I only drive my 380 sl once or twice and then only about 2o miles. After the car has been sitting for 2 or 3 days I hear a rattle at start up for 2 or 3 seconds. The rest of the day when it starts there is no rattle, even some times it does not happen the next day. Am i looking at a problem with the tensioner timing chain or both. The car has 81 k miles on it. It has done this for a long time. The last time a mechanic looked he said it looked ok. About a year ago. He has since retired and moved away. Any ideas out there?
I believe that the tensioners are oil pressure sensitive, so If you dont drive the car for a while, you will hear that noise at start up for a second until the oil pressure builds up. When you start the car up multiple times and often, the oil has not bled down yet, so you shouldnt hear anything.
I believe that the tensioners are oil pressure sensitive, so If you dont drive the car for a while, you will hear that noise at start up for a second until the oil pressure builds up. When you start the car up multiple times and often, the oil has not bled down yet, so you shouldnt hear anything.
True - but it sound like it happening too much. I think he should get his car back to mechanic Toute Suite, before he wrecks the engine. At least have the chain stretch measured.
My car sits all winter but doesn't make any chain noise on Spring start up.
I would say that the last time your timing chain and rails were changed the tension rail was not replaced. The tension rail is the only rail that actually wears due to the pressure its under. A fully collapsed tensioner and new chain should not allow the chain to hit the head but if the tension rail wears it can hit the head causing the noise you hear.
Oh one other thing. If you never had your rails and oilers changed then change them now. On the 380SL you should do chain and tension rail every 60K miles or 100K if you have a double row chain. Change upper rials and oilers every 10 years whether they need it or not.
I think Foto is correct. I am starting to think that the failure of the tensioner is more responsible than chain stretch or guides. Unless of course a guide breaks.
I wonder if the tensioner failure may be responsible for the guides breaking.
I think Foto is correct. I am starting to think that the failure of the tensioner is more responsible than chain stretch or guides. Unless of course a guide breaks.
I wonder if the tensioner failure may be responsible for the guides breaking.
Anyone?
A tensioner has a ball check valve to hold the oil. It cannot be expected for the tensioner to hold this oil forever. It will bleed down after a day or so. The tension rail is often overlooked and not replaced with the chain.
It also has a spring, at least on the early ones. Couldn't heat, time and contaminates cause the spring to weaken?
Anything can fail. But IMO the tensioner gets blamed too often. I have never replaced a single one and always cured a morning chain noise with a chain and tension guide rail. I also tried the chain alone when I first got my car and it still rapped in the morning until I replaced the tension rail. I'm at 55,000 miles down the road with that chain and rail replacement and no morning rapping. 155,000 miles total on the tensioner.
John, just thinking out loud here. I have not delved into the 560 yet. The only ones I have experience with is the early 450's. Both of the ones I had were weak so I replaced it when I rebuilt the engine.
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