updated chain tensioners
 

Has anyone gone and changed out their chain tensioners for the updated spring loaded type?

I would think that the spring load would be a great feature to mitigate chain lash on start up, before oil pressure builds up.

It seems Porsche has issued a TB regarding retro fit of the older tensioners; I am confused as to why this might be. Is there a dimensional, or stroke mismatch which is the issue?




http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1352080598.jpg

...wanted to get this done while the oil is out

The TSB does read like you can't use the new tensioners on the old chains. i've heard of folks doing just that, however.

i've also heard that you have to lock the cams or risk an extermination-level event, but have read of folks doing them one at a time with no issue.

how lucky do you feel?

I think I would be locking everything up but one has to consider shop labour charges vs the price of the cam lock tooling. I can't recall whether my udp has a TDC index hole. The dia may be too small.

It looks like we have to look at our engine numbers to determine whether we have the roller chain or the updated cam chain type and pick out the correct update tensioners for each respective cam chain type.

It appears that roller chain engines match up with the springless tensioners.
Am I reading the TB correctly?

One may ask is there any benefit to updating to a non spring loaded type?

Perhaps if the new non spring loaded type had sine sort of internal check valve orfice to retain oil pressure for a lot longer???

I changed out my two lower tensioners for the updated versions, but even though they had different part numbers, neither had an external spring. No change in start up rattle if thats what you are chasing.

I didn't lock the cams, I just pinned the crank at TDC and removed and replaced the tensioners one at a time.

Yes I was hoping to clear up the chain clatter on start up ........not sure that's possible without springs

Yes I was hoping to clear up the chain clatter on start up ........not sure that's possible without springs

i changed all 3 tensioners, locked the crank and valve gear. startup rattle unchanged. is it camchain noise i hear or is it valve lifters? it is definately related to oil pressure which make me think it is lifters unless the cam chain tensioners are affected by oil pressure. i thought they were immersed in oil but not under pressure?

changing the oil i used fixed it for me.

What oil were you using and what are you using now?

dunno what was in it when i bought it, but i went straight to a 5w40 synthetic and the clatter went away.

I use the new improved external spring tensioner when I rebuild a engine regardless of year. The TB refers to not mismatching chain drive gear type of crank & IMS. If you order a IMS chain tensioner for 2000 & older you will get the old style tensioner. If you order for 2001 & newer you get the new external spring tensioner. Once all the old design are sold the external spring version will be updated in PET as the replacement for all years. Porsche wants to sell all the parts it has bought not just the new improved parts. Order by part # to get the latest design.

Thanks! I take it that there are no interface issues with the tensioner piston heads and paddles and that all three tensioners will have external springs??

If you have the latest number for all three spots that would great. I suppose I can circumvent having to know by showing up at a dealer parts counter and say that I have a MY2001.....just rather verify with an actual builder

Porsche Boxster Camshaft Parts

ps, clicking on the part # brings you to the updated part number ...

Great, spent some major bucks to get the old style (wrong) tensioners.

There seems to be quite a lot varying opinions on this and we need to know why Porsche un did its external spring updates for older engines. Is it technical or inventory clearance as BYpro mentioned....lets see what he has to say regarding info ....yep wrong parts has got us all at one point or another.

This issue is a tricky one. You maybe better off for some unknown technical reason?!?!

Well, I've basically given up chasing the start up rattle. Tensioner replacement, all kinds of oil from 0-40 to 20-50 and no difference whatsoever. I've learned to live with less than a 1/2 second rattle on most start ups.

Don't mind the rattle myself but I wish to avoid wear on the paddles and sprockets ...proper tension on start up might prolong engine life

I would hate to pull an engine just to replace plastic wear pads

Yeah. pad wear is definitely a concern. I get a couple of little plastic bits in the oil filter occasionaly, but since I pulled the sump plate and cleaned it out, the plastic has been pretty negligible. I'll live with that too. At 130k miles, theres probably a lot of other things that are worn in the engine.

I changed out all three on mine and the originals looked just like the new ones??? Engine is purring along with almost 1400 miles since the work.