Hemi Truck Club banner
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

Timing Chain Tensioner

Jump to Latest
1 - 12 of 12 Posts

06HemiMike

· Registered
Joined
·
9 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
06 Ram with 90,000 miles. The timing chain is stretched beyond belief and it ate the tensioner, well at least half of it. I have been running no power adders or mods to the engine. The only thing I have done is switch to RP 5w20 and change it at 7k-9k intervals based on how it looks. There was no warning or noise for the failure that I could hear before it happened. Any thoughts? I am considering a total rebuild due to the amount of filings in the oil and behind the timing cover. I have pics if you are interested in seeing them.
Image
 
Discussion starter · #2 ·
06 Ram with 90,000 miles. The timing chain is stretched beyond belief and it ate the tensioner, well at least half of it. I have been running no power adders or mods to the engine. The only thing I have done is switch to RP 5w20 and change it at 7k-9k intervals based on how it looks. There was no warning or noise for the failure that I could hear before it happened. Any thoughts? I am considering a total rebuild due to the amount of filings in the oil and behind the timing cover. I have pics if you are interested in seeing them.
Image
 
#4 ·
Ideally a Timing Chain should last the life of the engine. Severe oil starvation or a gross manufacturing defect are the only things that are likely to cause chain failure.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#5 ·
Strange this is the first time I have heard of an engine runing RP that has had a oil related failure.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #6 ·
I certainly don't blame RP. I do agree with Jay that the timing chain should last the life of the engine. I also agree that oil starvation could have been the problem. I had a sludge issue at around 40k miles. I was still using conventional oil at the time and let an oil change go for about 4200 miles. After that I switched over to RP. Had a dip in oil pressure after the last change and I shut it down. Waited 10 minutes or so and started it back up with no problem and oil pressure held good. I think it may have had some crud in the pan that got sucked up the pickup tube. 3 weeks passed and this happened.

I am hoping that the rod and main bearings didn't get tore up. I will be pulling some of the rod caps while it is in the truck to see. I assume that it won't be too hard to replace the rod bolts if the bearings are ok.
 
#7 ·
I assume that it won't be too hard to replace the rod bolts if the bearings are ok.
Click to expand...
What choo mean, Vern?
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#9 ·
Originally posted by 06HemiMike:
The service manual I have says not to reuse the connecting rod bolts.
Click to expand...
My 03 manual say's they are to be replaced whenever they have been fully torqued and loosened.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #10 ·
Well I definately found the cause. The oil galley in the upper portion of the block was full of sludge. This was left by the conventional oil that was used in the first half of this engines life. It had the oil slinger completely blocked off. I found a good amount of copper imbedded in the sludge so I know that the cam bearings are shot. I am going to do a complete rebuild for sure now. Any suggestions for some performance parts to add in? Cost is not really a concern.
 
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
About this Discussion
11 Replies
4 Participants
Last post:
06HemiMike
Hemi Truck Club
posts
300K
members
15K
Since
2004
A forum community dedicated to Ram Hemi powered truck owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Florida Chapter New Member Introductions Engine | Modifications, Repairs and Performance General Repair Forum Drivetrain, Differential and Transmission