Since I haven't spent much time on here lately, thought I'd ask because I seem to remember forum members saying in the past that our VQ's didn't need timing chain replacement. Anyone know for sure? Thanx in advance for any help.

 

Timing chain in VQ's, not a timing belt. Unlike timing belts, does not need replacement.

 

Guess I've been away but the courtesy of maxima.org members is the same as it's always been. Thank you so much for the rapid reply. This is why this forum works so well. It's the members that make it perform.

 

Actually, after a certain number of miles, the timing chain is usually replaced. This is somewhere between 120-160k miles though, so no worries anytime soon.

 

 

timing chain is a duty free item unless it stretches beyond the capability of the tensioner, or completely breaks

its not like a timing belt which wears out over time.

 

Unless nissan has invented some sort of miracle timing chain, you will need to change it eventually. I had to do it on my 89 mercedes at 162k miles.

 

I was always under the impression that it did not need replacement unless something was explicitely wrong with it or one had reason to believe it otherwise needed replacement. I don't think there is a recommended change interval, whether it's 100k or 200k or 500k as long as the chain is still good to go.

Course what do I know

 

and why did you have to change your timing chain???


maybe you should talk to some ford and chevy truck guys who have over 300K on their engines without chaing the timing chains??

 

i guess it depends on how you drive. That car was meticulously maintained but driven hard. Very hard. It may be part of their particular maintenance schedule. The engine was also an Inline 6, but that shouldnt make any difference.

 

they have a timing chain, but thats something that you probably will never have to worry about

 

It doesn't matter if you baby the gas like an egg or brick it - you do not need to change the timing chain. Period.

 

eventually the system will fail. It's not the chain usually, but the drive shaft sprocket which wears. It should take about 200k to get there, but eventually it will fail.

 

I had the actual chain begin to stretch. That and the sprocket had to go. As for the VQ, It must be a really low tension chain for it never to be changed.