Woah wait a minute...so instead of doing preventative maintenance, you'd rather also have to rebuild the engine because of all the valves and pistons slapping into each other when it does go?

Yes this thread is old, I found it on google and registered just for this post..

 

Dude wtf???? Why the hell would you take the all that stuff apart to replace an engine comonet that is made of metal? That is stupid! I guess I beter go take my transmission apart and replace all the rings so one doesn't break and tear my transmision up. Haha not!

 

D of H- I don't think you understand. ALL of the Ford modular engines use timing chains, NOT BELTS! Chains do break, just a little more often than hens grow teeth. It's belts that break (and not very often any more with the way timing belts are made now, a WHOLE LOT different than when they had 60k mi recommended replacement) and NO Ford V-8 pickup has EVER used one! Drive on and quit your worrying for nothing.

 

 

i know the tensioners on the 4.6 tend to fail after around 100k miles. first youll get a tick as the chain is eating into the guides putting metal shavings into the oil then it fails all together which can lead to a rebuild.

its not a fix it when it breaks type part because by then its too late. damian's right.

 

^but there is no need to replace it if its not making any noises or causing any trouble. When you can start to hear it eating in to the guides I can understand fixing it but don't fix what's not broke.

 

agreed