Chain driven

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billyfieldman, Sep 29, 4:50pm
It has been recommended that one of the first things to do after buying a used import is to get the following done, especially if it's more than 7 years old.
- replace timing belt and balance belt because belts last 7 years or 100,000km
- replace water pump

How about cars with inline 4 cyl chain driven engine? What would be the recommendation?
toyboy3, Sep 29, 4:57pm
Do what the inspection shows needing doing
motorboy2011, Sep 29, 5:00pm
Hope to god you never have to replace the chain or associated gear on a chain drive engine or you'll find yourself wishing it was simple cam belt.
tgray, Sep 29, 5:01pm
You cannot simply state belts last 7 years or 100,000 k's, as it depends entirely on what type of car it is.
billyfieldman, Sep 30, 5:52am
OK. How about for Honda and Toyota? How many years would the cambelts last?
bill-robinson, Sep 30, 5:57am
about 20 years if you do not drive it
tony9, Sep 30, 7:24am
Never turned over but in tension for 20 years, it will snap soon after the engine is started.
bill-robinson, Sep 30, 7:57am
so am I correct then?
intrade, Sep 30, 10:22am
and make sure you never start it either after 7 years also or it will destroy the engine the 7 years is correct for any car belt should be changed no matter the milage the 7 years is the save number anything over is russian roulette. and yes chain drive problems will make you wish you had a cambelt engine.
mrfxit, Sep 30, 10:45am
Totally depends on the engine & vehicle model as to IF the chain job is hard or not.
Some cam belt jobs can take all day even in a workshop.
Some belts can be done faster IF you take the engine out, including remove & refit engine time
Some chains can be done faster with engine out.

Time & cost to do either totally depends on vehicle brand/ model & engine model.

Eg 2 hours on a slow day to do my 88 diesel surf cambelt including radiator out.
6 hours steady busy day on my 92 V6 Mitsi galant just working on that end of the engine.
intrade, Sep 30, 10:49am
25 minutes to do a mk1 punto fiat 1996 1.6 liter engine and belt and tensioner cost 13 euros plus 30 euro shipping or so from germany rexbo.eu to your door step
i got a video of the noise the tensioner is making on youtube and what would happen if it failed
tgray, Sep 30, 10:56am
A great deal of manufacturers disagree with you, as many japanese cars are 10 years or 100,000k's whichever comes first.
They build the cars, so they should know.
Even at 100,000, there is usually a healthy margin of error built in, before things snap. Imagine the lawsuits in the states if they all went pop at that time!
Again, it depends entirely of the model of car.
Intrade, you know a lot more about cars than I ever will, so I am surprised at your post.
tamarillo, Sep 30, 11:02am
Tosh and blundergast! Had old BMW s go up to 300,000 with no chain replaced or caused problems.
intrade, Sep 30, 11:16am
i also have a chain drive engine on my mb140 istana mercedes ssangyoung.
i say when you have chain problems its when you wish you had a cambelt. Not when you dont have chain problems.
the crappy mono chains of the japanese junk is definetly just asking for problems. and plenty chain problems on vw exist also.
brapbrap8, Sep 30, 11:19am
What do you know about chain drive Nissan engines though?
Expensive exercise if something goes wrong on one of those.
intrade, Sep 30, 11:27am
if you have a engine rest for 7 years in the same position the belt will be severl damaged at its stress point with out any vsible signs of damage. also belts dont snap they rip off the teeth always on the smaller crank pulley , 7 years or even 6 is the savety margin and i dont know whom you will be sueing if your belt fails , no manufacturer will replace your engine when a belt fails they will simply tell you you did not meet the timing belt interval changes with there lawyers you will be on the short end of the leaver if you dream they come to your party because you ar jumping up and down and claim it was not 10 years or what ever .
Also oil wheeping on to a belt severly shortens the livespan of a cambelt where it can even fail sooner then 6 or 7 years.
I changed the belt on my punto because it sat there for 5 years cambelt in the same position, it had another 20,000km to go but why on earth would i risk things for the sake of 25 minute labour and a few euros on a new belt and tensioner. the cam and crank seals i did not change because they dont wear like a belt streching in the same position for years does.
r.g.nixon, Sep 30, 11:35am
Interesting thread. I hadn't heard about the 7 year recommendation, or the leaving an engine unused for years problem before now.
tgray, Sep 30, 11:45am
OK, so you were referring to an engine that has sat unused for long periods of time rather than every car needing it changed after 7 years. Fair enough.
mrfxit, Sep 30, 11:59am
Long standing belts under tension get very stiff AT that point of contact.
Rubber to metal contact & sticking is part of the problem
pandai, Sep 30, 12:08pm
Belt interval on my Honda is 6 years, I think the main point to stress here is that it's different for every car. It's so infrequent that it doesn't bother me. The valve clearances which need doing every 100k are a more expensive job.

The BMW is chain-driven but started leaking oil from the chain cover on the front of the engine. Not as easy to replace the gasket on a chain-driven car as they're not designed to be pulled apart as often, bill was not far from $2k.
tony9, Sep 30, 12:10pm
Some can do a cambelt in minutes at a very reasonable price:

- clean cover
- find whiteish paint
- find small brush or stick
- paint randomish number on cam cover
billyfieldman, Sep 30, 2:10pm
Just curious Is there any car that has a manufacturer recommended timing belt change interval of more than 6 or 7 years?
bill-robinson, Sep 30, 4:15pm
you get the best life from a properly set up gear drive. to expensive these days
tony9, Sep 30, 4:25pm
It is not just a price issue. As a chain wears, it stretches a few thou at each link. In a modern engine this stretch will impact timing. A modern belt does not stretch, it has continuous fibres that go all around, so it keeps its timing.
motorboy2011, Sep 30, 4:44pm
Gear driven cam train is the best! And the white it makes is mmmmmm.