Help! I have a 2002 XK8 with just less then 80K on the engine. Reading all the posts about upper chain tensioner failure, I decided to dive into mine to see what the state is. I pulled the left bank cover off and, to my surprise, it has the metal tensioners, just like the one's I purchased! At first, I breathed a sigh of relief. Then I thought to look at the ware on the pads. Not, bad, but it appears they have been on the engine since new.

So, I thought, I have the new tensioners, the covers off, why not go ahead and change them. I started getting cold feat as I loosed the first exhaust cam cap bolt and it gave with a jerk! I have experience with steel bolts breaking off in aluminum heads, and that is something I just don't want to deal with in my garage!!!!!

So, given all this, my questions are, will the plastic pads on the metal tentioners last the life of the engine (I'd like to get around 130K if possible), or should I go ahead and change these out? If changing them is a must, what is the chance of the bolts breaking in the head? Finally, what are the torque values for the bolts in inch/pounds?

thanks!

 

I have never heard of a metal tensioner and it's associated plastic slipper failing in the 9 years they have been around.

You could rent the tools and replace the tensioners the way Jaguar recommends.

 

Thanks for the response. That's good enough for me. I'll keep the tentioners around and if I decide to do them later, I will. Now that I know how to get the covers off and everything, it will be a much easier job next time.

Again, thanks!!!