Timing chain or belt?

Hi guys,

This may be commonly known in the community, however, I can't find a definitive answer. Me and my father are looking to get a TD5 defender soon, around 2000-2002 kind of age. We are trying to find out if the TD5 engines have a timing belt or a chain. And if they have chain, do they ever need to be replaced?

Any help would be hugely appreciated.

Chain, dunno about replacement though

'Parently it's a 'for life' item so unless it's rattling around like a monkeys nuts I wouldn't worry

Thanks for the confirmation! Usually chains are for life on most engines I believe. So I take it the chain is internal as well? And are all TD5 engines chain driven?

Yes and yes

blue beasty said:

Yes and yes

Click to expand...

Thank you

Never yet seen a TD5 that needs a chain changed. Its a strong chain as it has to work the injector compression as well as the valves. The hydraulic tensioner takes out any slack so no rattles.

Is the TD5 the only recent LR diesel engine that uses a timing chain? I know the 300tdi has a belt, what about the 200tdi and the various Ford puma engines?

Maybe the chain doesnt have to be replaced ... though mine was 3mm longer than a new one..... how do i know? ... the viscous unit's bearing "died" on mine so we had to take off the cover to replace it... lucky me cos then i saw how the chain guide looks and i was petrified, we estimated with my mechanic that it was a matter of days for it to fall apart(it's mostly plastic)...then it would have been big trouble... i can't say that the tensioner was in a good shape aswell... being there i decided to overhaul the whole thing and put a new chain too... big difference after that on how the engine rev'd and sounded.

so my advice for everybody is to check out at least the guide and tensioner if the car has more than 150K miles...or there might be trouble

All chains will stretch to some degree over time and the tensioner should take up any slack. The chain guides are nylon to keep the noise down and do not have any direct effect on chain tension as they would wear away in no time at all if that was the case.

go for the 1 with the newer heads