Timing Belt, 1996 Avalon Question

[Cristobal]

I last changed my timing belt 50,000 miles ago. This is a non-interference engine. The factory back in 1996 suggested a change every 60,000 miles. But my mechanic says that belts have been improving, and he has seen ones with 90,000 miles service that still look great.

Anyone have any ideas on this? I am thinking about changing my service interval to 80,000 miles or so to save money.

 

[HTSS_TR]

If a good mechanic recommends longer maintenance interval I usually follow his advice. The timing belt change interval of my LS400 is 60k miles too, I changed it at 60k, 120k, 200k and last changed was 355k, about 2k miles ago. The first 2 changes the balts were in very good shape, that why I extended the last belt to 155k miles, more than double the recommend interval.

 

[salv]

The idea behind changing the belt at a particular interval is to replace it before there are any issues with it.
The mantra of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" should not be applied to timing belts.
What is your mechanic basing his statement about the quality of modern belts on? Is he using OEM belts or cheap aftermarket stuff that helps him maximize his part profit? Many shops buy cheap catalogue parts, or they get whatever the local parts store has on hand when they need it. I work in the service industry and have not heard anything about the quality of belts improving.
Timing belts are a [censored] shoot. Sometimes you'll have one last as long as you own the vehicle, and sometimes you'll start shearing teeth at 40k. Stick by what the manufacturer recommends. Better safe than sorry.

 

[ronbo]

Read years ago a gent who worked as a mechanic at a Toyota dealership for 4 years remarked that he never heard of an OEM Toyota belt breaking unless the water pump seized.

 

[bepperb]

Originally Posted By: ronbo
Read years ago a gent who worked as a mechanic at a Toyota dealership for 4 years remarked that he never heard of an OEM Toyota belt breaking unless the water pump seized.


That might be possible, but my parents never changed their belt on a ~94 Camry and it finally let go around 6 years/180,000 miles in a restaurant parking lot. Towed to the dealer and replaced with no other issues (obviously a non interference engine).

Same car made it 286,000 miles with no transmission fluid changes.

 

[Drew99GT]

The interval on my 94 Corolla is 60,000 miles as well. I've changed it once in my ownership and the belt I took off looked brand new, the tension was perfect etc. I also plan on going to at least 80,000 mile intervals and probably well over 100K since it's easy to pop the timing covers off and check the condition of the belt and tension.

On an interference engine where it's difficult to check the belt and the tension, I'd be much more cautious.

 

[JC1]

Originally Posted By: Cristobal
I last changed my timing belt 50,000 miles ago. This is a non-interference engine. The factory back in 1996 suggested a change every 60,000 miles. But my mechanic says that belts have been improving, and he has seen ones with 90,000 miles service that still look great.

Anyone have any ideas on this? I am thinking about changing my service interval to 80,000 miles or so to save money.


On my 98 Sienna also a non interference engine, I changed the timing belt at 197,xxx km (122,xxx miles). I live in Canada where it gets cold and they regard service as extreme intervals. You can leave it in there for a lot longer than 60,000 MI. If it was an interfence engine then you are taking a risk by extending the interval. The Sienna specified the normal replacement at 90,000 MI.

Regards, JC.

 

[hypervish]

They will go 120k miles easy.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Not related, but I have a friend with an 05 Accord with 100K in need of a timing belt. I think that car will be a good testament to how long a timing belt will last (or doesn't last).

He had a 03 Santa Fe with 80K on the timing belt (supposed to be a 60K belt).

 

[threeputtpar]

With a non-interference engine, you have to ask yourself how inconveinent would it be to have your car inoperatable in any one day. If it's no incoveinence, then run it until it breaks and then replace it. If you always need your car no matter what, then choose an interval that balances the risk of not having a car with the value of your money.

An interval of 60k miles on a non-interference engine is quite low. The TB interval on the Audi with DOHC and twin turbos is 75k miles. The TB on our Odyssey is 105k miles on a SOCH V6. Both are interference engines.

The belt is rarely the failure point in the system, but typically it's one of the bearings in the water pump or idlers. Sometimes it's the hydraulic tensioner.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: threeputtpar
With a non-interference engine, you have to ask yourself how inconveinent would it be to have your car inoperatable in any one day. If it's no incoveinence, then run it until it breaks and then replace it. If you always need your car no matter what, then choose an interval that balances the risk of not having a car with the value of your money.

An interval of 60k miles on a non-interference engine is quite low. The TB interval on the Audi with DOHC and twin turbos is 75k miles. The TB on our Odyssey is 105k miles on a SOCH V6. Both are interference engines.

The belt is rarely the failure point in the system, but typically it's one of the bearings in the water pump or idlers. Sometimes it's the hydraulic tensioner.


That was the main problem with the Chevrolaewoozukis in the US. The belts often did fail before 60K miles, but most of the time, the plastic tensioners would fail and cause valves to meet pistons.

 

[surfstar]

NON-interference? 100k+ as a baseline.

 

[artificialist]

My dad had a Lexus ES300, and he left the factory belt for 9 years and 160,000 miles. He sold the car with the original belt.

Now if it was an interference engine, things would have been different. That is because our family learned the hard way what a timing belt and interference engine is.