tensioners should be changed? My '94 has 113k miles on it, and since I'm not sure if or when it was done, I'm assuming (I think that is safe in this situation) it hasn't been. I've heard that this is the biggest Achilles heel with these engines - true, or anything else I should watch for?

 

[OldBlue61]

The pressurized tensioners should be changed every 70K miles, these are easy to get at with the engine in the truck, if you do this you shouldn't have any issues with the timing chains for a long time. If you don't then the the springs that hold tension on the chains at start up weaken, and the chains will slap on the guides at startup, this causes the guides to break.

Thanks! SO, it sounds like it should hold up for a while after I change the tensioners. Any info or links to a company that makes good quality ones? I can't imagine Motorcraft still makes them...

 

[DILLARD000]

Pardon the dumb question, but is there a recommendation on when the chain and tensioners should be changed? My '94 has 113k miles on it, and since I'm not sure if or when it was done, I'm assuming (I think that is safe in this situation) it hasn't been. I've heard that this is the biggest Achilles heel with these engines - true, or anything else I should watch for?

1994 OHV ?

 

[Roert42]

@OldBlue61



Dillard is correct, Ignore everything I said. The OHV is completely different motor.

 

[OldBlue61]

No problem, thanks for the assist regardless!

For the OHV 4.0, is there a recommendation on when the chain and tensioners should be changed? I don't drive my Ranger a lot, maybe 5k miles a year mostly for working on the property and the occasional run to the lumber yard. Regardless, I don't want to disregard any needed or recommended maintenance.

 

[sgtsandman]

We'll have to wait for someone familiar with the 4.0 OHV to come along and let you know. I have the SOHC and never worked on an OHV.

 

[dashhho]

Do you need to prime the tensioner before install? I see in the videos some people are doing it.
If I do the "accelerator to floor" method and crank the engine for ~10secs will they prime after install?

 

[DILLARD000]

What I found works best is fully prime the tensioners then press most of the oil out in a vice.
If they're full of oil, makes it difficult to get the threads lined up & started properly.
Yes, then do the PedalToTheFloor Prestart procedure.

 

[Roert42]

I just did the pedal to the floor for 15-20 seconds with dry tensioners.