How Often Should The Timing Belt Be Changed

Maintenance Jan 23, 2020

What Is a Timing Belt & When Should Yous Supercede It?

timing belt replacement

Timing is everything. For jokes, music, cooking, dating—even engines! That's because your motorcar'southward engine relies on a timing belt to stay in sync. The timing chugalug makes sure everything in the engine is operating smoothly, keeping you safe on the road.

Replacing the timing belt is an important maintenance particular! So, if you lot own a car, you should understand how a timing belt works and when to replace it.

Read: The Car Maintenance Checklist Every Driver Needs

What is a timing chugalug?

Recall of a timing belt like a bicycle chain for your vehicle—information technology keeps all the internal moving parts of an engine in sync. Information technology also sometimes powers the water pump, oil pump and injection pump.

The timing chugalug is a safe belt with hard teeth that interlock with the cogwheels of the crankshaft and the camshafts. It synchronizes the movement of the crankshaft and camshafts. This ensures that the engine intake and frazzle valves open and close in fourth dimension with the pistons. If the crankshaft and camshafts are non operating in unison, the vehicle will not run correctly.

If the intake valves open as well early, there may be as well much fuel-air mixture flowing into the engine combustion chamber, leading to poor combustion and power loss. And if the exhaust valves open up besides early on, the combustion bedroom will lose force per unit area and cause a ability loss. If the engine components are very out of sync, they might collide and damage each other, resulting in costly repairs.

Timing Belt vs. Timing Chain

Depending on your vehicle model, you lot might take a timing chain instead of a timing belt. A timing chain functions the aforementioned as a belt, only it is metal instead of rubber. Considering they are lighter and quieter, timing belts became popular to use after they were introduced in the 1960s.

Thanks to blueprint improvements and a long lifespan, many modern cars have returned to using timing chains instead. If your car has a timing chain instead of a timing belt, you may be able to become longer before replacing the timing concatenation. As ever, cheque your owner'southward transmission or give us a call to be certain.

When should you replace the timing belt?

It'south important to supersede your timing chugalug at the mileage intervals your vehicle manufacturer recommends. Every manufacturer is different, simply typically, it needs to be replaced every 60,000–100,000 miles. The recommended interval for your specific vehicle can be found in your car's owner's manual.

Because the timing belt is made of rubber, it will clothing down over fourth dimension and somewhen break. When information technology breaks, the engine volition end running or the components volition be out of sync, damaging the engine.

If you don't replace the timing belt at the recommended time, you could terminate up with total engine failure, broken or bent valves, cylinder head or camshaft harm, and piston and cylinder wall damage. This is non the blazon of situation where it's safe to think: 'If it's not broke, don't ready it.' Replace the timing belt according to the manufacturer'south maintenance schedule to avoid thousands of dollars repairing or replacing your engine.

8 Signs That It'due south Time to Replace the Timing Belt

Often, there aren't any warning signs earlier a timing belt breaks. Only hither are some possible indicators that information technology might be time to supercede your chugalug:

Decreased engine power
Overheating
Vibrating or shaking
Trouble starting the vehicle
Squealing or rubbing noises from the belts
Ticking noise coming from the engine
Leaking oil
Check Engine Calorie-free

While your vehicle is in for service, we recommend also replacing the h2o pump. The water pump usually has a similar lifespan and is easy to access when the timing belt is off. That manner you save money on labor costs.

Read: What Is a Serpentine Belt & When Should You Supplant It?

Timing Belt Repair & Replacement at Virginia Tire & Auto

Replacing the timing belt is an expensive service. Information technology is an intricate, labor-intensive process that can take 4–8 hours, depending on the vehicle. Simply replacing the timing belt before it breaks will preclude engine harm and salve you money in the long run. If you're unsure about your belt needs to exist replaced, end by Virginia Tire & Auto today.

Our expert ASE-certified technicians will examine your vehicle, identify whatever damage to your chugalug, and replace information technology with quality service at an affordable price. If you do need work done, our timing chugalug replacement service comes backed by our 2-year/24,000-mile service warranty. Click HERE to make an date at one of our user-friendly locations!