Does your car have a timing belt or a timing chain? (vehicles, spark plug)

[mascoma]

I finally got a car with a chain a few years ago - an Elantra. It's great. It saves me a lot not having to replace the belt. I don't think I will ever get a car with a timing belt again.

[EckyX]

Mine has a chain. Plenty examples of Honda engines with original chains at 400,000+ miles. Not all makes have chains which last as long, in some the tensioner can fail which can cause catastrophic damage, and in cases the chain can stretch over time and cause an engine not to run as well, even if it hasn't broken. It's definitely a more durable option than a belt.

[Quietude]

Real cars have timing gears.

[ukrkoz]

Gears chip teeth and chains stretch. When you will get to infamous timing chain slap in the morning, circle back to this thread and tell us how you feel NOW. And that slap is rather odd to diagnose, while engine performance is deteriorating overall, because of now bad timing, you will have all kinds of diagnoses and repairs offered, to the tune of many $$ spent. As chain will be on the last leg to consider, as "I got chain, it's forever".

[M3 Mitch]

Originally Posted by EckyX

Mine has a chain. Plenty examples of Honda engines with original chains at 400,000+ miles. Not all makes have chains which last as long, in some the tensioner can fail which can cause catastrophic damage, and in cases the chain can stretch over time and cause an engine not to run as well, even if it hasn't broken. It's definitely a more durable option than a belt.

But with a belt, if you keep up with it, you have good tight cam to crank coordination for the entire life of the car. It's much easier to change most timing belts than most timing chains.



I have a few cars with belts, the Scirocco, the 87 Camry, the 92 Subie Legacy. The good thing about these 3 is none are "interference" or "crash" engines. So if the belt breaks, while I'm coming home on a tow hook, all I have to do is put on a new belt (in many cases it makes sense to do the water pump at the same time) which I am perfectly able to do myself in my garage. AAA will pay for the tow. So I am out some time and inconvenience, but no real financial damage.



If you have a decent garage and at least mediocre wrench turning skills, changing out a timing belt is not that big a job. But most "'murricans" truly hate to do maintenance, they hate to "fix what ain't broke", so most non-enthusiasts are better off with a chain. Reference all of GM's shenanigans with 5 year coolant (Dexcool) and 100K spark plug change intervals. It's what the Homer Simpsons of motoring really want - just to put gas in it and drive it, never touching a wrench.



Chains are certainly not immortal. I have seen old school Detroit V-8 engines' timing chains get loose enough to jump a tooth, once that happens you are probably not going anywhere except with a tow truck.

[engineman]

I had timing gears fail on a 39 Chev six. It was a PITA to replace.

[rbohm]

all my cars through the years have had, for the most part, timing chains. i have one engine, not in a car, right now that has timing gears, and i have had two cars with timing belts. they are all reliable, but you do have to keep after them all. i think the chain in my grand marquis is coming to the end if its life, and i may start looking into having it replaced. we shall see.

[turkeydance]

chains endure.
belts replace.
gears go away.

[Electrician4you]

My vehicles have timing chains. Two are diesels and they have timing gears. I won’t buy a car with a. Timing belt again. I didn’t have issues with the ones that did but I don’t want the additional maintenance

[ackmondual]

I thought timing belts were mostly a thing of the past. Given this thread, I guess not!

Mine has a Timing chain. Supposedly, you'll never need to replace them, but I heard they're at least more durable than timing belts.