Cam drive anxiety

[Testarossa]

Dealing with two new-to-us vehicles, and I’m experiencing what I’ll call cam drive anxiety about both of them.

I’ve now put 1500 miles on the ’89 Mille GT, and am coming up on 50,000 miles. Just changed the oil and filter (a first for me; the old T has none). Engine is oil tight, great compression, correct jetting and timing, nice clean plugs – everything I can check suggests that it was very well maintained. But I don’t know whether the timing chain has ever been replaced – PO owned the bike only a year and didn’t know. Cam chain whine is clearly audible. I probably shouldn’t worry about it. I certainly don’t want to drop the engine just to check it.

We also now have a 2008 Subaru Forester XT, with 125,000 miles, because Gail fell in love with it. The ad said the timing belts and water pump were new on schedule (100,000) but there’s no record of that service in the CarFax, which we got after the fact – just a note that the belts were “checked” at 88,000. I’m a great believer in the robust character of normally aspirated Subarus, and I’ve driven a couple of them beyond 250,000 miles with all scheduled maintenance – the last one now resides happily and reliably with my daughter.  I have my suspicions about the turbos, which burn premium fuel, use synthetic oil, get worse mileage, use bigger more expensive tires with TPMS sensors, etc etc. It’s an interference engine, and now I’m worried that when we drive to Chicago next month we’ll blow up someplace in Iowa.

The Subaru has an inspection cover on the driver's side of the timing case so I can have a look at one of the belts, but that doesn't tell anything about the water pump or idlers. I'll look at it later in the week.  I wish there were an inspection port in the Guzzi timing case.

Grumble.

[lucky phil]

Dealing with two new-to-us vehicles, and I�m experiencing what I�ll call cam drive anxiety about both of them.

I�ve now put 1500 miles on the �89 Mille GT, and am coming up on 50,000 miles. Just changed the oil and filter (a first for me; the old T has none). Engine is oil tight, great compression, correct jetting and timing, nice clean plugs � everything I can check suggests that it was very well maintained. But I don�t know whether the timing chain has ever been replaced � PO owned the bike only a year and didn�t know. Cam chain whine is clearly audible. I probably shouldn�t worry about it. I certainly don�t want to drop the engine just to check it.

We also now have a 2008 Subaru Forester XT, with 125,000 miles, because Gail fell in love with it. The ad said the timing belts and water pump were new on schedule (100,000) but there�s no record of that service in the CarFax, which we got after the fact � just a note that the belts were �checked� at 88,000. I�m a great believer in the robust character of normally aspirated Subarus, and I�ve driven a couple of them beyond 250,000 miles with all scheduled maintenance � the last one now resides happily and reliably with my daughter.  I have my suspicions about the turbos, which burn premium fuel, use synthetic oil, get worse mileage, use bigger more expensive tires with TPMS sensors, etc etc. It�s an interference engine, and now I�m worried that when we drive to Chicago next month we�ll blow up someplace in Iowa.

The Subaru has an inspection cover on the driver's side of the timing case so I can have a look at one of the belts, but that doesn't tell anything about the water pump or idlers. I'll look at it later in the week.  I wish there were an inspection port in the Guzzi timing case.

Grumble.

You could have had the front off the Mille engine, checked the chain and put it back together in the time you spent making this post :)

Ciao

[Kiwi_Roy]

On the other site I asked if a cam chain is getting a bit warn at 100,000 miles and was chastised for worrying about nothing LOL

As for the Subaru, if the belt snaps you will soon know, 150,000 should be safe I reckon.

[pete roper]

As Phil says, it's no big deal to check. At 50,000 miles, if it hasn't had the original tensioner replaced now would be a good time. If it's whining though you may well find it has a Valtech type in there already. Alternatively someone may of put ally gears in there and they'll be grinding themselves to mush.

Pete

[charlie b]

I was lucky that the PO on my T5 had receipts and the old valve chain tensioner in a bag of parts.

Subaru.  I'd find out which dealer did their servicing and see if they had any records of it.  Should be able to track through the VIN.  If I could not find any record of it I'd change them.  My 2002 WRX at almost 200k still goes strong and there are many high mileage turbos out there.  If it is an automatic then they tend to need a rebuild near the 200k point.  Yes, gas is more expensive and mileage is worse, especially since it is so much fun to push the pedal harder :)