Timing Belt Tensioner Failure
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Timing Chain Tensioner Failure
I'll start by saying I have a 2010 5.4L that I bought in April 2010. Yesterday after driving to work and looking for a parking spot in a parking garage, I had a failure of a little 1/8" thick seal that is between the timing chain tensioner and the drivers side cylinder head. This caused a loss of oil preassure and the rest is history (mainly my engine). I only have 38K miles on this truck, 75% highway. Luckly I use Motorcraft filters and am an oil change junky so they can't point a finger at me. The mechanics report to Ford will state that the oil looked fresh. The thing that bothers me is the Ford mechanic is telling me this is a known issue by Ford. All I have been hearing about online is the cam phaser problem. Nothing about tensioner failure.
Now I have a few questions.
1). The build date of my truck is January 2010, so most likely the engine was built in 09. Did Ford knowingly install an engine with a faulty part in this truck?
2). If Ford instucts the dealer to install a knew engine, will it have the same faulty seal that will fail in another 35K miles?
3). If they replace all the parts (cams, rollers, chains, tensioners etc, etc.) do I have unseen bottom end problems that will bite me down the road?
Anyone else experience this issue?
Now I have a few questions.
1). The build date of my truck is January 2010, so most likely the engine was built in 09. Did Ford knowingly install an engine with a faulty part in this truck?
2). If Ford instucts the dealer to install a knew engine, will it have the same faulty seal that will fail in another 35K miles?
3). If they replace all the parts (cams, rollers, chains, tensioners etc, etc.) do I have unseen bottom end problems that will bite me down the road?
Anyone else experience this issue?
Last edited by Fishhawk460; Feb 5, 2013 at 08:53 PM.
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That would be the timing chain tensioner. They have a small integrated seal/bead that runs the parameter of the tensioner however I find it a stretch that it would cause enough oil pressure loss to fail the engine. The timing chain would lose tension and make a loud slapping noise and could create some damage. What was the exact failure to the engine that you are talking about? Did the engine seize? The timing chain fail?
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That would be the timing chain tensioner. They have a small integrated seal/bead that runs the parameter of the tensioner however I find it a stretch that it would cause enough oil pressure loss to fail the engine. The timing chain would lose tension and make a loud slapping noise and could create some damage. What was the exact failure to the engine that you are talking about? Did the engine seize? The timing chain fail?
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First off it would have been to your advantage to shut the truck off when you first heard the noise.....and had it towed. In my opinion the plastic tensioners are not as robust as the original cast steel tensioners. A small leak from the tensioner gasket usually will not bleed off enough pressure to even be noticed. However sometimes the tensioner will lose pressure from other sources and or break internally and lose its tensioning capabilities. When the tensioner fails for any reason the chain can lose control and sometimes shread the chain guide allowing the pieces to drop into the oil pan and plug the oil sump pickup screen. This condition will starve the engine of oil and yes the engine will become a piece of junk. So my guess is what started out as a possible repairable condition multiplied into a engine failure by continuing to drive the truck. Not sure Ford will help you out with another engine unless you are still under warranty. Even under warranty with a three year old truck you will most likely get a remanufactured long block as a replacement. Hopefully they are a good dealership and work for you to get a replacement engine..Good luck.
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First off it would have been to your advantage to shut the truck off when you first heard the noise.....and had it towed. In my opinion the plastic tensioners are not as robust as the original cast steel tensioners. A small leak from the tensioner gasket usually will not bleed off enough pressure to even be noticed. I have seen some plastic tensioners that were distorted from being installed improperly and the distortion prevented the tensioner from working properly. However sometimes the tensioner will lose pressure because of other sources and or break internally and lose its hydrolic capabilities. When the tensioner fails for any reason the chain can lose control and sometimes shread the chain guide allowing the pieces to drop into the oil pan and plug the oil sump pickup screen. This condition will starve the engine of oil and yes the engine will become a piece of junk. So my guess is what started out as a possible repairable condition multiplied into a engine failure by continuing to drive the truck. Not sure Ford will help you out with another engine unless you are still under warranty. Even under warranty with a three year old truck you will most likely get a remanufactured long block as a replacement. Hopefully they are a good dealership and work for you to get a replacement engine..Good luck.
Of course there is no way for me to know what was going on and I was on a 6th floor of a crowded parking garage. Not getting a tow truck up there. The engine was fine for the 2.5 mile drive to the dealership. It only started to make noise again as I pulled up to the dealership service garage door.
I kind of lucked out because this was literally the first day of business for the dealership and I am their first customer (Fox Ford in Chicago). Met all the suits, had picture taken for the service center wall and their Facebook wall. They have been bending over backwards to help me out. Comped me a car with unlimited mileage until this is taken care of. They are telling me it will be covered under warranty for repairs or a new engine, whichever Ford dictates. Depending on which way this goes, I may look into trading at my local dealer for a 2013. New engine or remanufacured, I still have no confidence the engine will not have the same issue in another 35K miles.
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I've had a few of these engines apart, and I can't say that I've seen that failure. I think your engine is the exception rather than the rule. Give Ford a chance to fix it. For the most part, those tensioners are shared with all other current Ford V8 engines.
The only problem I've seen with the tensioners is the timing chain oil squirter hole thingy clogging due to engine sludge. From there the chain lacks lubrication and causes the tensioner arm and/or chain guide to fail. But if you use a quality oil and change it as per manufacturer recommendations, that should never be an issue.
