Which is better, timing belt or timing chain?

Characteristics of timing belt and timing chain

1. The timing belt is generally made of rubber, which will be worn or aged with the increase of engine working time. Therefore, engines equipped with timing belt generally need to replace the timing belt and its accessories after a certain period. For all engines, the timing belt must not jump or break. If gear jumping occurs, the engine will not work normally, which will lead to unstable idle speed, poor acceleration or failure to start the car; If the timing belt is broken, the engine will shut down immediately. The multi valve engine will also cause the piston to jack the valve, which will lead to the engine being scrapped directly.

2. The timing chain is made of alloy material. In the engine, it is lubricated with engine oil. In theory, its service life can be scrapped when the car is scrapped. However, the chain tensioner also has a normal wear life of 80,000-10,000km. When the time is up, it should be checked and replaced. The price of parts of the tensioner is naturally very small compared with that of the timing belt kit.

Which is better, timing chain or timing belt?

The timing belt has the advantages of low noise, low transmission resistance, good engine power and acceleration performance, and easy replacement, but it is easy to age, has a relatively high failure rate, and has high maintenance costs. The advantages of timing chain are long service life and low failure rate. Of course, it also has the disadvantages of high rotating noise, slightly increased fuel consumption and reduced performance. Of course, with the improvement of technology, the shortcomings of the timing chain are gradually improving, and according to the current development trend, the formal chain will also be used more.

How many kilometers should the timing chain and timing belt be replaced?

Vehicles that use timing belts should be replaced in strict accordance with the replacement cycle, regardless of the mileage. In addition to the belt, the tensioner pulley and idler pulley need to be replaced. Some cars and water pumps also need to be replaced. The key point is that the labor cost is also high. If they are not replaced on time, many components will be damaged once they are broken. Valves, pistons, connecting rods, etc. may be damaged, and maintenance costs will be higher. The replacement cycle varies with the structure of the engine. Generally, it should be replaced when the vehicle has driven 60000~100000 km. The specific replacement cycle should be subject to the vehicle maintenance manual. The timing chain is very convenient. You don't need to think about when to replace it, because most cars have no problems even if they don't replace it all the time. It won't break. The timing chain is usually replaced when there is a problem. If there is no problem, it does not need to be replaced. Long replacement cycle is the biggest advantage of the chain, which can reduce the cost of car owners. However, the chain also has disadvantages. When the mileage is more, the chain will be stretched and make a loud noise. If the chain needs to be replaced, the cost is very high, thousands of yuan each time. The chain tensioner of some models will also be broken, which will make the chain make a noise and even jump the teeth. Once the gear jumps, the timing needs to be re aligned, and the labor cost is very high. Therefore, if the chain does not break down, it is very easy. Once it breaks down, the maintenance cost is high, but the timing chain car rarely breaks down.

In the long run, the advantage of chain is higher than that of belt. Most car owners do not understand cars, so it is important for car owners to save worry and reduce the cost of using cars. Now more and more cars use chains. The advantages of using the belt are low cost, low transmission resistance and low noise. The disadvantage is that it is easy to age and break, and needs to be replaced regularly. The chain has the advantage of high reliability and does not need to be replaced. Of course, the belt or chain should not be taken into consideration when buying a car, but should be taken into account in a larger way. This is just a matter of care for the car.