DriveABenz

Does the 1.8 litre supercharged 4 cylinder have a timing belt or timing chain? I can't find reference to what it has anywhere.

vadim

It has a timing chain.

DriveABenz

Thanks a million!

CitronC230K_03

whats the difference.

vadim

Unlike timing belt, you don't have to change the timing chain after a certain mileage (usually 50-70kmi).

Also, timing chains are noisier.

CitronC230K_03

ahhh! gotcha, thanks. i figured a chain was more reliable, but i figured there was a down side to them.

HITMAN

I didnt know my supercharger had a timing chane i just thought it was belt lol

vadim

your supercharger does not have either

HITMAN

i meant to say chain lol

i dont meen the acutall supercharger

Rick

Your engine has a timing CHAIN and a V-Belt that runs the alternator, AC compressor and induction Kompressor (supercharger). The two are separate.

This should clarify....what has somehow become confused...although I thought Vadim was acurate in his answers.

brianhn1

In older cars that have a timing belt, if it breaks when you're driving aren't you screwed?

jlm

That depends. If you have what is called an interference engine you are.

When the belt breaks, the valve train stops moving almost immediately. When it stops, some valves will likely be in the fully open position. The pistons and crank will keep moving for far longer, especially in a manual-transmission car. If you have an interference engine, the piston travels high enough in the cylinder at Top Dead Center (TDC) to actually hit the valve head if it is in the open position. Obviously, all kinds of fun things start to happen.

I read a few years back that very few engines these days are of an interference design. I think I remembered Honda and VW were the only ones still making them. I don't know how common they were before then.

jlm

jlm

This question got me curious, so I did a search. Turns out interference engines are fairly common. It does look like nearly every Honda engine is. And every Audi, and every BMW, and every Fiat (!?!), Nissan, Porsche, Saab, and Volvo. Go to http://www.gates.com/downloads/downl...older=brochure for a listing. I don't see anything newer than 2000, so that may be when this was published. I didn't study it that carefully. Also don't see any MBs, so they must ALL have chains, not belts.

DriveABenz

This is why I asked. One test site said that the timing belt failed on their Honda Pilot with fewer than 20,000 miles. Timing chains aren't failure-proof either, but for the long term in my opinion they are the better way to go. I won't buy a car with a timing belt, it's a ticking time bomb.

vadim

That would be a little paranoid - there are many very reliable engines with timing belts. For one, a marvelous 5-cyl Volvo engine - I have yet to hear of a single timing-belt related failure of that motor, and they have been around since early 90's. Of course, the belt needs to be replaced at 70k mi, but I know folks running on the original belt with over 120k on the clock - now, that sure is a time bomb.

DriveABenz

I totally agree, there are a lot of reliable engines with timing belts just as there are many unreliable engines with timing chains. But all things being equal, I don't want to trust a long distance trip with my family in the car to a small piece of reinforced rubber with 60k miles on it. I'm very happy that the 1.8l has a timing chain, it's good piece of mind and smart on Mercedes part.

mleskovar

I believe all MB engines have used timing chains. Does anyone know for sure?