Chain vs Cambelt

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Discussion

topless_mx5

Original Poster:

2,763 posts

218 months

Sunday 18th January 2009
quotequote all
Whats the difference betweem chains and cambelts?

My current car has a chain, which apparantly doesnt need replacing. On 130k miles now and its still on the original.

Cambelts need changing every x miles (usually 80k ish, dependant on car obviously). And I have heard stories of cambelts snapping and killing the engine, but never heard of a chain destroying an engine.

So why is it that the majority of cars have cambelts? Whats the disadvantage of a chain?

topless_mx5

Original Poster:

2,763 posts

218 months

Sunday 18th January 2009
quotequote all
zektor said:
Chains... I swear by them.

My missus has an MX-5... and the fact it runs a chain was a major selling point for me.
I might get flamed for this if I'm wrong (especially with my PH name) but hasnt the MX5 got a non interference cambelt? What year is her MX5? Mine was 1990 and I'm sure it had a cambelt, was a few years ago though when I had it so maybe I just got it wrong...