The aim of this study is the analysis of wear behaviour of a timing chain in real engine operation in terms of the influence of variable operating parameters. Further experiments were carried out with used motor oil. During the wear measurements could be seen, that the variation of the oil temperature showed a minor effect on the wear behaviour. However the use of aged oil showed a significant change of the wear behaviour. This means, that in the design of chain drive systems and oil change intervals this correlation has to be considered for maintaining the targeted engine life. Fundamental experiments on a tribometer using different types of carbon black oil will help to describe this phenomena more accurately. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.