Is the Timing Chain still an issue with the 3.5L Ecoboost in later model years (17-19)?

[Badgerfan79]

I had a 2013 Explorer Sport with the 3.5 EB and I had the dreaded timing chain issue at about 120K. I changed the oil every 5K with the recommended oil and filter. 3 grand later, I had that repaired and recently traded it in for a new Explorer Limited and so far I love it.

I was told that this issue was resolved on later versions of the 3.5 Ecboost (2016 and later). Obviously, the gen 2 3.5L Ecoboost was upgraded in all sorts of ways, but that engine was never put in the Taurus. I currently have a 2014 Limited and absolutely love it, but it's getting up there in miles but still runs and drives excellent so I was going to gift it to my oldest.

So, are people mistaken in saying that Ford fixed the timing chain issue? I can't find ANYTHING concrete. I am thinking of replacing my '14 Limited with a '18-19 SHO but if the timing chain is still an issue I may see if I can find one certified and I'll see if I can get the dealership to give me or at least discount an extended ESP plan on it.

Thanks!

 

[Jordan_R]

They changed the timing chain in 2013. Don't think there was any further changes. That being said I never really heard much about timing chain issues more so water pump failures. Getting 120k out of a timing chain is definitely around the service interval?

 

[Badgerfan79]

They changed the timing chain in 2013. Don't think there was any further changes. That being said I never really heard much about timing chain issues more so water pump failures. Getting 120k out of a timing chain is definitely around the service interval?

Yes but if the timing chain goes, it takes out the water pump which could ruin the engine. I wouldn't mind the timing chain being a "service interval" issue if it didn't require tearing half the engine apart to get to it to the tune of 3K. It's not like a Subaru that needs a new timing belt at 100K for 800 bucks.

 

[Jordan_R]

Yes but if the timing chain goes, it takes out the water pump which could ruin the engine. I wouldn't mind the timing chain being a "service interval" issue if it didn't require tearing half the engine apart to get to it to the tune of 3K. It's not like a Subaru that needs a new timing belt at 100K for 800 bucks.

If the timing chain goes the entire engine goes. Doesn't matter about the water pump. On majority of vehicles a timing chain interval is usually somewhere between 105-120k and some as low as 60k. This isn't like a "surprise" at all that you needed to replace it.

 

[Badgerfan79]

Interesting. I guess I never realized that a $3-4,000 fix and potential catastrophic failure by 100K miles was part of the plan. If replacing a timing chain was so common, you'd think they wouldn't engineer it in such a way that the damn engine has to be dropped in order to fix it. I guess that answered my question. Thanks, I guess?

Edit: Some of the symptoms of the timing chain issues showed up well before 120K but since it wasn't throwing a code, my Ford dealership "didn't find any problems." I would get the rattle on starting, at times. I also noticed a hesitation at WOT once in a while. So I changed out the plugs with no joy. If it's just a normal thing, wouldn't they have recommended this "normal maintenance" once I hit 100K when I started seeing symptoms? Seeing that it's so obvious and "normal," right?

So, I guess what I'm seeing is that dropping 4 grand on a timing chain every 60-100,000 miles is to be expected on anything with a 3.5 EB. Please, someone, correct me if this is inaccurate. If so, the Continental with the 3.0 is looking better every day, I guess.

 

[Majestic]

Interesting. I guess I never realized that a $3-4,000 fix and potential catastrophic failure by 100K miles was part of the plan. If replacing a timing chain was so common, you'd think they wouldn't engineer it in such a way that the damn engine has to be dropped in order to fix it. I guess that answered my question. Thanks, I guess?

Edit: Some of the symptoms of the timing chain issues showed up well before 120K but since it wasn't throwing a code, my Ford dealership "didn't find any problems." I would get the rattle on starting, at times. I also noticed a hesitation at WOT once in a while. So I changed out the plugs with no joy. If it's just a normal thing, wouldn't they have recommended this "normal maintenance" once I hit 100K when I started seeing symptoms? Seeing that it's so obvious and "normal," right?

So, I guess what I'm seeing is that dropping 4 grand on a timing chain every 60-100,000 miles is to be expected on anything with a 3.5 EB. Please, someone, correct me if this is inaccurate. If so, the Continental with the 3.0 is looking better every day, I guess.

It's a really poor design by Ford. They should have to cover that through a recall or reimbursement program. My car has been very well maintained and not beat on much. I was not overjoyed to spend ~$3500 when it started rattling and throwing a CEL.

 

[Billy VK]

My favorite part was walking into dealer service and telling the guys behind the counter that I had a guessing game. "I have a 2013 Taurus sho with 59k miles on it. what's the problem?" They all look at each other and say, "water pump and timing chain." How bad is that?

 

[Angrymongoose]

Timing components are a wear item on literally all combustion engine vehicles.

The fact that it is a nightmare to get to and therefore has a high labor cost is totally due to Fords poor design. The parts are relatively cheap, but labor costs money and this part takes a bunch. You could always do it yourself for $400ish.

However, they didnt design a timing chain thats any worse than anyone elses.

