VW Engines and Timing Belts - an idiot's question

[Pints]

I mentioned to my FiL that I was glad to have got round to replacing the cambelt on my Golf, since I wasn't too keen on my valves meeting my pistons should the belt fail.

He said this doens't happen on Volkswagens, and it's just a case of popping on a new belt once you've got the markings aligned again.

Any truth in this? How/why would VW make an engine allegedly immune to such catastrophe but Vauxhall don't?

[Pints]

Was it true for the old 4cyl air-cooled engines?

(Love the idea that the FiL is wrong though)

[Pints]

Deva Link said:

interference and non-interference

Useful. I didn't know these terms.
I've found some good stuff on Google using this in the search.

It seem that the TDI is most certainly an interference engine, and even the FSI and TFSI engines are interference since at least 2003.

Edit: also noted that non-interference engines are also known as "free running"

Edited by Pints on Monday 24th October 20:19

[Pints]

Nick3point2 said:

Dr G said:

Pints said:

Edit: also noted that non-interference engines are also known as "free running"

Isn't free running parkour?

I had to google that.

Tit.