5.0 SC Timing Chain

[vanman1936]

I know this can be googled (and have done a bit), would appreciate the latest thinking on the timing chain point on the 5.0 SC engine (looking at a 2012 XKR).

How likely is the issue?
How can you tell there is a fault?
Prevention?
Fix cost?

Also, any other issues to look for when buying.

Thanks

Paul

[Vsix and Vtec]

I'm not an owner of one myself (currently on the hunt for a 4.2) but what I've seen said is the best way to avoid trouble is to increase your service frequency and use OEM quality as a minimum for service parts

[Piersman2]

I've got 3 of these engines in the household, 125,105 and 95k miles on them.

Only issues (so far! ) have been water pumps and S/C couplers. No problems with timing chains or anything else.

I have heard these continuous rumours of timing chains needing desperately to be swapped out every time someone mentions buying a 5.0 S/C, and I have seen a couple of examples on line over the last 10 years or so, but then anything on line should be caveat-ed with the old advice of people only post up when something goes wrong.

Most of the noise I've heard about these engines seemed to relate to XFRs, personally my take on it is that XFRs are maybe not as enthusiastically cared for as much as XKRs, and that either oil changes have been skipped or the wrong oil used (the proper oil for these engines is expensive!).

On my 3 (2 XKRs and a FFRR) I change the oil regularly (it's so easy to do with the sucker tube in the oil filler, and the filter on top of the engine) with the correct grade oil, even when it costs £100+ in oil alone.