Timing Belt Replacement?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 10,218
Likes: 96
From: not far enough from Chicago
Timing Belt Replacement?
I recently bought a 1998 coupe with only 6100 miles. I was watching the Motorweek show the other day and they said you should replace your timing belt every 4 years because if it fails you can end up with major engine damage. My car is 4 years old, but is in excellent condition and appears to have been pampered by the 52 year old previous owner. The car is completly stock with no mods. Your thoughts.
Thanks.......... :cheers: :seeya
Thanks.......... :cheers: :seeya
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 10,218
Likes: 96
From: not far enough from Chicago
Re: Timing Belt Replacement? (wstory1)
You don't have a timing belt, you have a timing chain. No need to replace it under normal conditions.
Thank you, I did not know they had chains. I thought all modern cars had belts. Sounds like all cars should have chains instesd of belts.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 885
Likes: 0
From: The Woodlands Texas
Re: Timing Belt Replacement? (SBSB)
What will happen if your timing chain breaks is your valve train (heads) and pushrods are moving to the lobes of your cam, your pistons are moving to the lobes of your crankshaft. The timing chain keeps both independent sets of rotating metal in sync so the engine runs, fuel in, exhaust out, and so on. If the chain breaks the timing goes away and you typically bend a vavle, pushrod, that sort of thing. Depending on rpm at the time, you bend a lot of valves and pushrods. I doubt that you would blow the block though.
Newer cars (from around 1985 and up I think) have been going to timing belts - similar to a fan belt - because they are quieter and cheaper. They can stretch easier and wear faster then a conventional metal timing chain. That's probably why the TV show recommended changing it out every 4 years (or about 60,000 miles or so). Unless your are drag racing or doing a lot of street racing where the engine is being torqued a lot, the OEM chain should last a good 100,000 miles.
Also, automatics are more prone to "jumping" timing than a manual tranny is. If you take off fast from a light and have to stomp on the brakes suddenly while the car is shifting the lag between tranny and engine can result in the chain or belt breaking. It's unusual, but does happen.
With the vette and your low mileage, just drive it and enjoy. You should be fine for several more years IMHO. :D
Save the wave :seeya :cheers:
Newer cars (from around 1985 and up I think) have been going to timing belts - similar to a fan belt - because they are quieter and cheaper. They can stretch easier and wear faster then a conventional metal timing chain. That's probably why the TV show recommended changing it out every 4 years (or about 60,000 miles or so). Unless your are drag racing or doing a lot of street racing where the engine is being torqued a lot, the OEM chain should last a good 100,000 miles.
Also, automatics are more prone to "jumping" timing than a manual tranny is. If you take off fast from a light and have to stomp on the brakes suddenly while the car is shifting the lag between tranny and engine can result in the chain or belt breaking. It's unusual, but does happen.
With the vette and your low mileage, just drive it and enjoy. You should be fine for several more years IMHO. :D
Save the wave :seeya :cheers:
