Saw this on another thread I follow. Every 5.0 owner would like to know.

"185K miles on my 5.0 Supercharged, still going strong. Check your oil often, oil starvation is always an engine killer. It is especially important with this engine. Make sure your oil level is always in check as there is no low level warning. It is my belief that oil starvation is the most major culprit in the tensioner/guides failing on the 10-13 engines.
Revised parts will definitely prevent the chain from moving around too much, but oil starvation, IMO, is what is taking them out. I have had rattle from the timing chain on warm restarts since 86K. Since it is such an expensive fix even if you do it yourself...I have chosen to increase my engine RPM on warm restarts and allow the tensioner to regain oil pressure. Increase engine speed to 1500 for 20 to 30 seconds before your drive and the engine will quiet and run fine.
I am certain this coupled with watching my oil level like a hawk, is the only reason the tensioner/guides haven't failed yet. I have also been down the drag strip over a dozen times and I generally drive like I stole it most days. Hope this helps some of you guys approaching high mileage. I have many more recommendations for anyone interested, but I'll wait until someone replies so I know I am not just talking to myself!"

 

Do you know the part number for the chain guide and tensioner?

 

I am not a certified engine technician / specialist, but this does not seem to be the best advice.

I have heard a very experienced repair mechanic state that "it seems to be the luck of the draw" as to how long a AJ133 engine lasts re: tensioners and chains, vis-à-vis mileage and maintenance.

Here is the quote...
"However, after speaking to service technicians at multiple Land Rover dealerships I have been getting a pretty consistent response which implies "It is the luck of the draw". Citing numerous examples of well maintained 5.0's with over 100K miles that have never had the guides replaced and do not demonstrate any of the symptoms of a loose chain."

 

Correct. He makes no qualms about the abuse- he even says he drives it like he stole it.
Additionally what you dont know is that he has a tune and pulleys.

You know there can be no such thing as luck in a repeatable process as machining.
There has to be some variable......
My suspicion is that he has a vvt problem and not a loose chain. Which is oil pressure dependent, and yes high rpm will help it not hurt it.
No way can a loose chain go 100,000 miles past the point where it starts to rattle.

In any case, the chain setup has gone 185,000 miles.
No way can a poorly designed chain system go over 100,000 miles.
I can say that being a moron by just being good at logic.

 

Another important data point.

He has only used Castrol OE Pro 5w20

 

Someone somewhere is still driving with a Northstar engine with original head gasket.

If your car is ticking and you in range for the chain issue - don't play dice with it. Get it fixed or sell the car with full disclosure.

 

This was my post over on the XF side, this is not meant to be a fix. This is something I semi accidentally discovered at a gas station, after getting a few WTF looks. I'm reporting my experience on a high mileage 5.0S so that if anyone out there has this issue, hopefully using this method will get them through until they can get their guides and tensioners replaced. Either you have some time or I just got lucky for 100,000 miles, but by now everyone should know that cars don't run on luck. Also, it was diagnosed with an engine stethoscope to be the guides/tensioners as the source of the sound. The source of the sound being the loudest where the guides are. It sounds like a cammed small block with rod knock.

I'm not sure why this became a discussion here, (not that I mind, hopefully this info will be of benefit to someone here as well) instead of continuing the discussion on the previous post, but no big deal. Also not sure what having a pulley and tune has to do with anything. A pulley and tune that was installed long after this problem presented. Especially since adding the pulley and tune didn't make it worse...?

Maybe I'll get some answers here, maybe not...either way. The discussion will be ongoing over at the XF owners thread if anyone is interested.

 

Hi GaiaXF.

The reason for posting your great adventure here was because these guys dont get out much. Some think the Jag engine it too frail, some even think the charging system will let them down, and here you are undersizing the charging system with pulley swap.
You are leading the way and shattering all fears. Not only have you put miles that would be considered full life for an exotic, its been spirited driving and if that was not enough, you have pushed the boundaries with a tune (which is what a tune is).

You have also provided another very valuable insight from the future- you car did great with Castrol OE Professional 5w-30.

Many questions for you time-traveler. Do you have to put your car on a charger?

Thanks