Whats best – timing belt or timing chain?
Posted on: Friday, February 20, 2009 Timing chainTIming chains have been widely used before timing belts popularity explosion in 70’s-80’s. As a general rule (not necessarily true today) timing chains are noisier, they are for sure require higher mechanics’ qualification to maintain and they last much longer than a timing belts. – Timing chain require a tensioner and if used for S(D)OHC – require a quieting shoe. In many cases one of them may serve both roles and two tensioner/quieter shoes could be used. – Chain is usually heavier per inch length than belt and therefore require stronger infrastructure to hold it in place. In case chain get stretched over time and go above tensioner’s adjustment capability things could go hairy fast. Engine’s timing may become erratic. – Timing chain in general is very reliable and require only every so often check-ups. Modern ECU could be capable of troubleshooting timing chain issues which increases reliability of the whole system. – Timing chain usu
