Don't be fooled with the VE30DE timing chain reliability.
 

I figured i'd write this since i've seen lots of VE engines, whether working on them as a Nissan tech, or parting them out. I've read in a few places lately, and there seems to be a common misconception when it comes to the VE timing chain reliability over the VG timing belt. People seem to think that if it has a chain, drive it and don't worry. This couldn't be more wrong. VG needs a fresh belt every 60k and that is pretty cut and dry. If a VG engine snaps a belt...you are looking at a new belt and valve job. Now for the VE, from what i've seen is MUCH more costly when it comes to valvetrain drive system. 8 out of 10 VE engines that i see failed, have failed because of the timing chain either breaking(bending valves and such) but most of the time even of the chain doesn't break, is so loose it slaps a hole in the timing cover(aluminum and expensive)and or the front valvecover. So on the VE you are looking at new chains,timing cover and/or valvecover,tensioners, guides and a valvejob(which i'm guessing is much more $$ than a VG seeing as there are twice as many valves to replace). I haven't investigated this enough yet but i'm pretty sure the chains are fine themselves but rather the tensioners and guides tire out. At this point in time i'm gonna say that VE timing chain TENSIONERS and GUIDES should be replaced every 100,000 miles especially if driven hard. I say this because i've seen broken chains, or covers as early as 118,000 miles and the average is somewhere near 180,000 miles. Hope this helps some of you.

I agree. At least inspect the tensioners for pad life. But I've inspected at least 2-3 tensioners and they all had plenty of pad life left. And all of them had anywhere from 60-130,000 miles. All depends on the engine was taken care of. No change oil, bad engine. Changed oil, engine lives for a long time.

um, shouldn't they be making noise before they go?
most cars do.
My VE5 has 237k on it :nervous:

Yeah i'd say you would hear some noise, but most people driving these are not technicians...when they hear a noise they crank the radio louder...lol. Most people wouldn't be able to distinguish the noise, or the difference of sound from VTC's....and most people are too cheap to bring it to a knowledgeable garage/dealer.

Mine has 286K but me and the previous owner have taken care of the engine via oil changes every 3000miles and all that jazz....I would be curious too see how all the tensioners and guides look....

When are you getting your new to you maxima????

every maintained VE I've ever worked on has had a great valvetrain :gotme:

Oh yeah did i mention that the cars with bad chains were all 5 speed cars? I've yet to see an auto VE chain let go. I own 4 5 speeds and 4 Autos.

I have had two VE 5-speeds, both over 150k with no problems with the chain.

My first one I traded in with over 160k and it was perfect.

The second one did develop serious VTC ticking, but everything else was in excellent condition.

Just like most engines, if you take care of them, they will last.

good question.
It was supposed to be this sunday but the guy is busy, so it's being pushed off a bit I think :slant:

Go down there and strip it....:D :wall:

it's in a garage.
Besides, who wants a tan leather interior anyway :007:

:Puke: definintley pass on that. Gives me flash backs of the desert. :lol:

How difficult is it to change the guides??

I think my tensioners are going out because it makes a loose chain like noise when I rev it. I have 140k on it. I maintain it very well but I drive it really hard.

That's why more 5 speeds need them than A/Ts
advantage: A/T

I bought a VE Auto with a broken timing chain. The chain was snapped, and the tensioner was in pieces. I dont know what failed first but it was prob the tesnioner causing the chain to snap. The motor had 190k on it.

Plus the previous owner took really good care of the engine. The valvetrain was very clean!

Anyway +1 VE Auto

:wtc: :wtc: So how much will be forking over to get my Chain replaced and a new tensioner? I'm at 195k and I think it's the origonal chain!

Then again, I've had to do two 60Ks on my GXE car (bought used a 50K). ~700 dollars each time, so 1400 dollars in preventative maint. Did waterpump at 120K -leaking-should probably done it at 60K. Cam and other oil seals replaced also.

I just replaced the knock sensor and rebuilt the VTC's at 150k. The chain tensioners barely had any marks on the pads. VTC's are still a little noisy but not near as bad. I'll live with the noise. Don't want to spend the $365.00 ea. for new ones.

OFF TOPIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I bought my 92 SE 5 speed project cheap because the rear VTC came apart and broke the front cover etc. The car has around 130k miles and the engine was clean inside which leads me to believe that it had oil changes. The previous owner obviously didn't catch on to any noises until it was too late. The rest of the car appears to have been well maintained. I bought a core engine to rebuild instead of messing with the one in the car. Hopefully she will be running before winter.

This may be a little off topic but I forgot to mention; I have seen VGs in trucks that snapped head bolts when the timing belt broke on top of the bent and/or broken valves. I should emphasize the importance of replacing tensioners and front seals on any belt engine especially the VG. I've seen a lot of people replace belts but not the water pump, front seals, and tensioners and then they're stuck with costly engine damage.

this my seem of topic,

but before i had my timming belt done,

the coolant was leaking on the side,

at that time i already had the by pass hose already replaced,

it was leaking from the right side of the engine,

i think it was the water pump or the seal wasn't holding the coolant,

so had a independent shop replace the belt, tensioner, water pump and seals and the leak was gone,

and another thing when the tensioner is about to go it was very loud and you could hear the cam shaft sensor,

So how long should I ban the both of you? :nutkick:

Ok so again, has anyone paid to get their chain replaced, and how much did they gouge ya for?

EEEECK Alldata says 17.5 hours for timing chain replacement + .4 for PS and .4 for AC!!! 19 hrs!!! Say it aint so!

I took apart my VE with the broken chain just, and the timing chain was very hard to get to. You have to take off a lot of covers with a lot of bolts and gasket sealer on every part covering the chain. It was hard and this was with the engine out of the car. With the engine in the car it would be much harder with the limited space in there. I dont think it will take 17 hours but it looks like a lot of work!

Wow, thats alot. You a collector? :)

Edit: BTW, thanks for the info.

I think he runs a junk yard.....

i own a performance shop, i was a Nissan tech for a few years...i really like Maximas...lately i've started parting them out. I'm starting to lose count but i have something like 25 gen 3's,just got my first 2 gen 4's, and i have 2 gen 2's on the way. Maximas are the only car i deal with for used parts.

Got any green maximas?????

Yes, i have 1 it's a 1994 SE Auto. My friend is driving it around till tomorrow. ...then he gets to drive my 5 speed 92 lol

I was hoping you had a green parts car :)