Which do you prefer=timing chain or timing belt?

sequoias

sequoias

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I would like to bring up to debate about timing chain and belts. In my views, I prefer timing chain because of reliabity and less worrying about it breaking suddenly like the timing belt usually do if you negect the service schedule. The timing chain will make some noise which will tell you that it is time to replace it soon, while timing belt doesn't....it does that like a ticking time bomb which is silent surprise. Plus, I hate how many car companies design their engines which piston and valves are close to each other, if it breaks...they crash into each other and end up with a costly engine replacement.

I'm currently worrying about it breaking because I'm already at 90k miles and it needs to be serviced soon and it is pretty expensive which costs $395 for the 90k mile service, I can't afford that right now and hopefully will do that next month as I'm going to work 24 hours on Sat and Sunday this weekend and hopefully get more extra work later this month and next month.
 
I never had a timing belt, break on me.

:hmm: I do not know if my current vehicle, have a timing chain or belt. :lol:
 
I have replace timing belts on geo storm

I am supposed to change my timing belt on 94 geo tracker 5,000 more miles then I change.

new timing belt cost $25
tension pulley cost $50
water pump $40

That all what I need to do.



For me I rather have timing chain but geo doesn't came with that so it :mad:
 
sequoias said:
I would like to bring up to debate about timing chain and belts. In my views, I prefer timing chain because of reliabity and less worrying about it breaking suddenly like the timing belt usually do if you negect the service schedule. The timing chain will make some noise which will tell you that it is time to replace it soon, while timing belt doesn't....it does that like a ticking time bomb which is silent surprise. Plus, I hate how many car companies design their engines which piston and valves are close to each other, if it breaks...they crash into each other and end up with a costly engine replacement.

I'm currently worrying about it breaking because I'm already at 90k miles and it needs to be serviced soon and it is pretty expensive which costs $395 for the 90k mile service, I can't afford that right now and hopefully will do that next month as I'm going to work 24 hours on Sat and Sunday this weekend and hopefully get more extra work later this month and next month.
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I like both rubber belts and chains. The rubber belts can be break due to overdue maintenance, or failure tensioner(s), idler(s) or water pump or oil/coolant saturated timing belt, can be engine interference, not all the vehicles. Example, Ford Probe or Mazda Protege w/2.0 or 2.2L ( I can't remmby which is 2.0L or 2.2L) is engine interference (valves hit pistons).
Belts are easy or hard to replace depend on the engine designs. Timing belt replacement is my favorite.
Chains never break, but noises (normal). They can be the worst noises sound like knocks or slaps that mean the chain(s) are loose due to worn out tensioner(s) or guides or chain(s) (some engines have low oil pressure that cause hydraulic tensioner collapsed). To fix loose chain(s) on V6 or V8 engines are expensive. I recently diagnosed a noise in the top of the engine
from a 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara w/ 2.7L V6, asked my hearing tech pinpointed the right bank (passenger side), told me he think chain. I checked
TSB, says bad hydraulic tensioner. I turned this car over to my another tech to do tensioner replacement. The cost to fix the noise chain is $1,500. This Suzuki Grand Vitara was only 85k miles on it. I had been seen the Ford 5.4L V8 for tensioner and guide replacements. I rare work on the chain timings cuz of vast labor time that will not permitt me to do smog checks.
I feel that timing chain replacements in the OHV engines such as Chevy/Ford/Chrylser are cheaper than SOHC or DOHC. The chains in SOHC or DOHC engines are louder than OHV engines cuz the chain in OHV engine is small links. I dont like the timing chain driven in SOHC or DOHC engine in any domestic vehicles. My currently vehicles are the timing chain driven in OHV engines, however my old Alfa Romero use double roller timing chains in DOHC 4 cylinders. These discussion is based on my professional automotive mechanic (over 30yrs) in the repair shops. I'm not a Saturday mechanic. Hey don't get paranoid or worry about your car to be match my comment as above. :wave:
 
I no want deal with timing belt. Have had timing chains on all my vehicles and have zero problem whatsover.
 
I have heard of timing chains that can be very costly to repair if it becomes loose as the chain stretchens. That is much more expensive than belt driven engines. Belts rarely stretch while chains do sometimes. It varies on the design of the engines and the manufacturers.

