Preventative Maintenance: Oil Pump and Timing Chain

[wkelley70]

I am addressing some leaks on my son's 2001 Tj Sport 4.0 with 220,000 miles. I am in the process of replacing the rear main seal, oil pan gasket, time cover gasket and harmonic balancer seal.

While I am doing all this should I replace the oil pump and timing chain set?

Note: Within the last two years we have replaced the A/C compressor, power steering pump and water pump.

 

[voodooridr]

Pump at a minimum

 

[JKP]

Might as well while you are in there. I'm sure the chain has some slack in it.

 

[MikeE024]

I am addressing some leaks on my son's 2001 Tj Sport 4.0 with 220,000 miles. I am in the process of replacing the rear main seal, oil pan gasket, time cover gasket and harmonic balancer seal.

While I am doing all this should I replace the oil pump and timing chain set?

Note: Within the last two years we have replaced the A/C compressor, power steering pump and water pump.

I replaced the chain and sprockets while the cover was off to replace the FMS. I also installed a Melling oil pump and pickup tube while the pan was off for the RMS.

I’m glad I did everything because the chain was stretched and the previous pickup tube fit very loosely in the pump.

Note: Pressing in the pickup tube is annoying but doable without the special tool. I put the open end of a wrench over the flange of the tube and smacked on the wrench with a big hammer to press it in. I used some stacked wood blocks under the other end of the wrench during the hammering.

 

[macleanflood]

If you're going after the timing chain then you probably should replace the crank pulley, consider a water pump, fan clutch.

When I did my RMS I replaced my oil pump with a standard volume and pressure Melling. I was able to get a finger on the timing chain... didn't like the slack and replaced it next. My crank pulley rubber was cracked.

-Mac

 

[wkelley70]

The harmonic balancer is definitely going to be replaced. I pulled it today and there is a groove in it. Haven't got the timing chain cover off so I don't know about the chain an gears, but ... 220,000 miles.

 

[JMT]

The harmonic balancer is definitely going to be replaced. I pulled it today and there is a groove in it. Haven't got the timing chain cover off so I don't know about the chain an gears, but ... 220,000 miles.

Pump yes, standard is all you need. Heavy duty won’t help any.

I’d check the slack in the chain.

 

[MikeE024]

The harmonic balancer is definitely going to be replaced. I pulled it today and there is a groove in it. Haven't got the timing chain cover off so I don't know about the chain an gears, but ... 220,000 miles.

Changed my HB too. My engine was at 200k and the chain was super loose once I was in there (and the chain guide was broken). The engine runs quieter than before and I believe it runs a bit better too. I’m glad I did it now that’s it’s done.

For the RMS, I used a Mopar seal based on recommendations in here. I used a chopstick to push the seal out of the block and a shoe horn to install it into the block so the back of the seal doesn’t get sliced during install (methods passed down from others).

 

[HammeredSole]

I noticed the FelPro instructions call for taking that sharp edges off the seal channel with stones. I used a spyderco stone to take the edge off, but not chamfer. Using the included shoe horn and gear oil, the seal went in smoothly.