How long will it last?? 266600 kms and climbing

Hoping for some advice-

Due for a timing chain replacement. Bought this 1 year ago for $8500. Chain re-re will cost $3000 at least. Is it worth replacing?? Will the Jeep keep going passed 300k ?? Help! Should we say fuck it and run it til she goes or is it worth the coin to replace the chain cause she’ll end up out lasting all of us?!! Haha. Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Y’all are the pros

 

Hello Ashley! Welcome to Jeeps.net.
If the original chain lasted this long hopefully a replacement would last just as long.
Having paid $8500 just a year ago I would say it is worth it as much as it sucks.
Most of the cost of the timing chain repair is the labor, it books at over 13 hours for a 4wd.

Is there a reason you are replacing it? Typically the timing chain doesn't have a replacement interval.

 

Welcome! Shop around for a better quote but sometimes if you cannot do the work you just have to pay to play. Otherwise look around for another affordable vehicle, jeep preferentially of course...LOL

 

i would think you could get a whole crate motor put in for not much more than 3000

 

oh yea and welcome to the forum from DFW

 

$3000 sounds like a lot even for a diesel. I am with pre-runner on this. I wouldnt replace it at roughly 150K miles. (you did say KMs right). I would think that you should get 3 times that before a rebuild. Is there a reason you are replacing it? What does your owners manual say. It will tell you everything you need to do on you jeep and when you need to do it. If you don't have one you can find them easy enough on ebay.

 

Wow!! Man, I didn’t expect so much help so quickly! This forum stuff is handy! Thanks everyone Well I guess the only reason we started wondering about the chain was because of the high mileage. ...Owners manual lol what a rookie mistake, I will look at the owners manual, duh. I even had Jeep send me the maintenance schedule for this thing...lol how embarrassing ‍♀️ I appreciate the help anyways! Clearly needed the reminder.

Does anyone have an idea how long these diesels usually last for? Assuming decent maintenance? Seems like the more I find out about this thing the happier I am for buying it. Ha, knock on wood.

And yes, it’s 266000 kms

Thanks again guys

 

My 1992 Cherokee, has 301,000 miles. and still runs great. body and interior is rough, and it needs new exhaust, and the power steering pump is leaking a bit and needs some attention. bought with 226,000 miles for $300.

burns zero oil, and zero blowby

 

I'l give ya 400 for it lol

 

Welcome! You got 75k out of the Jeep for $300 is positive. What's the plan? At that high mileage just maintain the PS fluid level since it's a small leak otherwise hose replacement is easy. Exhaust....depends on what's broken. Exhaust is not too bad once you busted loose the PIA heavily rusted bolts or broke everything else attached to the bad part.

 

missing a zero...

broke at the manifold collector, as typical. other than that just worn out cat and muffler, but will probably replace it all, especially now its not the daily driver, the steering pump is minor detail, not too worried about.

Might end up giving it to my Dad, or doing a restoration on it, and fix the worn out body and interior, I have done alot of work to the old girl.. lots of reliability upgrades and maintenance work. for awhile my commute was 355 miles each way from home, and then 60 miles

each way from the hotel. and took me through some remote areas.

Most external engine accessories have been replaced, except the throttle body, fuel rail, and power steering pump and hoses. brakes been all redone, suspension and steering, upgraded battery cables and all other connections cleaned and greased. new drive shaft, old one broke at 65mph...

only reason not driving it still, is that I wanted something a bit newer, and more comfortable on my drive each day, which is again back up to 60 miles each way

 

Man that's a long commute. I'd go crazy being on the road that much

 

Ashley, a couple of facts to consider. A timing chain is not like a belt that stretches, it's more like the sprocket chain on your bicycles only double and it receives constant lubrication. Are there other indications that there may be a problem? Are you getting codes or is it running rough? If not, the change date is really a suggestion rather than a mandate. Change your oil every six thousand miles or 10,000 km. Change your filter at half that amount. (That's where the dirt is) When your oil is sucked up out of the oil pan by the oil pump it goes straight to the filter before going anywhere else. At $3,000 someone is trying to fuck you without the proverbial foreplay or even a kiss!

 

Pay someone ONE time to change the exhaust manifold as the fumes are dangerous. Then have someone put a piece of flex pipe in the exhaust pipe as close to the manifold as possible, it will prevent future breaks by absorbing the torque. Secondly, the power steering pump is not really hard to access and there is bound to be a You Tube video on changing the seals and gaskets. You CAN do it.

 

266000 km isn't much.. that's 165k miles. The best thing you can do to preserve a diesel is frequent fuel filter changes and oil changes. The diesel's injection pump is the most important part of the motor, so keeping the fuel going through it clean is super important. I wouldn't worry about the timing chain unless you have a specific problem that has been traced to it.