ok, today i was told that i should have the timing gear replaced were my car has 187xxxkms on it, and that if the belt goes itll grenade the entire engine, is this true? because i really dont have the time or money for this to happen
Someone who knows more may chime in, but I believe the eco is an interference engine. This means that if the timing belt or chain, whichever the engine has, breaks or skips too much, the pistons will make contact with the valves. This will bend most of the intake valves and therefore pretty much ruin the engine. Damage to the bottom end varies from engine to engine. Luckily, the eco has a chain which is much more reliable than a belt. However, it does have hydraulic tensioners which means if the engine looses oil pressure the chain is likely to come loose.
"In Oldskool we trust"
there's a service kit for the eco chain that you can install if you feel unsafe, but the chain is supposed to be a 100k mile serviceable part....
i guess thats about 160,000kms?
it comes with a chain, two gears, bolts, guides, and an updated oiler.
I can't get the part number right now because rockauto is being a pain but most auto stores should be able to look it up and order it for you (or get it direct from rockauto.com)
and yes, if your chain breaks your valves will get bent.
I want to say that most car engines that have decent performance are interferance engines.
Which in my mind would make sense because those are usually the high compression engines as well
"In Oldskool we trust"
Rich Grayo Jr. wrote:don't take any more advice from whoever told you that. your engine doesn't have a timing belt.
well belt, chain, i dont care which it has right now, i just dont want to go replacing stuff if i dont have to, because money is really tight atm
main thing is, at 187xxxkms should i worry about changing the timing gear?
I would recommend getting the above mentioned kit installed sooner than later if its never been done before. I find that preventative measures typically end up costing a lot less money and headache. Plus your nearing the age that it should probably be done.
"In Oldskool we trust"
Ryan Pitt wrote:I would recommend getting the above mentioned kit installed sooner than later if its never been done before. I find that preventative measures typically end up costing a lot less money and headache. Plus your nearing the age that it should probably be done.
This.
I have seen timing chanins in these cars break before, and it caused nothing but headaches, and major bucks. Spend the 200 bucks or whatever it is, and save urself the 500+ bucks to either buy a new head, or have urs rebuiilt, and thats not including time to remove/replace, headgasket, bolts, and so on. Trust me, u will save a ton of money doing this now, instead of after the OOPS. When that chain snaps, its just bad Ju-Ju. My buddies ecotec snapped his, and it bent 14 of the 16 valves. So yeah. Just do it over a weekend, and save the hassle.
well ill be taking it to a shop, as i dont have the skill to take on doing the timing(going to school for mechanics next year) and niether does my father, plus i priced everything, the kit, gaskets, itll be around 500 bucks so imup @!#$ creek without a paddle unless i sell my other sunfire very soon
its ugly when they break....some of the worst noises come from those....all the ones i have seen with broken chain/jumped teeth...whatever all had VERY poor oil maintenance like im talking black sludge on the stick and a quart low atleast......they are good engines just have to watch.....the one that came into the shop it was an alero....it would like try to act like it was going to start but it wasnt happening.,,,backfiring and just all kinds of carnival sounds under the hood....it was sad...it was also sad that this was one of the first ones i had witnessed....and when i called the local dealership they said they didnt know anything about 2.2 eco alero it was too old meanwhile they sell a 2.2 eco cobalt....gen 2 big deal same thing just relocated oil stick lol.....bunch of idiots lol.... good luck man take her easy till you can get the work done!....
