• Pluses and cons of Timing Chain and T-belt

Pluses and cons of Timing Chain and T-belt

Administrator posted this 11 March 2019

All engine components are significant for its stable work. One of these parts is a timing chain or T-belt. What is a timing belt? Both chain and T-belt are responsible for the synchronisation of the crankshaft and camshaft in an internal combustion engine. Its primary purpose is to ensure that the engine's valves open and close at the correct times during each cylinder's intake and exhaust strokes. 

Timing belt vs Timing chain

Before moving on to the comparison table, let's note one controversial point that often causes debate between drivers and mechanics. This is the service life difference between timing belts and timing chains. On the one hand, rubber can stretch, so the T-belt needs to be replaced after 160,000 kilometres. However, modern car manufacturers use advanced technologies and high-quality rubber, and claim that the belt can be used for up to 250,000 kilometres or more. On the other hand, the chain has always been more reliable and can last as long as the car itself. Manufacturers do not specify any terms for their replacement. As long as the issue does not concern quality. Manufacturers can save money and install weak chains for the engine on certain small car models. These may need to be replaced after 80,000 km. Therefore, in this table, we will indicate durability as an advantage in both cases.

T-belt T-Chain
Advantages
  • Noiselessness during operation (a feature of the Executive cars or European E-segment)
  • Lower cost
  • Easy to maintain and replace.
  • Durability of operation
  • Reliability
  • Durability of operation
  • Resistance to different temperature conditions and pressure within the engine
  • You do not need to replace the water pump when repairing a faulty timing belt.
Disadvantages
  • The timing belt transmits less power.
  • May break during engine operation (especially if careless care or ignoring the need to replace T-belt)
  • Low-quality belts wear out quickly at extreme temperatures
  • Some T-belts are dependent on water pump
  • Noisiness when worn out or stretched. However, sprocket T-chains or chains on high-volume engines have lower noisiness and better flexibility.
  • Vibrations and beating (to eliminate it needs dampers)
  • Additional hardware may be required to provide functionality (e.g. hydraulic tensioners, limiters)
  • Without the limiter, the chain can slip off and cause huge damage.
  • Require detailed maintenance and, in case of replacement, costs a lot.

What's the difference between a timing belt and a timing chain?

In conclusion, it should be noted, despite the shortcomings of the timing chain, they are all easily removable, subject to the rules of operation and timely replacement of the chain, such a car will be reliable. Comparing engine timing chain vs timing belt before buying a car is significant in case if you are going to use the car frequently on long-distance trips. For short and infrequent trips in the city, this factor will not be significant, as both components will be able to fully satisfy your need.

Therefore, even manufacturers of powerful cars & sports cars install chain drive on some models of cars. For example, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Lexus, Infinity, BMW and many other brands have in their model line of cars with a chain timing mechanism.  T-belts are used more often in the engine mechanism. But not always pleased with the quality. Often owners of cars of the lower price segment replace belts with better analogues or at all on a chain.

We hope that this short article clarified the answer to "what is a timing chain on a car?" and now there are no issues left with this car component.

engine car-maintenance t-belt t-chain timing-chain
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