Genesis 2015 3.8 GDI Engine timing chain

[smirn0ff]

Hi Guys,

anyone changed the timing chain on 3.8 GDI engine?
Im on over 100K miles and from time to time I think heard the specific chain sound when startup the motor.
Do anybody made this manipulation of chaning the timing chains, on what milage and how tough it is?!
In the service manuals of such engines, there is a 60-80k miles range for those timing chains, after that need replacing.
Pleace give advise.

 

[EdP]

Hi Guys,

anyone changed the timing chain on 3.8 GDI engine?
Im on over 100K miles and from time to time I think heard the specific chain sound when startup the motor.
Do anybody made this manipulation of chaning the timing chains, on what milage and how tough it is?!
In the service manuals of such engines, there is a 60-80k miles range for those timing chains, after that need replacing.
Pleace give advise.

Never replaced a chain and had many 100k+ engines. Never had a problem. Belts are a different story and I'd not go past the recommendation. I did find this about them

https://www.carparts.com/blog/when-to-replace-timing-chain/

 

[smirn0ff]

yes, the belts are infront of the engine and they are changed on 60K miles.
the timing chains of Hyundai motor 3.8 are steel and behind
I heard alot of things about chains and replacing them at around 100K miles, to assure the proper motor work.

 

[joegr]

yes, the belts are infront of the engine and they are changed on 60K miles.
the timing chains of Hyundai motor 3.8 are steel and behind
I heard alot of things about chains and replacing them at around 100K miles, to assure the proper motor work.

The accessory drive belt is in front. Many people do mistake it for a timing belt, but it is not.
Cars with timing belts (which this is not) do have specific change intervals for the timing belt.
This car has a timing chain. It does not have any specific change interval. Sometimes timing chains do have to be replaced, but most of the time, they last the life of the engine (by the time that they are worn out enough to need changing, the rest of the engine is worn out too).
I think you have perhaps misheard or misunderstood about this.

 

[glennk]

Either that, or you were on a BMW board. They are notorious for having stretched chains and broken guides. If built correctly and properly lubricated, timing chains and guides are supposed to be a lifetime item. The lifters and Direct Injection may be making the clacking sound you are hearing.

 

[optimagenesis]

Hi Guys,

anyone changed the timing chain on 3.8 GDI engine?
Im on over 100K miles and from time to time I think heard the specific chain sound when startup the motor.
Do anybody made this manipulation of chaning the timing chains, on what milage and how tough it is?!
In the service manuals of such engines, there is a 60-80k miles range for those timing chains, after that need replacing.
Pleace give advise.

Did you get someone at a garage or the dealer look at the noise.? It is perhaps a good idea to get a second opinion. It could be something else ? Or nothing ? .

Oil is critical for longevity of your engine timing chain as for other parts. As you already know this. When do you change your oil,? 8,000 kms or 5k miles ? I use only good quality synthetic oil and change it at 8,000 kms (5k miles) ......... since I bought mine used at 82 kms and the guy before had complete maintenance history. It helps to know what and when the engine oil was changed. ? Long change intervals do not work , no matter what the oil manufacturer recommends.

Also without any details, history of your car, .......... share that if you like
Let us know when you get a second opinion.
Good luck .

 

[smirn0ff]

I am the first owner of the car, I bought it brand new, it is European model year 2016 3.8GDI AWD with max equipment.
Now the car is on ~163500 kilometers(little more than 100K miles). The car is maintained only by the authorized Hyundai dealer here in Bulgaria.
I am writing here in the US Genesis forum because in Europe that car is exotic one and there are not so much owners like in the US. For example in our country the Hyundai dealership imported and sold only 5 such cars.
Until the 5th year my maintenance was scheduled on every 30K km(~18K miles), the car is usually driven on big distances. After the 5th year I changed the maint interval to 15K km(~9K miles). It is driven with only original Shell motor oil.
The maintenance was like that and only done in a less than an year between maintenances:
-on 28862km - oil, oil filter, air filter, climate filter change
-on 52000km - oil, oil filter, air filter, climate filter, fuel filter change
-on 74124 km - oil, oil filter, air filter, climate filter, spark plugs, auto transmission oil, front belts change, check of the valves, front and back brake rotors with brake pads
-on 103666 km - oil, oil filter, air filter, climate filter, the oil in the differentials and the transfer case
-on 12820 km - oil, oil filter, air filter, climate filter, fuel filter
-on something aroung 150K km - oil, oil filter, air filter, climate filter, coolant and brake fluid change, front rotors with brake pads
-now on 163404 km - oil, oil filter, air filter, climate filter, auto transmission oil, front belts change, check of the valves, back brake pads

I am asking the question about the timing chains, because I hear many positions that they must be changed regulary, on something around 120-150K kilometers. At the moment like there is a some metal rattle sound when I ignite the car for the first time of the day, but I was thinking that this can be from valves as well. Dealer listened to it and said to be relaxed about that, but I wanted to ask you if someone had done those chains change and how it is performed. Is it required to take out the engine out from the bay?
From Audi dealer I heard that there is absolutely normal the chains to be changed on that period around 100K miles...

 

[joegr]

It's not an Audi or a BMW. I haven't heard of chains being changed on this engine as a scheduled preventative maintenance measure. Just because one engine from one manufacturer needs something, does not mean that an entirely different engine from a different manufacturer will need that same thing.
If you want to do it, you can. Just be aware that in doing that level of dissassembly there is the chance of breaking something that was otherwise going to be okay for another 100K miles.

 

[optimagenesis]

thank you for the info ....

