Why is it that some car use timing chains and some use belts. My New car is DOHC and I thought that meant it would have a belt, but apparantley it has a chain?

Do they just use what they want or is there an advantage to one of them?

there are quite a lot of factors, chains are more expensive to manufacture and they also need to be lubricated by the oil system, the plus side is that they often dont ever need to be changed unless they have gone really slack or gotten really noisy.

on the other hand belt driven engines are quieter, and cheaper to produce

also i think the car manufacturers like to make profit from servicing and parts sales which is another major reason for fitting belts rather than a chain

Belts typically feature in engines built to a budget. Chains typically feature in engines designed and built by engineers, not accountants.

Having watched a lot of Scrapheap Challenge, I'd always go with a belt. I don't think anyone's ever used a chain that didn't break on there.

Having watched a lot of Scrapheap Challenge, I'd always go with a belt. I don't think anyone's ever used a chain that didn't break on there.

Hmm...are you saying a rubber belt is stronger than a chain?? :confused:

Chains typically feature in engines designed and built by engineers, not accountants.

Did you know the Mk3 Mondeo uses chains in all it's engines?!

Chris

Hmm...are you saying a rubber belt is stronger than a chain?? :confused:

ok, you try and break one then!!!

i've used old timing belts as lifting strops with an engine crane before, they are remarkably strong

Did you know the Mk3 Mondeo uses chains in all it's engines?!

Chris

Obviously a quality motor

I reckon the Smart uses an elastic band

Hmm...are you saying a rubber belt is stronger than a chain?? :confused:

I'm saying that on Scrapheap Challenge chains are less reliable than belts.

'Course, in the real world that might be different.

there are quite a lot of factors, chains are more expensive to manufacture and they also need to be lubricated by the oil system, the plus side is that they often dont ever need to be changed unless they have gone really slack or gotten really noisy.

also i think the car manufacturers like to make profit from servicing and parts sales which is another major reason for fitting belts rather than a chain

So best not to mention the Triumph Stag with its 30_000 (thirty thousand) mile timing chain_s_ replacement interval then?

things were different in those days, look at the golf vr6 for example, it doesn't ever mention the timing chain in the service schedule

No, but they get very noisy sometimes..lol. And the crank gear on the V5 used to wear out.

Did you know the Mk3 Mondeo uses chains in all it's engines?!

Chris

yeah and it makes taking any of the engines apart a PITA :(

plus the tensioners do go faulty on the diesel engine and wrecks the head oops