Most Hondas are interference engines (which is why I'm worried), some Toyotas, etc. Chrysler is the only company that has avoided making interference designed engines.

deafsmogtech said:
I like both rubber belts and chains. The rubber belts can be break due to overdue maintenance, or failure tensioner(s), idler(s) or water pump or oil/coolant saturated timing belt, can be engine interference, not all the vehicles. Example, Ford Probe or Mazda Protege w/2.0 or 2.2L ( I can't remmby which is 2.0L or 2.2L) is engine interference (valves hit pistons).
Belts are easy or hard to replace depend on the engine designs. Timing belt replacement is my favorite.
Chains never break, but noises (normal). They can be the worst noises sound like knocks or slaps that mean the chain(s) are loose due to worn out tensioner(s) or guides or chain(s) (some engines have low oil pressure that cause hydraulic tensioner collapsed). To fix loose chain(s) on V6 or V8 engines are expensive. I recently diagnosed a noise in the top of the engine
from a 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara w/ 2.7L V6, asked my hearing tech pinpointed the right bank (passenger side), told me he think chain. I checked
TSB, says bad hydraulic tensioner. I turned this car over to my another tech to do tensioner replacement. The cost to fix the noise chain is $1,500. This Suzuki Grand Vitara was only 85k miles on it. I had been seen the Ford 5.4L V8 for tensioner and guide replacements. I rare work on the chain timings cuz of vast labor time that will not permitt me to do smog checks.
I feel that timing chain replacements in the OHV engines such as Chevy/Ford/Chrylser are cheaper than SOHC or DOHC. The chains in SOHC or DOHC engines are louder than OHV engines cuz the chain in OHV engine is small links. I dont like the timing chain driven in SOHC or DOHC engine in any domestic vehicles. My currently vehicles are the timing chain driven in OHV engines, however my old Alfa Romero use double roller timing chains in DOHC 4 cylinders. These discussion is based on my professional automotive mechanic (over 30yrs) in the repair shops. I'm not a Saturday mechanic. Hey don't get paranoid or worry about your car to be match my comment as above. :wave:
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Milwaukee said:
I have replace timing belts on geo storm

I am supposed to change my timing belt on 94 geo tracker 5,000 more miles then I change.

new timing belt cost $25
tension pulley cost $50
water pump $40

That all what I need to do.



For me I rather have timing chain but geo doesn't came with that so it :mad:
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The parts are cheap, yes BUT labor...gotta remember that. It is pain in the ass to work on so I rather have someone do the work. I do not have special tools either and plus trying to get the crank pulley bolt loose is really tough, you need a impact wrench or a a powerful compression air wrench, depends.
 
You go to Lowes or Harbor Frieght for cheap tools.

get those electric impact wrench IT WORTH. We have air impact wrench but I choose electric why no deal with air hose.



You get manual book that show how to do that.

That what I did when I replace timing belt on geo first time.
 
Milwaukee said:
You go to Lowes or Harbor Frieght for cheap tools.

get those electric impact wrench IT WORTH. We have air impact wrench but I choose electric why no deal with air hose.



You get manual book that show how to do that.

That what I did when I replace timing belt on geo first time.
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Is your engine transverse or that goes to the rear wheels layout? Well I have looked at pictures on how it's done. I'm not going to do that because it involves lifting the engine out of the engine bay, make sure timing is right, all that... I don't want to fuck it up and prefer have shop do it.

Also, I do not want to waste money on tools that I would rarely use. No thanks.
 
I prefer timing chain, that what Chevy truck has timing chain with V8.

Timing chain is hardly need replace but I wish that engine need be designed for last longer without worry about need replace, I can learn to change the parts in car if I want too.
 
I prefer Timing Chain. Even though I never had Timing Belt breaks on me. Currently, My Durango and Jeep uses Timing Chain. If Timing chain became stretched, I would replace that myself otherwise, either one would have been sold to another owner :giggle:

1989 Mazda 323 use Timing Belt. I don't have issue with that but it's the space between right frame and engine where timing belt located. The water pump pulley was the toughest part and I had to use 10mm monkey wrench to loosen 4 bolts on pulley before I take covers off because it gave me only 1 inches clearance. Once the cover and Crankshaft pulley is off (crankshaft pulley was the easiest cuz it have 6 bolts holding main pulley and I loosen it first then use my power drill with 10mm socket on adapter to make job real quick).

It took me 30 min to do Timing belt replacement. I don't replace timing belt on Mazda often, I let it go way past it's timing belt service mile cuz if timing belt breaks, the engine won't get damaged cuz of piston and valve have its clearance whether it's open or close. Out of 225,000 miles on Mazda 323, I only replace twice.

Same goes for 1990 Mazda Protege, I only replaced once.