Timing chains usually with proper care that includes frequent oil & OIL FILTER changes(good full synthetic) last the life of the engine. Checking the oil level once or twice a month at least between changes, to ensure that the engine is not starved of oil lubrication. Your timing chain was designed to last that long.(300 ++ miles)

I personally feel that changing oil and oil filter at 8,000kms or 5,000 miles is a cheap but safe insurance for the longevity of the critical components and that includes timing chain. You choose to go with longer change intervals - we hope that this has not been the cause of the noise, itself , I have not heard of anyone on this forum who had to change it. do you like to check the oil level in between the oil changes.?

good luck

I like to share this article.

When does the timing chain need to be replaced? | Testing Autos

We all know that a timing belt in a car engine needs to be replaced at recommended service intervals, but what about the timing chain? What is the difference between a timing belt and a chain?

www.testingautos.com

 

[smirn0ff]

Even with the longer maintenance intervals I was constantly monitoring the oil position and quality. If I saw it that is going to be quite dirty, I was going for a change even before the interval. Now I make the intervals shorter because as you said it is more safe.
That car doesnt "eat" much oil, no one of my cars consume much oil, on the stick it is going maximum down to the mid of the Min-Max scale before change.
I hope that I am too paranoic and pedantic about the cars I drive, time will show.
Good luck all!

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[glennk]

Remember, oil is cheap but engines aren't. Overly maintaining your vehicle is better than the opposite. While not a Honda or Toyota product, Hyundai/KIA have done relatively well with the 3.8 and 5.0. The turbo 3.3 and 3.5 remain to be seen, as they are so new. I do not anticipate any extensive repairs until 200,000 miles.

 

[Obi-Wan Kenobi Woody Whyt]

Hello I’m sorry I am new as a registered owner but I’ve had my brand new 2015 GENESIS RWD 3.8 fully loaded w/ Tech & Ultimate Packages since December 2014. I currently only have 52+ K miles on it. Only get it serviced at the Hyundai genesis dealership and always use mobile one fully synthetic oil. However, I thought this was a interference engine and hence you need to change the timing chain on a regular scheduled basis? Can anyone help me thanks.

 

[Obi-Wan Kenobi Woody Whyt]

Hi Guys,

anyone changed the timing chain on 3.8 GDI engine?
Im on over 100K miles and from time to time I think heard the specific chain sound when startup the motor.
Do anybody made this manipulation of chaning the timing chains, on what milage and how tough it is?!
In the service manuals of such engines, there is a 60-80k miles range for those timing chains, after that need replacing.
Pleace give advise.

Hello I’m sorry I am new as a registered owner but I’ve had my brand new 2015 GENESIS RWD 3.8 fully loaded w/ Tech & Ultimate Packages since December 2014. I currently only have 52+ K miles on it. Only get it serviced at the Hyundai genesis dealership and always use mobile one fully synthetic oil. However, I thought this was a interference engine and hence you need to change the timing chain on a regular scheduled basis? Can anyone help me thanks.

 

[joegr]

...I thought this was a interference engine and hence you need to change the timing chain on a regular scheduled basis? Can anyone help me thanks.

Yes it is, but no you don't.
You are as likely to cause trouble as you are to prevent it by changing a perfectly good timing chain.

 

[carguy75]

Hello I’m sorry I am new as a registered owner but I’ve had my brand new 2015 GENESIS RWD 3.8 fully loaded w/ Tech & Ultimate Packages since December 2014. I currently only have 52+ K miles on it. Only get it serviced at the Hyundai genesis dealership and always use mobile one fully synthetic oil. However, I thought this was a interference engine and hence you need to change the timing chain on a regular scheduled basis? Can anyone help me thanks.

Timing chains generally are not changed as an maintenance item in the 3.8 engine. However, if the oil was not properly changed(or improper oil level) the timing chains can stretch due to friction(heat) and will need to be changed.

Usually a stretched timing chain happens after 100k miles with a long history of neglected oil changes.

I would personally change the oil in your 3.8 every 4k miles to avoid any timing chain related issues later on.

 

[smirn0ff]

I've watched several videos about the 3.8 GDI engine where people said that the problem for the noise upon startup is not from streched chain, but from not properly working hydraulic tensioner of the engine.
They say that the tensioner can not hold the pressure when motor is not working and when started until the oil pressure goes on, the tensioner is not working, and from there is the sound from the chain.
Anyone on this? Can be the tensioner changed easily without tear down half of the engine?

 

[joegr]

... Can be the tensioner changed easily without tear down half of the engine?

Depends on what you mean by "easily." You have to remove the front timing cover to get to the tensioners. A lot of other stuff has to come off to be able to do that.

 

[smirn0ff]

Depends on what you mean by "easily." You have to remove the front timing cover to get to the tensioners. A lot of other stuff has to come off to be able to do that.

... and if its alot of work only to open the front covers of the engine, so it will be very stupid to change only tensioner not the whole stuff

 

[joegr]

... and if its alot of work only to open the front covers of the engine, so it will be very stupid to change only tensioner not the whole stuff

Here's a thread on the timing cover replacement on the V8. I would expect the level of effort to remove and replace the V6 timing cover is similar.

2015 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 lower front timing cover replacement

Well, I ended up damaging my front lower timing cover due to over tightening my new oil sensor. Therefore, I will be replacing the timing cover. I will also change my spark plugs, high pressure fuel pump roller cam follower, and timing chain tensioners while the engine is apart. I will first...

genesisowners.com

 

[carguy75]

... and if its alot of work only to open the front covers of the engine, so it will be very stupid to change only tensioner not the whole stuff

Yes and no.

Some engines are very complicated to set timing on due to not having keyed crank pulleys or need special camshaft holding tools to set alignment for installation. On engines like those it is best to avoid upsetting the timing chain if possible due to causing more problems if not done correctly.

In my case, my 5.0 timing chain was very stiff with no slack and the timing chains guides were barely worn. So, I just left the timing chain system alone when I swapped out my lower timing cover.