Rusting timing chain???

[leper421]

I pulled off my upper timing cover today and saw that the chains, tensioners, and cam sprockets appear to be rusting. I replaced the chain about a year ago, and the original chain that was in there for 11 years had no rust whatsoever. Nothing had rust on it. So why is a 1 year old chain rusting? The chain had oil on it, so I have to assume its getting an adequate amount of oil. There is no coolant in the oil.

[[Zero-S]]

Have you recently taken/left your valve cover off over night. Maybe condensation had an effect on it. If not, I'm as stumped as you are. (You're talking about the upper chain, right?)

[leper421]

The upper chain is worse than the lower, but even that has some rust.

[p00t]

im pretty sure the only thing that can rust the chains is water (yes oxidation blah blah)... so somehow its getting in there. or at least moisture-wise... maybe one of your hoses to the valve cover or crank case is off/cracked???

you sure theres no water in your oil or anything??

[leper421]

There is no water in the oil. The rust looks the same as the rust on the exhaust manifold. Could too much heat and lack of oil do this? Bad oil pump? There is oil getting to the upper chain, so it doesnt seem to make very much sense.

[lbrowne]

There is definitely something wrong if those internal organs are getting rusted. Thats not right.

Air or moisture, water or something is getting in there via a bad seal or a hairline crack in your timing chain cover or something.

[[Zero-S]]

Yeah...a crack in the timing cover could do it, but then again you would also be leaking oil. If you have an adequate amount of oil (and coolant), and you're not redlining your car everywhere you go, heat shouldn't be a problem. The only thing I could think of would be water... The exhaust manifold will always rust because of the EXTREME heat that goes through it (unless you get an aftermarket one with a ceramic coating). I would use a water remover anyway just to be safe...its only like 5 dollars for the bottle.