This is true, I had a 200sti Sentra (SR20DE) that made a hell of a noise from the timing cover until it picked up oil presure. This only happen early in the mornings when the car was cold, not after leaving the for a minute or 2. Nissan SA also told me that this was normal for this engine. I went on to sell this car @ 300000km, still with the origanal timing chain and tentioner in place.

Though, I dont think this applies to my 1400 bakkie, as the chain rattle happened at 4000 rpm, while the engine was hot. After I replaced the whole kit that only cost R150-00 at midas, the problem was solved.

I agree with you on the quality aspect of the new nissan 1400 bakkies. As I have said before the UTE now only has 65000km on the clock and Ive now already had to replace the Universal joints and now the chain tensioner. Maybe I just got a dud.
In defence to Nissan these utes are still cheap to run and part are not expensive at all.

Quote:

It is heat resistent duco.

The UTE now only has 65000km on its clock and is a 2006 model, the engine started to make a strange noise at +/- 4000 rpm. After taking it the Nissan, they told me that it is the timing chain that was making this noise, they suggested that the tentioners spring could have lost its tention. Seen that I had to buy a whole chain kit, I replaced all. At the end of the day, it was the tentioner spring spring that had gone soft.
Its not a difficult job to replace the chain, its getting to it, as you can see on the pics, i had to remove the elec fan, and radiator. It would have been easier if the engine was out the UTE. The cover was also a bit of a bastard to get off aswell.
NO, I did not paint inside the chain cover and I did remove the paint from the waterpump housing before I assembled it. The green is not to my liking either, but I sent it to a friend to spray and got it back that way. The engine now again runs quite as the day I bought it.

How long have you had the ute? Isnt it basically new?

Also I wouldnt be painting the insides of engine components like that, at least where I can see it its only coolant flowing through there, you didnt paint inside where the chain is did you? What paint did you use?

Some competition engine builders do paint inside blocks to help drain back and also seal in loose sand from casting but that is done properly and wont flake off and block your oil galleries.

And nothing like a stocko engine bay, but thats my 2c.