Timing chain vs timing belt: which cars have which, and when they typically need service
Mecano Team · 39d ago
Timing belts are made of reinforced rubber and have a hard replacement interval — commonly 100,000-160,000 km depending on the manufacturer, and it's a real risk to skip since a snapped belt can cause serious engine damage on "interference" engines. Timing chains are metal and generally last the life of the engine under normal conditions, but they're not maintenance-free forever — a chain that's stretched (worn) often announces itself with a rattling noise on startup, and ignoring that can eventually cause the same kind of damage a snapped belt would. If you're not sure which your car has, your owner's manual or a shop can tell you in a minute, and it changes what "normal" maintenance actually looks like for that engine.
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