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Jim Grant's Tech Tips
95
Ford E250, Timing Chain Replacement
Q: I have a ‘95 Ford E250, with a 5.8 liter
engine. Currently my van has 397,000 miles on it. It does not use any
oil and it averages over 16 MPG at 80 miles per hour on the highway. I
am concerned that having this many miles on my motor (it is the original
motor) that I should replace the timing chain. I asked my local Ford dealer
and they said to leave it be. I want to know your opinion, 397,000 miles
is not a misprint.
A: Wow
that’s a great question! Nearly 400k ! Clearly you do a lot of windshield
time in this vehicle. You didn’t say but it must be part of your livelihood
and down time would be a problem unless it’s planned time. I would recommend
replacing the timing chain and gears at your mileage. But, I would recommend
servicing other components as well. These components would include the
water pump, coolant hoses, coolant, thermostat, etc. Why? Because you
have to remove 90% of these parts just to service the timing chain. You’ll
save money doing a complete job vs. going back into service these items
at different times. Not all replacement parts are created equal. When
replacing these parts "do not" use bargain basement components! There
is a difference, use top of the self aftermarket parts or original equipment
Ford parts. Do the job right and let us know when you’re near the 800k
mark.
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