Hey y’all!

This is my first post here, I hope y’all’s answers won’t be too much of a bummer as I hope to be a rover owner for a while.

I just purchased a 2011 LR4 5.0 with 161,000. I bought it because it had timing chains, coolant crossover pipes, radiator, starter and alternator all replaced in the last couple years. The owners uncle owns a reputable but small exclusively rover shop.

I bought this car to take on a 3,500 mile on and off-road trip this summer with no other vehicles in convoy. I’ve heard these vehicles are reliable enough for that, especially considering the service history but I took it to my local specialized shop for a post purchase inspection. I just want to make sure I make it to Colorado and back. They gave me an all clear on most items but with one concerning report… they say my timing chain is slightly lose and will need replacement in maybe 18 months.

My question is… why would this be? The other shop gave me the service record that includes the timing chains, guides, gear and all the proper items. Could the shop have not tensioned it properly and it will stay slightly lose but not detrimental indefinitely? What could’ve gone wrong here?

The last thing I want to do is sink $5500 into a $7200 car so I’m hoping y’all have some insight!

 

what year and mileage were the chains and guides done? maybe it was before the updated guides became available? maybe the owner didnt change the oil frequently enough after the chains were replaced? you shld also confirm PCV valve and vaccum pumps were replaced because those are lethal if they go.

 

The repair was done in June of last year, it’s probably been 10k miles since and the oil has been changed at least once in that period. I imagine it would be the better design if it was only a year ago?

You say lethal… lethal to the engine as a whole or to the timing chains? I opened the oil cap while it was running and there was no back pressure.

 

lethal to the engine.
if they did the repair recently and used OEM parts the guides shld be good. If the vacuum pump or PCV valve goes you will see smoke from the exhaust:
https://www.landroverworld.org/threa...g.44292/page-3
according to this the upgraded parts are also susceptible and i had to do chains and guides on my 2013 but that was at 125K miles:
https://www.landroverworld.org/threa...uestion.43664/

 

No smoke whatsoever!

To be clear, your 2013 has only had the chain replaced once right? My impression is that the 2013s are slightly improved but everything with the 5.0 or the 3.0SC will eventually need chains.

 

10,000 miles on a set of chains?!?!?!
Completely unacceptable. BTW, if the job were done at Land Rover, there would be a 1 year parts and labour warranty. Perhaps use this fact as a bargaining chip.
The entire solution of Chains and sprockets with the new guides should take you easily to 100,000... provided you change the oil frequently. (I don't ever go past 5000 mi between oil and filter changes)
Something is wrong here. Chinesium parts? Someone not doing the job properly?

G.

 

yes i have 40k on my new chains/guides and all is good. if you dont hear any noise from the chain i wldnt worry for now - if it was very loose it wld make noise

 

I would really like to know what is making them say the timing chains are loose?