Hello all,
I’m new here but have peeked here and there once our FJ hit the 4th gear shudder around 180,000 miles. We purchased our Black Cherry 2007 new when they first came out and have been very happy since. She’s never seen the dealer since we wrote the check so I’ve done all the maintenance since new. Only regular wear items changed out and she is bone stock. Most of the miles have been daily driver for my wife and the only time it’s been in 4x4 is with me running it and rear dif lock to keep it lubed. We have made it to 231,000 miles with synthetic changed every 10,000 and oil filter every other change. After reading up here on the trans shudder we elected to use 4th gear until up to speed around 60 MPH then use over drive if on highway. That got us from 180,000 to 231,000. I did the tranny fluid swap this past weekend via tranny cooler lines at the radiator and it’s like we have a new transmission.
UPDATE
Should have knocked on wood as my wife came home from work a couple days ago and said the check engine light and some other lights were on. So I pulled the codes and got a p0012 Cam retard bank 1 or something like that but the engine was running fine after test run and starting fine. Valve train still sounds fine. I had just changed the oil so that wasn’t it. This was the first time I purchased the oil from Bj’s in a box pack so I checked the viscosity again as I had a spare quart and it was 5 - 30 so that looked good. I cleared code and we swapped cars for a day. Ran fine on my 60 mile round trip so I filled with super and will run it for a few more days before I swap back.
Also noticed the grease fittings on the drive shafts while looking underneath so I greased all the Zirks. maybe that will clear up that occasional glunk we get when stopping since they haven’t seen grease since they left the factory.
Up till now the only time we have had a code was for the gas cap left loose and when it finally failed and I picked a new one.
2007 FJ new to Forum wondering about Timing chain life expectancy
Hello all,
I’m new here but have peeked here and there once our FJ hit the 4th gear shudder around 180,000 miles. We purchased our Black Cherry 2007 new when they first came out and have been very happy since. She’s never seen the dealer since we wrote the check so I’ve done all the maintenance since new. Only regular wear items changed out and she is bone stock. Most of the miles have been daily driver for my wife and the only time it’s been in 4x4 is with me running it and rear dif lock to keep it lubed. We have made it to 231,000 miles with synthetic changed every 10,000 and oil filter every other change. After reading up here on the trans shudder we elected to use 4th gear until up to speed around 60 MPH then use over drive if on highway. That got us from 180,000 to 231,000. I did the tranny fluid swap this past weekend via tranny cooler lines at the radiator and it’s like we have a new transmission.
I was planning to swap out water pump, t stat, belt, idlers, hot side of rad, and anything else up front and realized it maybe smart to swap timing chain while at it since we’ve pushed our luck. Is there any history of the life span on timing chain and wether they are worth changing? I have no reason to swap as valve train is normal and no codes.
Thanks for any input regarding the timing chain life span
Tim
I’m new here but have peeked here and there once our FJ hit the 4th gear shudder around 180,000 miles. We purchased our Black Cherry 2007 new when they first came out and have been very happy since. She’s never seen the dealer since we wrote the check so I’ve done all the maintenance since new. Only regular wear items changed out and she is bone stock. Most of the miles have been daily driver for my wife and the only time it’s been in 4x4 is with me running it and rear dif lock to keep it lubed. We have made it to 231,000 miles with synthetic changed every 10,000 and oil filter every other change. After reading up here on the trans shudder we elected to use 4th gear until up to speed around 60 MPH then use over drive if on highway. That got us from 180,000 to 231,000. I did the tranny fluid swap this past weekend via tranny cooler lines at the radiator and it’s like we have a new transmission.
I was planning to swap out water pump, t stat, belt, idlers, hot side of rad, and anything else up front and realized it maybe smart to swap timing chain while at it since we’ve pushed our luck. Is there any history of the life span on timing chain and wether they are worth changing? I have no reason to swap as valve train is normal and no codes.
Thanks for any input regarding the timing chain life span
Tim
1 - 6 of 6 Posts
I have heard if properly maintenanced it will last well over 300K
I don't believe it has a service interval, meaning "life of the engine" or similar or unless you get timing issues like you alluded to. My Tacoma also had a timing chain and it had no stated interval.
I have a 07 FJ with 294,300 miles on it had to replace timing chain at 265,000 like a new engine
We’re at 250,000 now and I just ordered all the parts for up front minus the timing chain parts. She also has had the front passenger timing cover oil weep above PS pump since around 125k, but I’ve monitored it and it doesn’t leak enough to register on the dip stick. Guess I’ll bite the bullet and order the new timing parts and gasket while I have everything removed up front.I have a 07 FJ with 294,300 miles on it had to replace timing chain at 265,000 like a new engine
1 - 6 of 6 Posts
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