2000 5.0 explorer timing chain

[Lil Joe]

206600 miles on original 5.0. When should the chain and gears be replaced, what all is involved? Thank to all for their expertise. Lil Joe

 

[crunchie_frog]

You have to remove the water pump, harmonic balancer, timing chain cover, (I pull the radiator for more room)... Not a trivial task and has some risk of oil pan leak after repair if not done properly and risk of breaking a water pump bolt or two making the job more difficult to complete and possibly a new timing chain cover. You can search this forum for water pump removal or timing cover removal. Timing cover is a very common leak coolant leak point and this is what gets most people to do this job.

 

[Lil Joe]

Thank you crunchie frog. How hard is it to get the oil pan bolts out and back in?

 

[koda2000]

The timing chain and gears in the 5.0L do wear with high mileage. This causes a little slack in the chain, which has an effect on cam timing. However, 200K is not what I consider high mileage for this engine. When you get to 300K you might want to worry about it.

 

[SWIGIN]

It's one of those things where if I was doing a water pump and a timing cover I'd go ahead and replace the chain while I'm right there looking at it.

Of course I'd also do a small cam and valve springs too.

 

[RandomNerd2000]

I wouldn't worry, I have a truck with currently 265K rougher miles, I got it at the "dying point" at 256K and it runs like it's new still, no visible issues with the engine whatsoever, so yours should be good a long time yet.

 

[Lil Joe]

Thanks everyone. Lil Joe