Timing belt / chain

Hi all,

Was chatting w/ a friend and they mentioned to me that one should get their
timing belt changed every 100,000 km. Since I recently crossed this amount,
I'm curious to know if the 100,000 km mark also holds for Saturns as, to my
understanding, we have timing chain's as opposed to timing belts (I drive a
98 SL2).

So, should I get this changed next time I go to the garage?

TIA

Wurm

 

A 98 SL2 doesn't have a timing belt. It has a timing chain.

Keep up with the oil and filter changes every 3,000 miles or 3 months, and
keep the oil level up (the 1.9 liter Saturn engines tend to burn oil) and
you should be fine.

 

Was chatting w/ a friend and they mentioned to me that one should get their

Leave it alone unless it starts acting up(rattling)......

 

Saturns do not have timing belts. A timing chain does not typically have a
recommended replacement interval, they're generally only replaced when a
problem is suspected (such as wear causing the chain to have a lot of play
in it).

 

Coolage, thanks to all

 

Saturn Services (now 6th Planet after Saturn threatened them), a
well-regarded independent Saturn shop in Florida, suggests
changing the chain at 70K miles for preventive maintenance:

"saturn timing chains are failing at an alarming rate, i'm recommending
to my customers to replace them at 75k as preventive maintenance.
were now selling apx 4 engines every week now and most are due to
t-chain failures. the twin cams are failing more than the single cams
f.y.i."

A lot of people have been misled on this issue, a timing chain, even though
it is steel, does NOT last the life of the car. As Tom and Ray state:

"Timing chains do last longer, but not necessarily the life of the car.
And when they do break, it's a big job and a lot of money to replace
them." See http://cartalk.cars.com/Columns/Archive/1999/April/01.html

So it's up to you. You can probably go another 30K km before you need
to change it, as long as it's not making any noise. Just ask your mechanic
if he/she thinks the chain is okay for now. If they are Saturn experts
they'll
know what a deteriorating chain sounds like.

 

In 96, when we bought our 97 SL1 4-cyl, I was told by the salesman
that it is a non-interference engine. Are you saying it's an
interference engine?

 

In 96, when we bought our 97 SL1 4-cyl, I was told by the salesman

Saturn engines are interference engines.

 

Sometimes it's nice to have someone run interference for you. ;+)))))

Ken

 

Sometimes it's nice to have someone run interference for you. ;+)))))

Yeah........I guess the word interference has its ups and downs.......

Its definitly a down though when pistons hit valves..........

Jamie

 

No, the piston is up when it hits the valves. At this point the
valves are permanently down.

Seriously, is the SL1 an interference engine? It's so low
performance.

 

Its definitly a down though when pistons hit valves..........

True.......but the valves are down

But permanently - they're not as far down since they're bent over

As far as I know, all Saturn engines are interference.

 

Yes, it's an interference engine.

When you asked if it was an interference or a non-interference
engine did the salesman ask: "which do you want it to be?"

 

I'm thinking of buying a 2000 SL2 tomorrow. How hard is it for an
amateur mechanic to change the chain? Any estimates on time?

Thanks,


WEs