The only problem I've seen with the tensioners is the timing chain oil squirter hole thingy clogging due to engine sludge. From there the chain lacks lubrication and causes the tensioner arm and/or chain guide to fail. But if you use a quality oil and change it as per manufacturer recommendations, that should never be an issue.
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Of course there is no way for me to know what was going on and I was on a 6th floor of a crowded parking garage. Not getting a tow truck up there. The engine was fine for the 2.5 mile drive to the dealership. It only started to make noise again as I pulled up to the dealership service garage door.
I kind of lucked out because this was literally the first day of business for the dealership and I am their first customer (Fox Ford in Chicago). Met all the suits, had picture taken for the service center wall and their Facebook wall. They have been bending over backwards to help me out. Comped me a car with unlimited mileage until this is taken care of. They are telling me it will be covered under warranty for repairs or a new engine, whichever Ford dictates. Depending on which way this goes, I may look into trading at my local dealer for a 2013. New engine or remanufacured, I still have no confidence the engine will not have the same issue in another 35K miles.
I kind of lucked out because this was literally the first day of business for the dealership and I am their first customer (Fox Ford in Chicago). Met all the suits, had picture taken for the service center wall and their Facebook wall. They have been bending over backwards to help me out. Comped me a car with unlimited mileage until this is taken care of. They are telling me it will be covered under warranty for repairs or a new engine, whichever Ford dictates. Depending on which way this goes, I may look into trading at my local dealer for a 2013. New engine or remanufacured, I still have no confidence the engine will not have the same issue in another 35K miles.
Glad to hear that your dealer is working for you. That's the kind of service dreams are made of..lol Unlikely you will experience this again as it is not as common as the Tech made it sound. These engines are good for a couple hundred thousand miles. Good luck and send your business to this dealer he certainly deserves it.
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I've had a few of these engines apart, and I can't say that I've seen that failure. I think your engine is the exception rather than the rule. Give Ford a chance to fix it. For the most part, those tensioners are shared with all other current Ford V8 engines.
The only problem I've seen with the tensioners is the timing chain oil squirter hole thingy clogging due to engine sludge. From there the chain lacks lubrication and causes the tensioner arm and/or chain guide to fail. But if you use a quality oil and change it as per manufacturer recommendations, that should never be an issue.
The only problem I've seen with the tensioners is the timing chain oil squirter hole thingy clogging due to engine sludge. From there the chain lacks lubrication and causes the tensioner arm and/or chain guide to fail. But if you use a quality oil and change it as per manufacturer recommendations, that should never be an issue.
I have changed the oil with nothing but full synthetic since the truck was new. I have 9 oil changes after 38K miles. Only used a Motorcraft filter. I'm a Bob-Is-the-Oil-Guy member, so I'm kind of an oil change junky. The Ford tech made mention in his report to Ford that the oil was clean and I was using a Motorcraft filter. He also mentioned if I had an aftermarket (Fram), there might be a problem with Ford.
I had a chance to look at the timing chains and top of the cylinder heads in the shop and everything looked factory new (except for the scored cams and rollers). Can't really tell by looking at the timing chains if all is well, but the tech did say those would be replaced if only repairs were to be made.
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Under those circumstances I would have done exactly as you did.
Glad to hear that your dealer is working for you. That's the kind of service dreams are made of..lol Unlikely you will experience this again as it is not as common as the Tech made it sound. These engines are good for a couple hundred thousand miles. Good luck and send your business to this dealer he certainly deserves it.
Glad to hear that your dealer is working for you. That's the kind of service dreams are made of..lol Unlikely you will experience this again as it is not as common as the Tech made it sound. These engines are good for a couple hundred thousand miles. Good luck and send your business to this dealer he certainly deserves it.
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Yes, there are low profile tow trucks built specifically for this.....and available in any larger city.
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I'm sure Ford will take care of you on this, but, while you may not know exactly what is going on, even in the drivers ed courses, drivers are taught to immediately pull to the side of the reaod & shut the engine off when ever you hear an unusual noise that you suspect comining from the vehicle.
Yes, there are low profile tow trucks built specifically for this.....and available in any larger city.
Yes, there are low profile tow trucks built specifically for this.....and available in any larger city.
Yeah, okay, thanks for that.
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First off it would have been to your advantage to shut the truck off when you first heard the noise.....and had it towed. In my opinion the plastic tensioners are not as robust as the original cast steel tensioners. A small leak from the tensioner gasket usually will not bleed off enough pressure to even be noticed. However sometimes the tensioner will lose pressure from other sources and or break internally and lose its tensioning capabilities. When the tensioner fails for any reason the chain can lose control and sometimes shread the chain guide allowing the pieces to drop into the oil pan and plug the oil sump pickup screen. This condition will starve the engine of oil and yes the engine will become a piece of junk. So my guess is what started out as a possible repairable condition multiplied into a engine failure by continuing to drive the truck. Not sure Ford will help you out with another engine unless you are still under warranty. Even under warranty with a three year old truck you will most likely get a remanufactured long block as a replacement. Hopefully they are a good dealership and work for you to get a replacement engine..Good luck.
My only experience with oil pumps is with old push rod engines. Is the oil pump effected by timing on these engines?
Last edited by Fishhawk460; Feb 3, 2013 at 01:38 PM.
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(Update) Ford instructed the dealer to pull the bearings to check for damage. Fortunately, or unfortunately for me the bearings are pristine. The cam and rollers on the passenger side are fine. The damage seems to be the drivers side cam and rollers, timing chains, guides and drivers side tensioner. Not sure if they are going to pull the drivers side head to check the valves and pistons or not. So much for factory tolerances.