Quick question. Im about to do a timing belt job on my 01' 2.8. I want to address everyting i can while the front of the car is off and everything is accessible. Now, my cam tensioners are leaking like crazy. Im looking at gaskets for them now, and everything i see is labled as a "camshaft timing chain tensioner gasket". They say they are compatible with my car, but i have dont a few of these TB jobs before on the 2.8 and dont remember ever coming accross a timing chain. whats up with that? will those work for my cam tensioners? also, whats the longevity of the cam tensioners themselves? My car is turning 175k miles and im assuming theyre original. should they be replaced? Id like to avoid replacing them if possible because theyre pretty expensive.

 

The valve covers have to be removed to get to the tensioner gaskets. There is a special tool for compressing tensioners Replace gasket under tensioner & 1/2 moon plug. the kits are under $10 a side.

 

What is the tool needed? I'm looking at replacing these gaskets also

 

Yes the "camshaft chain timing chain tensioner" is the same as the cam tensioner or also called the cam adjuster. When you're doing your timing belt you'll see that the belt is attached to 1 of the cams on each side. The cams are linked by a chain. The chain is what the cam tensioner adjusts.

The tool is a bolt with a plastic piece mounted on the head. It compresses the tensioner. Make sure you set the car to TDC or you'll damage your cam tensioner!!!!!!

Honestly, I just bought the whole valve cover/cam seal and adjuster seals from Blauparts. You have to take off the valve covers anyway. You better look at your PCV system while you're at it. They're known to plug, then your valve cover gaskets blow out.

 

righto. so what about the tensioners themselves? should i look into replacing those or should they be okay? or what warning signs should i look for that they might be bad?

 

The tensioners are pricey. If you have a ticking/diesel engine sound from your motor, it's the tensioners. I just left mine and replaced the seals, gaskets and guides.

I got the cam tensioner gasket, cam seal and half moon seal kit from blauparts. It came with replacement cam chain guides and the tool that compresses the tensioners. That particular kit comes with valve cover gaskets also.

DO NOT overtighten the cam tensioner tool, because it will break and make installation much harder. It's a plastic tool. Without the tool, it's a huge pain in the *** to get the correct number of chain links between the timing marks.

I replaced the timing belt and associated parts, cam seals, cam tensioner gaskets, cam chain guides, half moon seals, and valve cover gaskets over a long weekend. I left the crank seal alone. Very happy with the results.

Doing the cam related seals/gaskets added an extra day because the driver side cam sprocket bolt was seized into the camshaft and then I broke the cam tensioner tool. It was also my first timing belt DIY.

 

yea im on the fence about buying new tensioners... it ticks pretty bad when i cold start it. but as soon as the motor starts running and the oil gets flowing it goes away. no ticking when its warm or been running for a few minutes.

 

Mine doesn't tick as bad since doing all the work and also switching to 5w-30 synthetic.