Timing belt vs Timing chain

[airborne]

I forgot to post my experience last month: The timing belt on my Toyota Camry snapped while driving at speed. Fortunately it's a non-interference engine, so there was no permanent damage (after replacing the belt and idler).

What had me a bit puzzled was that I had not driven excessive distance since the last change. The technician explained that the belt deteriorates with age (like a tyre sidewall).

I have been driving much less in recent years, and never considered this as a factor worth noting. I guess the same applies to wear items such as radiator hoses, suspension bushings, and exhaust silencers.

Timing belts normally have a time or mileage replacement interval, whichever comes first.

 

[Gordon_R]

Timing belts normally have a time or mileage replacement interval, whichever comes first.

Just out of curiosity: Would you say that timing chains have no time interval replacement? Or do the plastic guides also suffer from age?

 

[airborne]

Just out of curiosity: Would you say that timing chains have no time interval replacement? Or do the plastic guides also suffer from age?

From my experience most Japanese/Korean timing chain systems are designed to last the life of the engines. German vehicles and a few others on the other hand use all kinds of junk plastic or rubbish designs in their timing chain systems and often have low mileage failure or they are seen as service items.

 

[WAslayer]

Just out of curiosity: Would you say that timing chains have no time interval replacement? Or do the plastic guides also suffer from age?

Theoretically they can last the cars life time without needing replacement, if the engine is well looked after and not driven like it's a formula one car in Monaco.. however, they are specced to be replaced by the manufacturer from around the 150 000km mark onwards depending on manufacturer, some might even be sooner..

They do stretch over time and the plastic guides/tensioners compensate for that stretch.. which is how they can last long without being replaced, provided the tensioners are replaced as needed/specced and the chain doesn't break, which is known to happen..

 

[Craig_]

I've had cars with both, one of my old cars went to almost 250 000km on it's timing chain, no issues. My last diesel had a timing belt, it went at just over 120k km, about 2 weeks before I was going to have it replaced. Now I prefer timing chains, especially considering my old high miler that went for so long with this kind of issues.

I have a friend with a c class that has to change his timing chain now, cost some ridiculous amount. But he has over 350k km on his car, and that car is known to have chain issues anyway. It also the first replacement now, and the rattle isn't that bad yet so he's still going to save for a bit first.

 

[TheChamp]

Just out of curiosity: Would you say that timing chains have no time interval replacement? Or do the plastic guides also suffer from age?

The difference is that chains swim in oil and belts generally don't. Although to my surprise someone told me that Ford has oil lubricated timing belt on the Figo, I just cannot reconcile myself with the logic around that.

So chains usually have no drying out and becoming brittle problems the belts have, hence more reliable, although I have heard that the are manufacturers working very hard to change that.

 

[unobeat]

I've had cars with both, one of my old cars went to almost 250 000km on it's timing chain, no issues. My last diesel had a timing belt, it went at just over 120k km, about 2 weeks before I was going to have it replaced. Now I prefer timing chains, especially considering my old high miler that went for so long with this kind of issues.

I have a friend with a c class that has to change his timing chain now, cost some ridiculous amount. But he has over 350k km on his car, and that car is known to have chain issues anyway. It also the first replacement now, and the rattle isn't that bad yet so he's still going to save for a bit first.

Please advise your friend to rather park the car off as it will end in tears.
He needs to replace the chain and guides ASAP.

Our 2008 C180 with M271 motor that just clocked 300 000km destroyed the Head and pistons on cylinder 1&2 terribly such that the whole engine was done because the chain jumped properly. Brother spend 35k to sort it out, but the car was never the same ever and eventually cut his losses and sold it.