Hi, been ordering all sorts of stuff - but can't do a timing belt myself, anybody tell me if it HAS a timing belt and how often it should be changed? Haynes says every four years, but not for this engine... it is quiet on the b14 4e front...

Thanks!

Thats because its a timing chain which needs less frequent repolacement.
Adam

Ah! So, after 31,000 miles and 20 years do'ya think I should get somebody to change it???

Olga wrote:Ah! So, after 31,000 miles and 20 years do'ya think I should get somebody to change it???

Ok, strap yourself in for more potentially fatal but well intentioned technical advice:

Timing chains are indestructable. Fact!

Timing belts, change like every 80-100k. ish.
Timing chains, like once every 2billionk or 100,000 miles. which ever mathmatically comes first.

I am absolutley confident in these figures.

and garuntee you that your timing chain is fine.

Has a chain. The only time you might replace a chain is when the rest of the engine is being rebuilt. 31k is nothing.

Yeh!! Wow! Good news at last! LESS expense than expected... it trully is Christmas! Thanks!

macplaxton wrote:Has a chain. The only time you might replace a chain is when the rest of the engine is being rebuilt. 31k is nothing.

not precisely, if you're not a fan of changing oil + filter on time you get to hear it rattle after a while wich means replacing it.

they do usually last more than 500K on normal maintenance.

volvodspec wrote:not precisely, if you're not a fan of changing oil + filter on time you get to hear it rattle after a while wich means replacing it.

they do usually last more than 500K on normal maintenance.

Total true, but surely a lack of maintenance (i.e. "not a fan of changin oil + filter") would result in a lot more worn engine parts too?

Anyway, that's by-the-by, it hasn't got a belt and it doesn't have a set time for replacement in the service schedule.

Yep... they will last A LONG time with normal maintenance. Best thing about timing chains. Although I know of someone with a 200,000 mile neglected Skoda Favorit who's timing chain was so loose it was occasionally catching the timing chain cover

the chain on a VW golf VR6 is a disaster though, it runs along plastic bushings that wear quite easaly. the simple design in the cleon engine consisting of the tensioner, chain and 2 sprockets is definatly a whole lot better!

the cleon based renault 5 alpine engine tensioner is even better, no spring for tension but hydraulic tensioner.