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Buick Regal Engine Timing Gear Oilers

Buick Regal Engine timing gear oilers

Engine timing gear oilers start at $10.95 at AutoBuffy, where you'll find 2 options from Cloyes. A timing gear oiler is a small nozzle or tube that directs pressurized oil onto the timing chain, gears, and sprockets to reduce friction and wear. When it clogs or fails, oil starvation accelerates chain stretch and gear wear, often leading to costly timing system damage.

Signs your Buick Regal needs a new engine timing gear oiler

  • Rattling or slapping noise from the front of the engine at startup that fades as oil pressure builds — a classic sign the timing chain is running dry
  • Timing chain stretch codes or cam/crank correlation fault codes (e.g., P0008, P0016) stored in the ECU with no other obvious cause
  • Visible sludge or blockage found in the timing cover area during oil change or timing cover inspection
  • Increased timing chain tensioner wear or a tensioner that repeatedly bleeds down, indicating inadequate lubrication rather than a failed tensioner itself
  • Oil pressure reads normal but metallic particles appear in the oil or on the drain plug magnet, suggesting dry-running wear on timing components
  • Engine runs rough or exhibits variable valve timing hesitation during cold starts when oil delivery to the timing system is most critical

Which engine timing gear oiler should you buy for your Buick Regal?

Timing gear oilers vary primarily by design — nozzle style, feed tube configuration, and whether the oiler is a standalone jet or integrated into a timing chain guide or tensioner assembly. Matching the oiler to your engine's oil gallery routing and pressure specifications is critical; an incorrectly sized orifice can either starve the chain or bleed too much pressure from the rest of the lubrication circuit. Check your engine family when ordering, as many makes offer multiple engines within the same Regal generation that use different oiler configurations.

OE-equivalent replacement nozzle
Best for
Restoring exact factory oil delivery volume and spray pattern
What you get
Direct-fit nozzle matched to factory orifice size and thread spec; lowest risk of oil pressure imbalance
Upgraded high-flow oiler jet
Best for
High-mileage engines or those with a history of timing chain wear; performance builds
What you get
Larger orifice for increased oil volume to the chain; should only be used if oil pump capacity supports it
Oiler tube assembly with banjo fitting
Best for
Engines where the oiler is a press-in or banjo-style tube rather than a threaded nozzle
What you get
Complete replacement tube with all sealing hardware; eliminates cracks or kinks in the original feed line
Timing kit with integrated oiler
Best for
Full timing system service where chain, guides, tensioner, and oiler are all worn
What you get
Complete kit ensures all lubrication and tensioning components are new and matched; best value for high-mileage rebuilds

Engine timing gear oilers brands we stock for your Buick Regal

Cloyes
2 options · from $10.95

Replacing the engine timing gear oiler on a Buick Regal

Advanced⏱ 3–6 hours (longer if combined with full timing chain service)Harmonic balancer pullerSocket set and breaker barTorque wrenchGasket scraper and RTV sealantDrain pan and coolant catch basin

Access to the timing gear oiler requires removing the front timing cover, which typically means draining the cooling system, removing the serpentine belt and accessories, and pulling the crankshaft harmonic balancer. Once the cover is off, the oiler nozzle or feed tube can be extracted, inspected, and replaced before the cover is resealed and all components reinstalled. Always rotate the engine to top dead center before beginning disassembly, and follow the timing mark alignment procedure precisely during reassembly to avoid timing errors.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to replace engine timing gear oilers on a Buick Regal?
The part itself starts at $10.95 for a Buick Regal, but total cost depends heavily on labor. The timing cover must usually be removed to access the oiler, which means a significant teardown. Most shops bundle this repair with a full timing chain service, so combining jobs saves considerable labor cost compared to doing them separately.
Can a clogged timing gear oiler cause timing chain failure on a Buick Regal?
Yes. A blocked or missing oiler jet starves the timing chain and sprockets of pressurized oil, accelerating metal-on-metal wear. Over time this causes chain stretch, guide wear, and eventually jumped or broken timing, which on interference engines can result in bent valves and major internal engine damage.
How do I know if my Buick Regal's timing gear oiler is clogged versus failed?
A clogged oiler typically shows no external leaks but produces chain noise and timing codes. A cracked or dislodged oiler may drip oil inside the timing cover or cause a sudden drop in oil pressure. Inspection during timing cover removal — looking for sludge in the nozzle or a displaced tube — confirms the condition.
Should I replace the timing gear oiler every time I do a timing chain job on a Buick Regal?
Yes, this is strongly recommended. The oiler is inexpensive relative to the total timing job labor cost, and reassembling with an old, partially blocked nozzle risks premature wear on the new chain. Since the timing cover is already off, there is no additional labor cost to swap the oiler at the same time.
Will a failing timing gear oiler trigger a check engine light on a Buick Regal?
Not directly, but the downstream effects will. As the timing chain stretches from inadequate lubrication, the ECU detects cam-to-crank timing discrepancies and sets codes related to timing correlation or variable valve timing performance. These codes often appear before any audible symptoms become obvious, making them an early warning sign.
Is replacing a timing gear oiler a DIY job on a Buick Regal?
It is technically feasible for an experienced DIYer, but it is not a beginner job. Accessing the oiler requires removing the timing cover, which typically involves draining coolant, removing the crankshaft harmonic balancer, and sometimes the water pump. Plan for several hours of work and ensure the engine is at top dead center before disassembly.

Shop engine timing gear oilers by year for the Buick Regal

2017201620152014201320122011

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