My 1967 Chevy C-10 Pickup truck had it's timing sprocket sheared off cuz it's nylon teeth on main crankshaft behind the cover. The shop that rebuilt the truck before they sold it to me use cheap timing sprocket. I decide not to bother replace timing sprocket. I simply replace engine cuz original engine was full of grease and oil and it's really dirty. I replaced it with 1977 Camaro modified engine (305 block with 350 head).

I rather have timing Chain than belt so I don't have to worry about belt service every 70k miles or whatever manual says. Plus, I'm just tired of fix fix fix fix engine (done that many times) and I just want to "retire" tho.

Catty
 
sequoias said:
I would like to bring up to debate about timing chain and belts. In my views, I prefer timing chain because of reliabity and less worrying about it breaking suddenly like the timing belt usually do if you negect the service schedule. The timing chain will make some noise which will tell you that it is time to replace it soon, while timing belt doesn't....it does that like a ticking time bomb which is silent surprise. Plus, I hate how many car companies design their engines which piston and valves are close to each other, if it breaks...they crash into each other and end up with a costly engine replacement.

I'm currently worrying about it breaking because I'm already at 90k miles and it needs to be serviced soon and it is pretty expensive which costs $395 for the 90k mile service, I can't afford that right now and hopefully will do that next month as I'm going to work 24 hours on Sat and Sunday this weekend and hopefully get more extra work later this month and next month.
Click to expand...

Some V8 or V6 engine have special kit that do not require Belt or Chain, just gears between Crankshaft Timing sprocket and camshaft sprocket which is a modification or 3rd party item. Especially Chevrolet and Ford

Catty
 
purplecatty said:
I prefer Timing Chain. Even though I never had Timing Belt breaks on me. Currently, My Durango and Jeep uses Timing Chain. If Timing chain became stretched, I would replace that myself otherwise, either one would have been sold to another owner :giggle:
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That's cool. :)

1989 Mazda 323 use Timing Belt. I don't have issue with that but it's the space between right frame and engine where timing belt located. The water pump pulley was the toughest part and I had to use 10mm monkey wrench to loosen 4 bolts on pulley before I take covers off because it gave me only 1 inches clearance. Once the cover and Crankshaft pulley is off (crankshaft pulley was the easiest cuz it have 6 bolts holding main pulley and I loosen it first then use my power drill with 10mm socket on adapter to make job real quick).
Click to expand...

Ohhh I didn't know you can use a drill with the socket adapter, that's neat tool for sure.

It took me 30 min to do Timing belt replacement. I don't replace timing belt on Mazda often, I let it go way past it's timing belt service mile cuz if timing belt breaks, the engine won't get damaged cuz of piston and valve have its clearance whether it's open or close. Out of 225,000 miles on Mazda 323, I only replace twice.
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How can you do that in 30 minute? I heard it takes about 4 hours to do that on a fwd car.


My 1967 Chevy C-10 Pickup truck had it's timing sprocket sheared off cuz it's nylon teeth on main crankshaft behind the cover. The shop that rebuilt the truck before they sold it to me use cheap timing sprocket. I decide not to bother replace timing sprocket. I simply replace engine cuz original engine was full of grease and oil and it's really dirty. I replaced it with 1977 Camaro modified engine (305 block with 350 head).
Click to expand...
That's not good there. Sounds like a mess in ur hands back then.

I rath
er have timing Chain than belt so I don't have to worry about belt service every 70k miles or whatever manual says. Plus, I'm just tired of fix fix fix fix engine (done that many times) and I just want to "retire" tho.
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Yeah, I wish everything lasts almost forever rather than replacing parts time to time, but it's life.
 
purplecatty said:
Some V8 or V6 engine have special kit that do not require Belt or Chain, just gears between Crankshaft Timing sprocket and camshaft sprocket which is a modification or 3rd party item. Especially Chevrolet and Ford

Catty
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Yes, I am aware that some of them use gear driven timing. I think indy race cars use that method.
 
The Highlander said:
I wish gasoline boxer engine use t-chain.
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I wish, too. I was disappointed to find out that Subaru uses timing belt on their engines. I actually thought they use timing chain, but no. I was shocked on the price of the timing belt kit which cost like $200-230 on average for Subaru boxer engines while it costs only under $80 for my car.
 
sequoias said:
I wish, too. I was disappointed to find out that Subaru uses timing belt on their engines. I actually thought they use timing chain, but no. I was shocked on the price of the timing belt kit which cost like $200-230 on average for Subaru boxer engines while it costs only under $80 for my car.
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BUT the 3.0L H6 engine use timing chain. The 2.5L H4 engine use timing belt. I forget about H6. Sorry.

Yes, timing belt is very expensive for boxer engine due very WIDE than I and V.
 
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