Timing belt vs Timing chain

YeLo

YeLo

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When looking to buy a new/used car does it matter to you what timing mechanism it uses? Have you ever changed your mind about buying a vehicle after learning that it uses either of these mechanisms? Please do share.
 
YeLo said:
When looking to buy a new/used car does it matter to you what timing mechanism it uses? Have you ever changed your mind about buying a vehicle after learning that it uses either of these mechanisms? Please do share.
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Nope, owned a merc with timing chain, camshaft snapped, owned a BMW with timing belt that snapped, both resulted in massive downtime and substantial costs to repair, mechanical things break if maintenance is not done correctly.
 
That's like deciding whether your underwear uses Na2CO3 or a Na2SO4 solution.

It's pointless.

Timing chains stretch over time, as do timing belts.

It costs more to maintain a timing belt, but costs more to repair a timing chain failure.

It shouldn't be a deciding factor.
 
I was discouraged from buying a Ford Fiesta ST200 after learning that it had a timing belt and is an interference engine. Ford recommends that the belt is changed every 8 years but experts recommend you change it every 5 years just to be safe.

What really put me off was the price to do the timing belt service. After doing some research I established that it’s between R8K to R12K to do this service because it’s an engine out job, according to the service centres that I consulted.

I like the idea of keeping a car long term and for that reason I prefer cars with a timing chain since MOST of them don’t need as much maintenance as a belt does.

Timing chain + non-interference engine does it for me. Keen to hear your opinions on this.
 
YeLo said:
I was discouraged from buying a Ford Fiesta ST200 after learning that it had a timing belt and is an interference engine. Ford recommends that the belt is changed every 8 years but experts recommend you change it every 5 years just to be safe.

What really put me off was the price to do the timing belt service. After doing some research I established that it’s between R8K to R12K to do this service because it’s an engine out job, according to the service centres that I consulted.

I like the idea of keeping a car long term and for that reason I prefer cars with a timing chain since MOST of them don’t need as much maintenance as a belt does.

Timing chain + non-interference engine does it for me. Keen to hear your opinions on this.
Click to expand...

Not entirely true. It can cost upwards of R90k to replace a timing chain... it all depends on how well the engine was maintained. Some timing chains need to be replaced at 90K for poor oil maintenance.

It isn't a choose this or that situation.

It's a maintenance issue. A timing chain isn't better than a timing belt. It's just a different method for achieving the same result.
 
YeLo said:
I was discouraged from buying a Ford Fiesta ST200 after learning that it had a timing belt and is an interference engine. Ford recommends that the belt is changed every 8 years but experts recommend you change it every 5 years just to be safe.

What really put me off was the price to do the timing belt service. After doing some research I established that it’s between R8K to R12K to do this service because it’s an engine out job, according to the service centres that I consulted.

I like the idea of keeping a car long term and for that reason I prefer cars with a timing chain since MOST of them don’t need as much maintenance as a belt does.

Timing chain + non-interference engine does it for me. Keen to hear your opinions on this.
Click to expand...
The interference factor is something to consider, if I had a choice I would pick a non interference engine. But most cars are interference so it's not really a deal breaker.

Service centres will always inflate prices, especially the dealers so if you have intentions of keeping your car for long you are very right in taking your time doing your homework. A chain indeed has less maintenance.
 
genetic said:
Not entirely true. It can cost upwards of R90k to replace a timing chain... it all depends on how well the engine was maintained. Some timing chains need to be replaced at 90K for poor oil maintenance.

It isn't a choose this or that situation.

It's a maintenance issue. A timing chain isn't better than a timing belt. It's just a different method for achieving the same result.
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But surely there must be a good reason most new cars are going with the timing chain?
 
Kawak said:
Nope, owned a merc with timing chain, camshaft snapped, owned a BMW with timing belt that snapped, both resulted in massive downtime and substantial costs to repair, mechanical things break if maintenance is not done correctly.
Click to expand...

genetic said:
That's like deciding whether your underwear uses Na2CO3 or a Na2SO4 solution.

It's pointless.

Timing chains stretch over time, as do timing belts.

It costs more to maintain a timing belt, but costs more to repair a timing chain failure.

It shouldn't be a deciding factor.
Click to expand...

Japanese engines with timing chain = win
European or USA engines with timing chain = :-/

If an engine is well designed then a timing chain is preferably and with regular oil changes will last the life of the vehicle and hence be a lot more cost effective and hassle free than an engine with a timing belt that needs regular and often costly replacement.
 
genetic said:
Not entirely true. It can cost upwards of R90k to replace a timing chain... it all depends on how well the engine was maintained. Some timing chains need to be replaced at 90K for poor oil maintenance.

It isn't a choose this or that situation.

It's a maintenance issue. A timing chain isn't better than a timing belt. It's just a different method for achieving the same result.
Click to expand...
You’re making sense. I am coming from the perspective that a timing belt service is guaranteed whereas a timing chain failure is not guaranteed. Given you have two identical cars, A and B, that are well maintained. A has the belt. B has the chain. It’ll cost more to keep A running in the long term compared to B.
 
YeLo said:
You’re making sense. I am coming from the perspective that a timing belt service is guaranteed whereas a timing chain failure is not guaranteed. Given you have two identical cars, A and B, that are well maintained. A has the belt. B has the chain. It’ll cost more to keep A running in the long term compared to B.
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That's my understanding as well.
 
YeLo said:
When looking to buy a new/used car does it matter to you what timing mechanism it uses? Have you ever changed your mind about buying a vehicle after learning that it uses either of these mechanisms? Please do share.
Click to expand...
Nope. I wouldn’t even take it into consideration. I have a 13yr old car. It’s serviced when it needs it. Uses a belt. No issues.
 
YeLo said:
When looking to buy a new/used car does it matter to you what timing mechanism it uses? Have you ever changed your mind about buying a vehicle after learning that it uses either of these mechanisms? Please do share.
Click to expand...
Yes. Current car has a timing chain.

When I was looking at upgrading to a VW Group car again, it had to be equipped with a 3.0 TDI engine, because the 2.0 TDI uses a belt. That said, due to lax personnel at the dealership, my dad's Polo 1.9 TDI skipped its 90 000 km belt change, and only had one done on 180 000 km... still looked fine (thankfully).

This is just my preference, though, because I don't want to worry about having the timing belt replaced every 90 000 / 120 000 km. There's also less chance of a timing chain snapping than some apprentice cocking up the timing when replacing a belt.
 
My current car (diesel) has a timing belt. The replacement interval is 180000km!! Maybe I'll do it before then. I suspect it may be because the diesels don't typically run at the same rpm as petrol.
 
Claymore said:
My current car (diesel) has a timing belt. The replacement interval is 180000km!! Maybe I'll do it before then. I suspect it may be because the diesels don't typically run at the same rpm as petrol.
Click to expand...
Yeah, diesels are very chilled engines.
 
I had a RAV4. On exactly 100,000km the water pump bearing seized. It is driven by the timing belt, causing that to either break or climb off, not sure which one. It is claimed an non-interference engine, but after the repair it was never the same, so I gave it to my son and he wrote it off.
 
I vastly prefer the chain as it essentially removes the cost of a major service, however if the right deal came along saving me enough on a belt car I guess I would care less as I won on the purchase price offsetting the service cost.
 
I am happy with a chain on a diesel, no issues so far with the ones I owned.

I had more issue with petrol belt cars then diesel chain cars
 
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