. You get a piece of plastic chain guide rail in there loose. Saying it cannot happen is not completely true. Is it likely to happen? No.


All that is wrong is smoke and a higher level of engine noise? Well we can agree with that from his description. With perhaps some loss of power.

Besides claiming it is impossible. Any ideals? It is just something you quickly check. To make sure it is not an issue.

The car could have been running with a really old timing chain stretched seriously. He punched the car. The chain is held on the cam spikes when it is under tension. Reduce the chain tension and it could jump. Actually slide over the peaks of the cam sprocket.


The hydraulic chain tensioner probably has limits on how much chain stretch it can deal with. Many of these engines may still be running around with their original chains. Sludge could build up over time in the oil passage that feeds the hydraulic tensioner. Or the tensioner could have an issue where it was not tensioning the chain enough. To keep it strongly against the sprocket.


What you are basically saying is engines with timing chains cannot have issues. They do on average have less issues than cars with rubber belts. I know of a few cars sitting on theirs owners properties because they did not change them before they went.