Do the timing chains ever fail?

Does anyone every change them or the tensioner?

I never heard of any chain,the tensioners do fail but is quite rare.

I would never replace the OE chain just preventive

he means the timing chain between the two overhead cams........

Yeah I mean the chain that runs the two cams.

Yes they do fail, but its very rare, it makes s huge mess too, the chain tensioner is quite expensive circa £250 and there is a little half moon rubber piece under it and a small metal gasket you should do at the same time

Is there a recommended time to change these or are there tell tale signs they are going such a a rattle?

 

I guess using good oil and regular intervals will help the chain in the long run.

Crikey... How do they justify the price of that!

I'd imagine they fail due to lack of oil and filter changes then, or due to the oil pickup/strainer in the sump getting blocked which I believe is fairly common, all be it... Not that many people know it's happening.

I'd still like to change mine anyway the same time I change the timing belt.

he means the timing chain between the two overhead cams........

 

That I was talking about,this cams chain has a tensioner also

Edited 29 April, 201511 yr by IulianE

Yes they do fail, but its very rare, it makes s huge mess too, the chain tensioner is quite expensive circa £250 and there is a little half moon rubber piece under it and a small metal gasket you should do at the same time

 

the non VRS 150hp version is like 3 times cheaper

Edited 29 April, 201511 yr by IulianE

This is for a 2008 polo gti reg from Ebay.

Tensioner:

http://www.eurocarparts.com/mobile/ecp/c/Volkswagen_Polo+Hatch_1.8_2008/p/car-parts/engine-parts/belts-chains-and-tensioners/timing-chain-guide-rail/?360440640&1&3e6b593280a41b4e03815645a18bc701fb010778&000583

Chain:

http://www.eurocarparts.com/mobile/ecp/c/Volkswagen_Polo+Hatch_1.8_2008/p/car-parts/engine-parts/belts-chains-and-tensioners/timing-chain/?325440440&1&9481e53b60612aa727bd35a2e2e5880e5db1be56&000580

A genuine chain from vw is cheaper than that.

the non VRS 150hp version is like 3 times cheaper

yes thats right, the 150 bhp version is a simple hydraulic tensioner, the 180 version has variable valve timing and that tensioner doubles as the vvt actuator, if i recall you can also get a repair kit for them which just includes the 2 crescent shape plastic chain guide pieces.

Which is my BJX engine likely to have, it's the 150bhp version so assume it's the cheap one?

I'd only buy genuine parts for the engine anyway.

Apologies, i assumed from the topic title it was a vrs octavia...

what car and year is it? I'll look it up on etka.

My fault, I know quite little about the 1.8t engines but thought they would all be the same.

It's a 2007 Polo GTI, 1.8T engine, think it's the only engine the polo GTI has.

BJX has the expensive vvt type, it also has the larger ko3s turbo from the 180bhp engines too.

Oh well that's good I suppose!

For 150bhp stock anyway, should remap well with a few simple things?