If you have ever purchased a car, you have probably been instructed to make sure you check when the timing belt was done, which is excellent advice, but do you know what timing chain operation at a timing belt is? More crucially, why it is critical to understand what it does and when it was last modified. Timing chains and timing belts serve the same purpose: they connect the camshafts and the crankshaft in order to keep them spinning in rhythm. Despite having the same functionality, correas dentadas are uniquely distinctive in their design and have their own set of advantages and disadvantages.
As they serve the same purpose, an engine will often be equipped with one or the other there are a handful of engines that have both. They are often not visible when the bonnet is opened because they are shielded from debris by metal or plastic coverings.
In the most basic terms, an engine is divided into two halves: the top half which includes the cylinder head, camshafts, and valves and the bottom half comprising of the cylinder block, crankshaft and pistons. The timing belt or chain is responsible for ensuring that the top and bottom portions of the engine rotate perfectly in time with each other. The engine will not operate smoothly if the timing is out of sync by even a couple of degrees due to a worn timing belt or chain or one that was set up properly in the first place.
What if the timing chain or belt snaps?
It is critical to understand interference engines while discussing timing chains and belts. An interference engine is one in which the pistons and valves share cylinder space but not simultaneously the vast majority of engines on the road today are interference engines. The advantage of this sort of engine is efficiency, but if the belt or chain in an interference engine breaks, the valves and pistons would clash. These correas dentadasmust be placed correct to make your machine work.
The pistons typically collide with the valves, bending or snapping them, or the valves punch a hole in the top of the pistons. The repair expense might possibly reach the hundreds of dollars. If the belt in a non-interference engine breaks, they will never collide since they never share the same area. Knowing when the timing belt was last replaced is therefore quite beneficial.