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At four and a half years old with 45,000 miles on the clock and despite regular servicing and easy domestic usage, the timing chain on my 2,184cc Nissan X-Trail DCI SVE snapped. Nissan was not interested, main agents wanted over one thousand pounds to take out the engine and investigate final cost, so I was forced to go down other routes. A second hand engine was acquired and parts taken off to repair my damaged engine. I am told that it is not an uncommon problem on this engine with diesel pump failure causing timing chain to break. My question is should I get rid of the car as despite it now running ok I fear the problem could reoccur, or was I just extremely unlucky?
Asked on 5 December 2009 by
Answered by
Honest John
If the diesel pump seized due to lack of lubricity in the fuel, then that
could snap the timing chain or timing belt of any diesel engine and is a separate problem from the original one of chains wearing prematurely. I can't see how Nissan can be held to account for misfuelling with petrol or getting a bad fill of diesel with inadequate lubricity. Maintaining a turbo diesel engine is no secret. Change the lube oil frequently. Either use only BP Ultimate diesel or use Millers diesel additive to give better lubricity to diesel fuel (www.millersoils.co.uk) Never switch off a red hot turbo, which it will be after running on the motorway, running up a long incline or towing. Always idle the engine for a minute or two to cool the turbo by engine oil circulating through its bearings
could snap the timing chain or timing belt of any diesel engine and is a separate problem from the original one of chains wearing prematurely. I can't see how Nissan can be held to account for misfuelling with petrol or getting a bad fill of diesel with inadequate lubricity. Maintaining a turbo diesel engine is no secret. Change the lube oil frequently. Either use only BP Ultimate diesel or use Millers diesel additive to give better lubricity to diesel fuel (www.millersoils.co.uk) Never switch off a red hot turbo, which it will be after running on the motorway, running up a long incline or towing. Always idle the engine for a minute or two to cool the turbo by engine oil circulating through its bearings
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