Life of a timing belt?

manfacturers recommend changing timing belt every 60k. Have you driven more miles that between new timing belts?|||You have some margin, but there is a reason they set it at 60,000 miles. They know some people will run past that, so you are safe for awhile, but if you go too long, the belt is almost certain to fail. Since this belt drives your camshaft, it is moving your valves. Your valves are timed such that they are in the closed position (or nearly closed) when the piston comes up the cylinder to approach them. But if the belt fails, the valves are no longer driven by the camshaft. Some will be held open fully. The piston will come up and strike the valves. The valves will bend, or they may break off and jam in the piston head. The result is major engine damage. Usually only 2 cylinders will suffer valve damage (Obliteration) but 2 others will have minor damage, and 2 will have no damage because their valves happened to be in the closed position when the belt broke. Of course, it depends on how many rotations the engine makes before it quits. All those broken and bent parts are in there, banging away.


Note: not every car will suffer from this. Ford Pintos had enough room in the cylinder that it didn't matter. If the belt broke, the engine just shut down. You removed a cover plate, realigned the cam timing marks and the crankshaft marks, and put a new belt on, and off you went. No Damage. But most modern cars will have major damage from such a failure. It is expensive to change the belt, but if the belt breaks, you will really be screwed.|||you CAN drive up to 120,000 but it's not recommended. it's WAY easier to change a timing belt if the installed belt isn't broken. if at all possible, stick to the 60k rule.|||the recommended time is 100000kms or 60000miles but iam sure there are many cars that have done a lot more than that on the original timing belt, you always take the risk of it breaking and destroying your engine if you leave it to long.|||i got 450000 from an old toyota we even used the same old belt after we rebuilt the engine and the car would of kept going but the rust got to the body first and it fell apart.|||Some engines are what are called 'Interference' engines. This means that if the timing belt breaks or slips the pistons will contact the valves. That is really, really bad. Changing the belt on schedule is way cheaper than replacing the heads and pistons.|||According to MAP (the Motorist Assurance Program - an independant watchdog group for automotive consumer protection) 55000 to 75000 is the recommended time to replace a timing belt.





Its usually better to replace it when it should be replaced instead of when it has to be replaced.





If you by chance have what is called an interferance engine, if the timing belt breaks you just went from a $45 dollar belt and $150 dollars of labor... then to have damage to the valve train or a piston.





Keep in mind that if you have an engine that is leaking oil onto or near the belt.... timing belt life is seriously degraded.





Granted, I have seen Volvo's and Mercedes go 145000 miles.... but I had cars brought to me that only made it 50000.





Don't forget about the tow bill either.