Does my car have a timing belt or chain?
The terms ‘cambelt’, ‘timing belt’ and ‘timing chain’ can all seem pretty similar, so it’s understandable to be confused about whether they’re the same thing or totally different to each other. In this blog, we’ll take a look at what timing chains really are and how they relate to cambelts and timing belts.
What is a timing chain?
In order to understand how a timing chain differs from a cambelt, it’s important to understand what a cambelt is. The cambelt is a rubber band that loops around the camshaft and the crankshaft within the engine of a vehicle, keeping both halves of the engine in sync. This allows the engine to be packed into a smaller space without components colliding, which makes the vehicle more aerodynamic and gives it greater fuel efficiency.
Timing chains perform the same function, but instead of being made of rubber, they use metal. This makes them stronger and more durable, but also more expensive and louder. Timing belts, on the other hand, also keep the engine in sync, but they’re made of rubber – in fact, timing belt is just another name for the cambelt.
Got all that? Cambelts:
- Are made of rubber
- Are synonymous with timing belts
- Keep the two halves of the engine in sync to avoid serious damage to engine parts while driving
Timing chains:
- Are made of metal
- Are different to timing belts and cambelts
- Keep the two halves of the engine in sync to avoid catastrophic engine damage
To help you remember which is which, it can be helpful to picture the chain on a bicycle when thinking about the timing chain, or a chain-link fence. In other applications, chains are typically metal, and it’s the same for timing chains.
If it’s not already clear, your engine will only have one of these components – either a timing belt/cambelt or a timing chain. Many cars have cambelts because they’re less expensive to manufacture, as well as making for a quieter drive. But some cars have timing chains instead, and it’s good to know which you have so you can stay on top of the car’s maintenance needs.
Do timing chains need to be replaced?
On the subject of maintenance, one of the biggest differences between cambelts and timing chains is how often they need to be replaced. As mentioned, metal timing chains are more durable than rubber cambelts. As a result, they tend to last longer without needing to be replaced. However, as we’ve already touched on, timing chains cost more to manufacture and therefore buy.
It’s unlikely that you’d base your decision on whether or not to buy a particular car solely on whether it has a cambelt or a timing chain, but it is something to consider. If the car in question had a timing chain, you’d have to weigh up the savings of less frequent replacements against the costs of buying the new components.
You might also need to think about how long it takes to replace a cambelt versus a timing chain. For example, if the timing chain needs to come from further away due to being rarer, that can add time to the overall operation. On top of that, another consideration is the volume of noise caused by the component. Cambelts are relatively quiet compared to timing chains, as metal tends to clank when it makes contact with other metal components, while rubber doesn’t.
Does my car have a cambelt or chain?
As you can imagine, it’s important to know whether your car has a cambelt or a timing chain when it comes to having maintenance done, as you’ll need to ensure the correct parts are ordered for your vehicle. If you’re not sure which is the case, there are a few things you can try to find out.
Firstly, check the vehicle handbook. This is the holy grail for information about your make and model of vehicle, and should be your first port of call for any questions you may have about the specifications of your car. As well as helpfully letting you know whether the vehicle has a cambelt or a timing chain, the vehicle handbook should also give you guidelines as to when the component should be replaced. These guidelines may come in the form of mileage (e.g. replace the cambelt after 40,000 miles), or years (e.g. replace the cambelt after 5 years).
If for whatever reason you can’t access the vehicle handbook – perhaps you can’t find it or the car didn’t have one when you bought it second hand – then another alternative is to have a look under the bonnet. Depending on the make and model of your vehicle, you may be able to see the cambelt or timing chain without having to remove components. If you can see it, you should be able to tell if it’s a rubber composite band or a metal chain.
Last but not least, if all else fails, you can take your car to your local autocentre to have it looked at by an experienced mechanic. They will be able to assess your vehicle to let you know whether it has a timing chain or a cambelt, and may also check it for damage or wear and tear.
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