There are some excellent timing chain tensioner posts for the 9th generation K24. I've read all that popped up on a search. The tutorials demonstrate that it's a fairly simple DIY fix, just be careful not to lose any parts into the engine!
I still have a question.
I see the notches on the tensioner, which I assume "lock in a stepwise manner" so that the post gradually extends farther out over time. I realize there is hydraulic oil pressure that pushes this tensioner to take up slack once running. I assume that both of these are responsible for the overall function. This would mean that the oil pressure is required to have an active pushing function during operation, and the notches keep the tensioner from retracting SO MUCH when the engine is turned off. This jibes with the reports that the first startup after installing a new tensioner always produces a rattle because the tensioner hasn't had a change to extend until that first burst of oil pressure occurs...once it extends, the notches prevent it from retracting more than the next closest notch, which helps prevent the rattle.
I'm wondering if a tensioner that demonstrates a rattle at cold startup might STOP the cold-start rattle if the next-most-tight notch is engaged when the engine is running. Of course, if the farthest notch is engaged and there is a rattle, it's not going to magically stop rattling. Since I've only heard it rattle briefly at cold start-up three times (and not every time), why not give it a chance to reach the next notch if it's not already at it's limit? Or, do I just need to go ahead and do it?
Thanks for any insight/suggestions/experience.
I still have a question.
I see the notches on the tensioner, which I assume "lock in a stepwise manner" so that the post gradually extends farther out over time. I realize there is hydraulic oil pressure that pushes this tensioner to take up slack once running. I assume that both of these are responsible for the overall function. This would mean that the oil pressure is required to have an active pushing function during operation, and the notches keep the tensioner from retracting SO MUCH when the engine is turned off. This jibes with the reports that the first startup after installing a new tensioner always produces a rattle because the tensioner hasn't had a change to extend until that first burst of oil pressure occurs...once it extends, the notches prevent it from retracting more than the next closest notch, which helps prevent the rattle.
I'm wondering if a tensioner that demonstrates a rattle at cold startup might STOP the cold-start rattle if the next-most-tight notch is engaged when the engine is running. Of course, if the farthest notch is engaged and there is a rattle, it's not going to magically stop rattling. Since I've only heard it rattle briefly at cold start-up three times (and not every time), why not give it a chance to reach the next notch if it's not already at it's limit? Or, do I just need to go ahead and do it?
Thanks for any insight/suggestions/experience.
