OEM timing chain guide & tensioner life expectancy?

[TRS666]

I have a 2001 GT Convertible with 88000 miles on it. Should be a Windsor engine the 8:th digit beeing W, well served car. Wanting to be on safe side i try to fix eventuall problems before bad stuff happens. So the collective wisdom, what is the life expectancy for the original chain guides and tensioner blades? I guess plastic parts ages both with miles and years.

 

[96gt4.6]

all of the ones I have changed have been over the 150,000 mile and a couple were about 180-200,000 miles

If I owned a car with that low of miles that I planned on keeping for a long time I would probably change it out at 100,000 miles just to be safe

but that is all completely from my own experience and preference I have no Idea what is actually recommended

 

[96blak54]

I have witnessed and have mechanic friends that worked at a cab company as well as mechanic shops and can confidently confirm 250,000 is a safe life expectancy for chain guides. However, never under estimate your own assurance because in the same sense i have witnessed guide failures with much less milage, although only a few. The chain guides, the chains themself are long lasting durable and the cast iron chain guide tensioners too, but the plastic chain guide tensioners will fail 100% and at very low milage. If your mustangs engine is 100% original to the car, you shouldnt have any worries for a good long time....many many more miles ahead. I have never heard of Mustangs being installed with plastic tensioner. If the engine has been swapped, your concerns are on par.

 

[96blak54]

These are plastic trash chain guide tensioners and will fail

 

[96blak54]

These are cast iron chain guide tensioners and are next to indestructible durable and should be what is installed in your engine should it be 100% original.

 

[96blak54]

Now as for chain guides, ford produced steel backed/plastic lined guides, plastic/plastic lined, and aluminum/plastic lined. Long as you are not banging rpm's off of a rev limiter, all three versions are durable. My preference for chain guides in my 5.4l is the steel backed/plastic lined and aluminum /plastic lined. Companys like L&M and MMR make all aluminum guides/plastic lined, but are not cheap. There are alot of kits available with plastic and aluminum guides, just shop around. Speaking of, dont waste money on a full timing chain kit, just buy the guides

 

[TRS666]

Now as for chain guides, ford produced steel backed/plastic lined guides, plastic/plastic lined, and aluminum/plastic lined. Long as you are not banging rpm's off of a rev limiter, all three versions are durable. My preference for chain guides in my 5.4l is the steel backed/plastic lined and aluminum /plastic lined. Companys like L&M and MMR make all aluminum guides/plastic lined, but are not cheap. There are alot of kits available with plastic and aluminum guides, just shop around. Speaking of, dont waste money on a full timing chain kit, just buy the guides

Thanks, sounds good. Engine should be original for the car but imported from Arizona to Sweden 2008 so nothing is 100% sure. With plastic tensioners i ment the "guides" the tensioners push against the chain so all good there.
Will probably order them and have it as a winter project if i find the good ones at Rock, Steeda or Summit. Too bad that LMR, AM and these specialist firms do not ship overseas.

 

[wmfateam]

My 03 with 63,000 miles had broken guides. Bought that car with a blown motor. All bearings were toast and the oil was sludge. With proper maintenance they will last 250,000 like previously mentioned. Not taken care of, crap shoot. My 01 with 160,000 had a chunk of guide in the oil pan. That oil was very black when I bought it.

 

[TRS666]

My 03 with 63,000 miles had broken guides. Bought that car with a blown motor. All bearings were toast and the oil was sludge. With proper maintenance they will last 250,000 like previously mentioned. Not taken care of, crap shoot. My 01 with 160,000 had a chunk of guide in the oil pan. That oil was very black when I bought it.

Yes, not beeing sure of the cars previous life i think it is best to take a look.

 

[Wade_GT]

My 2001 Romeo had guide problems at 120k miles (synthetic oil changes every 5k since new). The tensioner pushed a hole through the guide and was rubbing in the chain.

A Blackstone oil analysis showed aluminum content was high which was a giveaway. FRPP timing kit went in and at 152k now all is healthy.