Is it time for you to get your cars cambelt changed?

A cambelt, or timing belt, is an essential part of every vehicle, and if kept in good condition and maintained properly it will provide minimal vibration, and chordal effect, and offer excellent mechanical efficiency.

However, that all sounds very technical, so let’s take a look at a breakdown of why it’s important to have your cambelt checked and changed.

What does the cambelt do?

The cambelt keeps the vehicle’s camshaft and crankshaft turning at the right speeds, relative to each other. The crankshaft moves the pistons up during the engine’s compression and exhaust cycles, while the pistons move down in the power and intake cycles.

In some vehicles, the cambelt may also operate the water pump, oil pump, and injection pump. So, the cambelt or timing belt is critical to your car’s performance.

Overall, a good timing belt will improve the power transmission efficiency, reduce noise and provide weight savings.

Why replace your cambelt?

Cambelts are often made out of sturdy rubber and are designed to absorb and operate under tremendous stress. Rubber will, however gradually, deteriorate as time passes, and a timing belt made of rubber will eventually lose its tautness.

If the timing belt is not working in the way it should, you may lose acceleration and horsepower when you press the accelerator pedal. A broken cambelt may cause the fuel to not correctly enter the cylinder or escape through an open exhaust valve, which can lead to problems with your vehicle’s performance and economy. If the valves are not fully closed during compression, the majority of the engine’s power will be lost.

A cambelt change will increase the fuel efficiency of your vehicle and can dramatically improve your petrol mileage. Additionally, as with most maintenance jobs, another reason to replace your cambelt is to avoid larger costs later down the line. For example, if you need your cambelt replaced, then it’s best to get it done now, as fixing the damage inflicted by a broken timing belt could lead to costly repairs.

When to replace a cambelt

In most cases, there may not be any visible signs that indicate that it’s time to change your timing belt, so it’s important to have regular health check-ups on your vehicle. It is recommended that car owners have their cambelt checked every 60,000-100,000 miles or replaced every few years. Through doing this, you are less likely to experience the issues mentioned above and save yourself extra costs in the future!

Your cambelt affects some major performance factors within your vehicle, so it’s important to have it checked and replaced when necessary, to ensure safety for you and other drivers, as well as ensuring emissions are as low as they can possibly be. For information about getting your timing belt checked click here.