Timing Belt vs. Timing Chain…How Important is it?

Fundamentally, a timing belt and timing chain serve the same purpose. If you drive a Porsche, Mercedes Benz or BMW with an internal timing chain or an Audi or Volkswagen with an external timing belt, these devices are designed to keep the relative position of the valves opening and closing to the position of the piston as the engine is running.

Here is the rub…opening a valve at the wrong time can cause it to contact the piston, causing catastrophic engine failure! A properly timing engine will allow the piston to rise and the valves to open precisely, allowing air and fuel to enter the combustion chamber and exhaust to exit within 1000th of a second.

Proper maintenance of timing belts in foreign cars are one of the specialties of the mechanics at A.J.’s Import Garage in Topeka. If you drive a Benz, a BMW, Audi, or VW among others you can count on A.J.’s Import Garage located at 501 S.W. Harrison in the capital city. Just give A.J.’s a call for an appointment at (785) 233-1000.