Just picked up a 95 2.7 Tacoma with 203k on it, my step dad has a 99 with 200k on it and we were talking this weekend about replacing the timing chain. He mentioned someone told him they lasted for good as long as you kept the oil changed like you should. He has a friend with a 98 2wd with the 2.4 that has over 300k on it and the motor has never been touched other than plugs/wires general maint things but no timing chain. I'm anal about keeping my trucks in good shape so it that correct - you don't replace the timing chain on the Tacoma 2.4/2.7 motors?

 

Yes and no. On the 22re or 2.4 the timing chain itself sees minimal wear and tear under normal usage. They do stretch slightly, usually not enough to cause it to jump a tooth and go out of time, but enough to cause it to ride along the plastic guide until failure and serious potential damage if you wear a hole turn the timing cover into the water jacket. This is remedied with replacing the chain and upgrading the guides to steel every 100-150k miles. Once you have the steel guides you should be set. An once of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

The 2.7 is a completely different motor. However the chain lifespan still applies. The timing chain still sees stretch and wear, observation of slack and tensioner at say 50k mile intervals to determine stretch and potential failure wouldn't hurt.

 

I guess a good deal of the motor has to come apart to check the slack correct?

 

The 22RE could be done with just the valve cover removed. Look down and you can eyeball if the chain was in to the guide on steel guides or if the plastic one was still intact.

I'm not 100% on the 2.7 2z motor.