Timing Belt Maintenance
The timing belt is a vital part of the engine in a car, it is the part that keeps the crankshaft, aux shaft, and camshaft(s) running smoothly in time with each other and it is vital to the process of your engine running correctly, therefore it is vital that you keep your timing belt maintained well. It is possible for a timing belt to fail without any warning at all, however, there are simple little things you can do to help reduce the chances of this happening.
Here are some things you can do to maintain your timing belt:
Regular check ups are very important - The timing belt is similar to many other parts of the engine in the sense that they need to be checked on regularly to make sure you are aware of any problems or irregularities, you should check your timing belt about as often as you check the oil levels and just look our for anything that does not look correct or that you should be aware of.
The belt will wear over time - The belt will obviously wear down over time as it is used more and you should check to see if it is worn down to the point that it is dangerous, look for simple wear and tear and cracks, basically you just want to see if there is anything that is possible to break or snap suddenly, if you do notice anything like this then replace it as soon as possible.
Overheating is a factor - The timing belt can become overheated and this could cause it to fail or worse, so make sure you check the heat levels of your belt, this can be as simple as hovering your hand close to the belt.
These three simple tasks can go a long way when it comes to being aware of the condition
of a timing belt, there are other things you can do and should learn about in order to keep on top of things, however, these are three quick and easy things you can do to check up on it. If you think there might be a problem of any kind then you need to seek professional advice, safety is the highest priority.
