Timing Belts in Older Vehicles Must Not Be as Good as Newer Timing Belts

[lex luthor]

I wonder if the material used today is of better quality. And, if so, why not make DSM belts of the same modern quality. Vehicles today get around 120,000 miles on the newer belts. At least that's what a mechanic told me. By the way, do the DSM's have two fuel pumps; one in the tank and one under the hood? Thanks.

john

 

[TjPhillips36]

DSM's have one pump in the tank. It's more of the stretching of the belts that concerns most people, their are stronger belts made out of kevlar and such. And just the fact that if the belt goes then your at least looking at a new head.

Aren't most newer cars using timing chains instead of belts now? Or am I mistaken?

 

[mchandla]

Idk if all newer cars are using timing chains instead I know gti's have em though.

 

[Defiant]

Kevlar belts started showing up around '95 or so. Timing chains seems to be more common on the European engines, but don't be fooled- they stretch and require replacement as well. Last I heard, the Mercedes DOHC V-8 from the seventies had the longest timing chain in the industry.
One of the shortcomings of the DSM belt is that it only has a dozen teeth pulling it around the crank sprocket, where the stresses are highest. It's seldom the belt that fails, it's the root of the drive block on the belt.
AWD DSMs have a "second" jet pump in the fuel return which pulls the gas from the driver side tank half, across the driveshaft to the fuel pump.