 

[Jordan_R]

Interesting. I guess I never realized that a $3-4,000 fix and potential catastrophic failure by 100K miles was part of the plan. If replacing a timing chain was so common, you'd think they wouldn't engineer it in such a way that the damn engine has to be dropped in order to fix it. I guess that answered my question. Thanks, I guess?

Edit: Some of the symptoms of the timing chain issues showed up well before 120K but since it wasn't throwing a code, my Ford dealership "didn't find any problems." I would get the rattle on starting, at times. I also noticed a hesitation at WOT once in a while. So I changed out the plugs with no joy. If it's just a normal thing, wouldn't they have recommended this "normal maintenance" once I hit 100K when I started seeing symptoms? Seeing that it's so obvious and "normal," right?

So, I guess what I'm seeing is that dropping 4 grand on a timing chain every 60-100,000 miles is to be expected on anything with a 3.5 EB. Please, someone, correct me if this is inaccurate. If so, the Continental with the 3.0 is looking better every day, I guess.

You don't have to drop the engine to do the service and you overpaid. It's a $2k service. I get you want to complain and don't want any solutions, but just say you want to complain.

 

[Majestic]

Timing components are a wear item on literally all combustion engine vehicles.

The fact that it is a nightmare to get to and therefore has a high labor cost is totally due to Fords poor design. The parts are relatively cheap, but labor costs money and this part takes a bunch. You could always do it yourself for $400ish.

However, they didnt design a timing chain thats any worse than anyone elses.

It's a moronic design, for sure. On my 86 SVO, I can change the timing belt, water pump, spark plugs, alternator, power steering pump and turbo in under 3 hours. COMBINED.

It also makes more power than my SHO and gets better mileage, too. I'm sure it doesn't run as "clean" as the SHO, but the tailpipes aren't black.

 

[Angrymongoose]

I don't think it's all that uncommon for a transverse mounted V type engine though. I had a 95 Avenger ES and 00 Sebring Coupe LXi back in the day and those were both 2.5L transverse mounted V6's. The timing set up was nearly identical to the SHO. Water pump under the timing cover, next to no room to work between the engine and the side of the car, failure around 100k miles. Granted there were fewer parts in there as it was a much simpler and lower output engine so changing it was faster/cheaper than a SHO but it wasn't fundamentally much different.

 

[Honz24]

Timing chains are not supposed to be a service item ever, that would be timing belts... the ecoboost def has problems with the timing chain getting loose, and there is the other problem that the water pump runs off of the timing chain, so if the water pump goes so does the timing chain and the engine.

 

[BadBrad]

My '13 with 80,000 miles is at the shop right now having the water pump replaced (been leaking a cup a week for a few months); because we're already behind the cover the timing set is also getting replaced. The price: $3,500

 

[kcobra]

They changed the timing chain in 2013. Don't think there was any further changes. That being said I never really heard much about timing chain issues more so water pump failures. Getting 120k out of a timing chain is definitely around the service interval?

Negative ghost rider. I just did mine. I have a 2015. There has been another update. They now have a roller chain which incorporates wider gears. Trust me, I know because they thought they had everything they needed, but the crank gear was not the right one. I was down for another week. Thank God it wasn't back ordered! Can you imagine? lol Water pump and timing set job ran me $3000.

 

[Jordan_R]

Negative ghost rider. I just did mine. I have a 2015. There has been another update. They now have a roller chain which incorporates wider gears. Trust me, I know because they thought they had everything they needed, but the crank gear was not the right one. I was down for another week. Thank God it wasn't back ordered! Can you imagine? lol Water pump and timing set job ran me $3000.

Did you do the work yourself? Picture below is the different crank gears which is a different spacing in the 15+ years because the crank shaft snout is different, however it's the exact same as the other years with no fitment differences on the chains. When I built my engine there was no difference between 2013 and 2019 parts other than possibly updated part numbers. Everything was identical and could be fit between those years back and forth.

 

[Devin]

At least they don't have as many catastrophic failures due to timing components as the F-150 ecoboosts. When I was on that community I would say I saw one once a month. Usually it was related to the oil filled tensioners failing though. Ford made some bad design choices on this family of engines.

 

[kcobra]

At least they don't have as many catastrophic failures due to timing components as the F-150 ecoboosts. When I was on that community I would say I saw one once a month. Usually it was related to the oil filled tensioners failing though. Ford made some bad design choices on this family of engines.

I think it also has to do with people not changing the oil often enough. When tensioners are run by oil, clean oil is a must.

 

[Blk89]

Is that an interference engine? Meaning if the chain breaks, the pistons strike the valves. Sounds like to me that having towing service, and at the extreme having all the parts in the trunk would take care of everything. If chain breaks engine stops, overheating should not be an issue.. Having a $3-4K job for a hypothetical problem seems extreme. The V-6 with a timing belt was a major problem and got a 60K replacement regularly.

 

[Bluezone]

I think it also has to do with people not changing the oil often enough. When tensioners are run by oil, clean oil is a must.

Sort of. The nature of the ecoboost engine causes a lot of particulates to build up with the oil. One of the most recent updates to engine oil standards was specific to timing chain issues with the EcoBoost engines. Engine oil was not properly lubricating the plates and rollers of the timing chain. That and it's a pretty long-ass timing chain.