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I have a 2015 Boxer 2.2. I have no service books or history for it and wanted to get the timing belt replaced.... turns out it has a chain rather than a belt and the mechanic has estimated £700-800 to replace it.
So, what I want to know is:
Is it worth doing at 129000 miles?
Is 700 sheets a reasonable sum (The garage I had the quote from is permanently busy and I wonder if they charge accordingly)
Is the 2.2 engine an interference or clearance engine? I.e, if I leave it and it fails, will it be a minor p i.t.a, or a major expense?
Ta in advance.
Dave.
In general timing chains last the lifetime of the engine, that's why they get used. You don't replace them unless they are rattly, which it shouldn't be unless it's been run low on oil, it hasn't been changed, or it's a Mercedes OM651 engine.
I would say that a modern diesel will be an interference engine, I can't see how it wouldn't be. But a chain isn't going to snap, it's just going to get loose and rattle. Even the notorious Mercedes ones don't snap, they rattle until they slap the guides to pieces which then break causing the chain to skip the cogs.
As for the price - depends entirely on the engine and how it's installed.
I've got a Citroen relay, 2.2 20 plate. Just had the 96k mile service and that includes the timing chain which was £525 plus fitting.
I'd had an oil leak, which was the cam shaft seals, it was cheaper to get them done at the same time so look into that as well.
Chain or belt? I'd be surprised if the chain has a service interval and especially one that short.
Some chains do have a svc life.
They do wear.
Bad oil and infrequent changes kill them.
Yeah they can wear of course (Mercedes owner here) but I had not heard of it being an actual service item. Seems a bit shit, if it's not going to last the life of the engine it might as well be a belt and be quieter and easier to change.
Better than a wet belt on an eco boom
Yes it was timing chain and that was the recommended interval to keep warranty intact.
Better than a wet belt on an eco boom
Oh yes. My van has one of them. Was supposed to last the life of the engine, but Ford changed it to 150k miles. Engine out job, only 40,000 to go! 😭
Your van petrol?
Its a Transit engine so yeah it has a chain. It's easy to change as it's on the end of the engine but you need a timing chest cover they are glued on and get damaged removing them.
They get noisy as the tensioner dies (uses oil pressure) due to stupid long oil change intervals. If you've owned awhile and done sensible length oil changes then it will be fine for longer.
If the timing jumps (due to slack chain) the valves are vertically inline with the pistons so the cam retainers break. Iirc they are matched to the cams so gets expensive.
Rattle at startup - change tensioner/chain. No rattle - leave it.
*former Transit owner
Your van petrol?
No, 1.5 diesel, but has the same wet belt.
Think it's the petrol engine more than anything.
The oil goes acidic and rots the belt if not changed often enough from what I've read.
Oh yes. My van has one of them. Was supposed to last the life of the engine,
Well - thats more a of a self fulfilling prophecy than a warrantee 🙂
Bit like a pacemaker having a lifetime guarantee
Well – thats more a of a self fulfilling prophecy than a warrantee 🙂
🤣 It's at least a couple of years before I have to worry about it, by which time maybe I'll be ready to make the jump to an electric one. I'm pretty stringent about the annual service, which means the oil gets replaced before the mileage interval so I'm not unduly worried. I imagine the 1.0 petrol's that suffer get to three or four years on the same oil.
The oil goes acidic and rots the belt if not changed often enough from what I’ve read.
exacerbated by the ethanol getting into the oil via incomplete burn and bypass of the piston rings so would be as applicable to diesel as is petrol.
Anotehr good reason to use premiumier fuels/ change oil often.