I've never run across any car engines with timing belts run wet. I would think this would have high friction (teeth moving oil) and there would be life issues with the rubber in oil. However I never underestimate Ford GM or Chrysler "engineers" to come up with something really stupid that could be done a better and simpler way.

Timing chains are typically run wet, timing belts typically run dry in cars, as far as I've seen.

Ford stuff is often made down to a low price and in the last 20 years many engines have become a hodgepodge of globally sourced parts from various factories mashed together to make new models. It becomes a problem when ordering new parts. It's not enough to say " I need an intake manifold gasket for a 2007 Ford Focus"- the parts guy needs to see the manifold as there are 3 types possible – and not identifiable by the serial number of the car even! There's a German made one, a Brazilian made one, and a US made one, all quite different.

Luckily I only tinker with cars occasionally for neighbours and relatives now. I really have come to hate the hassles (as above).

I've found Japanese cars need far less messing around in general and when you do need a part their dealers and parts networks are really well organized and get you exactly what you need without rigmarole, delays or hassle, as long as the car is 15 years old or less. Parts for cars older than that can become unavailable.

Sorry for the ramble. JD

" I've recently read that some Ford engines have wet cam belts"

Don't keep us in suspense – where did you read it?

My Triumph T160 with Norman Hyde 1000cc kit has a Norman Hyde toothed belt conversion to replace the old Triplex? primary chain. Hasn't been on the road for a few years now (must get it rebuilt!) but never gave any trouble when it was running. The belt's not rubber though. Can't remember what material it is offhand but some type of plastic (polyurethane?) I think.

John

Properly engineered camchains aren't noisy! Go and listen to the chain on a Jag or Mercedes 6, or even a Rootes 4. Some modern camchains are even less durable than belts; small Nissans and 4cylinder BMW diesels for instance. They are tiny things that look like they were taken from a small clock. And some idiot at BMW decided to put the chain at the back of the engine just to compound the error.

As for Ford's V6 boat anchors, the camshaft pulleys are a notorious weakspot that are(still) best replaced with the steel pulley it should have had in the first place. That's assuming that the oilpump hex drive doesn't twist or round-off first, wrecking the engine due to a lack of oil pressure.

The new range of low capacity, turbo driven eco engines such as the 3cyl 1ltr Ford and 4cyl 1.2 TSI from VW have cam CHAINS replacing the old can belts as they are more reliable and designed to last the engines lifetime.

I believe they both have forged crankshafts also as this allows smaller crank journals and in turn less friction.

So! What was wrong with the old A Series engine I hear you ask?

Answers (good or bad) on £20 notes only please

Tufnol timing gears are a real pain as I have had 2 fail on Opel Kapitans in the 60's, one of them 400 miles inside the Northern frontier district of Kenya. I got towed home by a Rover 90 but only just. The suspect gear i found out had been procured from a scrap car by the local garage. I got refunded £200 for that and replaced the new one myself without taking the engine out! They replaced the tufnol one with an aluminium one but you could hear it running.

We have a Peougot 306 diesel, changed the cam belt once by myself,and got a mechanic friend to carry out the second change at my home as I wanted the idler pulley and water pump changed and I could not get my hands into the stupidly restricted space,a difficult job. Speaking to a mechanic where I get my MOT I asked him how they deal with that awkward idler pulley, " oh when we buy a camshaft belt kit ,we don't fit a new idler its too difficult,we just throw the new pulley away ,they never wear out"!! Though he did show me a quick way to change timing belts,Slit the belt down the middle all the way round,be really care full not to mark the pulley teeth,remove the front half of the belt,then slide the new belt halfway onto the pulleys, make sure it really "on" then remove the remaining half of the old belt and slide the new belt right on. I have done it on my volvo and peugot makes changing a belt easier. I had my first cam belt engine a Cortina 2 litre mk 3, on those engines it was camshaft wear problems, looking at the belt,as a production engineer the reason for the belt was cost,not the advertised advantages, Over head cam, the head with all its valve gear can be set up away from the engine,with all tappet adjustments set,not after final assembly in previous engines ,no need to bore the block for a camshaft, machining a head for the camshaft must be cheaper than boring a block, pulleys and chain sprockets similar cost unless pulleys were sintered (cheaper) ,oil tight case with lots of screws and gasket expensive compared to simple plastic or sheet metal belt cover, no guarantee claims for oil leaks. In his engine I doubt if the ohc gained much performance advantage but it does save 8 pushrods.In the volume of Cortinas I expect the belt itself was cheaper than a chain. My current vehicle a Discovery 4 is reckoned to be " body off" for the the two belts to be changed though I do know someone who has managed to change the belts with engine in situ, but took ages to get the rad out, hope he gets quicker when my belts need changing.

The TDCI is diesel – but not noisy, IMHO.

Neil

<Correction: i before e except after c and in  rein, reign, feign, heir, their, seine, vein etc. etc  … and Neil>

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 16/02/2016 19:04:50

My pleasure Brian, hope it is useful. Pound that car dealer! JD

Mike,

My pride and joy in the seventies was a MK1 3 litre Ford Capri which dumped its tufnol gear on the M6, when I took the engine apart every piston had depressions of a valve, bent valves and bent push rods. The rebuild had a aluminium gear fitted.

Ive recently bought a 2004 Corsa SXi from my Daughters Father in Law with a genuine 37,500 miles on the clock, he didnt use it much and it is in good order except for the rear tyres, they had absolutely loads of tread and original and falling apart with cracks all over, he thought I'd lost the plot when I bought new tyres.

Martin P

Thanks, stevetee

Very interesting concept.

MichaelG.