Plastic vs Iron chain tensioners?
12-21-2016, 11:22 AM
#1
Plastic vs Iron chain tensioners?
Just recently got a pair of hard plastic timing chain tensioners. Has a rubber gasket on the backside of it. Which is better, the iron ones or the plastic ones. I have heard the plastic ones are bad and i don't want to put them in if there going to fail.
12-21-2016, 12:28 PM
#3
Either is good as long as you stick with OEM
12-22-2016, 09:33 AM
#4
05 5.4l 3v s.crew lariat
I wish I had used Iron
I used the stock ones when I did mine . From what I understand the old metal ones ratchet and the new ones rely strictly on oil pressure and a spring . Oil pressure takes a little time to build up, I like the idea of the ratchet . Anything that will stop a whip of the chains from damaging the plastic guides .
But I have never had a metal one in my hand . I also like the idea of using a thin layer of silicon to seal the metal one .
I think moog sells one but they are expensive . If I go back in I will change them . I already put a melling 360 oil pump in . Those inner plastic guides break and no one makes a better one . They only make the tensioner side for racing. Its the other side that breaks the most .
But I have never had a metal one in my hand . I also like the idea of using a thin layer of silicon to seal the metal one .
I think moog sells one but they are expensive . If I go back in I will change them . I already put a melling 360 oil pump in . Those inner plastic guides break and no one makes a better one . They only make the tensioner side for racing. Its the other side that breaks the most .
12-22-2016, 10:34 AM
#5
Senior Member
I'm compiling a pile of goodies to do the timing on my '07 early next year. I have a set of the iron tensioners ready to go. I like the design/concept much better than the plastic ones. The ratchet works smooth and the machined mating surface seems sufficient for a proper oil seal. I think redfishtd has hit the nail on the head, and I agree...keep the chain from slapping the guide and it will not break.
12-22-2016, 10:35 AM
#6
I used the stock ones when I did mine . From what I understand the old metal ones ratchet and the new ones rely strictly on oil pressure and a spring . Oil pressure takes a little time to build up, I like the idea of the ratchet . Anything that will stop a whip of the chains from damaging the plastic guides .
But I have never had a metal one in my hand . I also like the idea of using a thin layer of silicon to seal the metal one .
I think moog sells one but they are expensive . If I go back in I will change them . I already put a melling 360 oil pump in . Those inner plastic guides break and no one makes a better one . They only make the tensioner side for racing. Its the other side that breaks the most .
But I have never had a metal one in my hand . I also like the idea of using a thin layer of silicon to seal the metal one .
I think moog sells one but they are expensive . If I go back in I will change them . I already put a melling 360 oil pump in . Those inner plastic guides break and no one makes a better one . They only make the tensioner side for racing. Its the other side that breaks the most .
12-22-2016, 11:04 AM
#7
05 5.4l 3v s.crew lariat
I was not impressed with spring on plastic tensioners
I was a little disappointed it did not help maintain the slack out of the chain during install . Of course I have to be fair I did not do it the factory way .
I lifted the cams instead of removing certain rollers with the expensive bulky valve tool and I stayed at six o'clock on crank gear dot . So I was fighting valve spring pressure but that's the way I would do it again .
I'm not really an engine man but I enjoyed doing it .
I would like to get my hands on a metal one , maybe I will buy a couple just in case .
I do think it is a good thing to discuss and I will yield to the real engine guys here .
I still hate that power steering pump mounting to me that was the hardest part .
I lifted the cams instead of removing certain rollers with the expensive bulky valve tool and I stayed at six o'clock on crank gear dot . So I was fighting valve spring pressure but that's the way I would do it again .
I'm not really an engine man but I enjoyed doing it .
I would like to get my hands on a metal one , maybe I will buy a couple just in case .
I do think it is a good thing to discuss and I will yield to the real engine guys here .
I still hate that power steering pump mounting to me that was the hardest part .
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12-22-2016, 11:14 AM
#8
Really? Interesting. When did you do yours? When I did mine, they held it really well. I wonder if we got different batches.
12-23-2016, 10:11 AM
#9
05 5.4l 3v s.crew lariat
I did mine in the spring of 2016
I really haven't messed with many of the tensioners so I am not a real judge of them . I had heard of the old iron ones but I didn't understand them .
So I stayed stock .
If I had known f150torqued better I would have followed his advice and taken the iron but I was a novice.
So I stayed stock .
If I had known f150torqued better I would have followed his advice and taken the iron but I was a novice.
I've followed your posts. I'm not sure it hasn't been a hell of a long time since you were a 'novice'.