For a while now I've had an intermittent noise in the engine around the timing chain area after first startup. I'd described it as a rhythmic grating sort of noise that would usually disappear after a minute or two, but sometimes would be there for 5 minutes or longer.
Of course it was concerning me and I was dreading it being the timing chain tensioner (on a 2004 model XL-7 with 65000km.)
I read in a couple of threads about people mentioning their noise was actually caused by the drive belt tensioner, so decided to investigate. I thought I'd try spraying some silicone spray into the bearing area of the tensioner to see what effect it would have. I'm pleased to say that the noise has definitely changed/ quietened down/ vanished.
So thankyou to those people who shared that info - I forget which particular timing chain thread it was buried in.
I'll keep an eye (or ear!) on it but the last two mornings it has not had the noise.
Engine noises- don't always suspect the timing chain...
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Linear Mode
