![]() ![]() Timing belts are located outside the engine, and will dry out and crack over time. Timing chains are built within the engine, receiving lubrication from engine oil that can help it last for a long time. Timing belts were introduced in the 1960s as the material became stronger, and it was less expensive to produce. Before rubber became widely used, metal parts were standard in the production of automobiles. Timing chains are made from metal, where a timing belt is constructed of reinforced rubber. The difference is in the location and construction. A timing chain functions in the same way as a timing belt. How do you know if your car’s timing belt is bad? Digging deep into timing beltsĭepending on how old your car is, you may have also heard a timing belt referred to as a timing chain. A bad timing belt can cause problems with the way your car runs, and if left unchecked, can cease operation altogether. When operating well, your timing belt helps your vehicle operate smoothly. It’s a rubber belt that synchronizes movement between the camshaft and crankshaft, and ensures the valves stay freely moving and your engine continues to run. If you don’t want to see those dollar signs adding up, check your timing belt regularly, and have your mechanic replace it on schedule.The timing belt is an integral part of the engine compartment. Now you know the disastrous consequences of neglecting your timing belt – engine valve and piston damage, bent valves, cylinder heads that need to be rebuilt or replaced, and possibly even total engine destruction. Eventually, the engine simply cracks in half, and there’s no way to repair it. This throws the rods off, and they start to poke holes in the engine block. If the timing is off, be it less than a second, there is nothing to stop the pistons and cylinders from colliding. ![]() Here’s the thing, though – the period of time between “ownership” can be less than a second. The pistons and the valves “own” the cylinder at different times. With an interference engine, though (and about 70% of the vehicles on the road today have this type of engine), the pistons and the valves move within the cylinder – just not at the same time. A non-interference engine provides clearance between the valves and pistons, so if the timing belt breaks, you might end up with bent valves, and you might have to have your cylinder heads rebuilt, but the engine isn’t likely to be destroyed. The level of damage caused by a broken timing belt can depend on the type of engine you have in your car. If you’re in doubt, check your owner’s manual, or ask your dealer or mechanic. Some belts are good for up to 100,000 miles. Most vehicle manufacturers also recommend that you make timing belt replacement a part of your routine maintenance, replacing it every 60,000 miles. Or you can have a mechanic check the belt for you. You can do a visual check – see if there’s any cracking, glazing, missing teeth or oil contamination. ![]() More often, though, damage is due to wear in the timing belt. Timing belts don’t often give you a lot of warning when they’re about to give way – they might squeak or chirp, or they might just suddenly break. ![]() Your timing belt tells the pistons when to rise and fall, and the valves when to open and close. It drives the camshaft, which is what keeps the valves synchronized, and the crankshaft, which controls the pistons. Let’s state it plainly – nothing is more important than the timing belt. Probably, when you think of your engine, you picture the valves and pistons, but you don’t think much about what keeps them in good working order. Timing belts don’t often snap, but when they do, it can cause piston damage, ruined cylinder heads, and engine valve damage. Ignoring your timing belt can come with a high cost. ![]()
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