Timing belt vs chain

[Greaser]

3.8L Buick skipped a tooth on the cam gear with an extremely loose chain,on an very cold morning,a few years back on a fellows car that I know.Other than that short, chain driven timimg devices are very stout and seldom cause a demise to the powerplant.

 

[JavaMan]

"The timing chain in a 4.0 Jeep will last until the cows come home"

Don' the cows come home from the higher altitudes with the on set of winter? That's what I've alway heard anyway.

 

[JohnBrowning]

General rule of thumb is that if the cam sproket with the chain attached has less then 5 degree's of deflection you are fine. If it is close to 5 degree's or past that then it is usualy wise to remove the chain and measure it. Chains are funny things some will last for 300,000 miles while some fail as early as 100,000 miles. Usualy if you keep the engine clean practice sounde OCI's the chain will last a long time. A dirty engine is very very hard on chains!!! The 2.7 is known to have sludge issues and the worst amount of sludge on these tends to be located in the timeing cover area. It is more then likely due to the cat. being inch's from the timeing cover.Sludge and timeing chains does not make for long life. Again a known problem that could be fixed but wount be until the chasis platform is redesigned.

 

[LTVibe]

Quote:

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I have to say I'm very surprised Honda went with a chain...

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Here is a news release from BorgWarner, a major supplier of timing chains to both import and domestic carmakers, on the switch from belts to chains:

BorgWarner News

 

[CBDFrontier06]

Good deal. Long live the timing chain! Death to the timing belt!