Loose timing chain?

I don't have any experience with timing chains. Decided to inspect the one in my car which is a GM 3.1. Is there supposed to be any looseness whatsoever?

How many miles on this engine, sir?

I'm not sure what the spec is for chain slack, but it's probably not much. Realistically, though, I find that every chain with mileage on it has some slack. With no active tensioner on your setup, there's going to be some play on the slack side of the chain.

If you can afford to replace the chain and gears while you have the cover off, then I see no reason not to have the peace of mind.

Got about 240,000 miles on it. . Just wanted a ballpark before and after looseness.

To avoid making another topic do you know if these electronic general motor EGR valves can be serviced? Like is there a way to open it up and clean the carbon out?

Donnyten wrote: Got about 240,000 miles on it. . Just wanted a ballpark before and after looseness.

With that mileage, I think you could justify a timing set, assuming that you mean to keep this vehicle for the long term.

To avoid making another topic do you know if these electronic general motor EGR valves can be serviced? Like is there a way to open it up and clean the carbon out?

Not that I'm aware of. You can clean the pintle and seat on some of the GM EGR valves, but I think yours looks something like this, right?



On these valves, it's tough to even get to the pintle for cleaning. How are the intake passages? That's something worth cleaning while you have it off the engine.

Yep. Definitely cleaned the intake passages and whatever I could. These things can't be serviced at all.

I always went with anything more than 4 degrees of slack, I would replace the gears and chain.