Hi folks.
Thoroughly enjoying my 5 but wandering about the cambelt. On my old 2.5 if the cambelt went it wouldn’t have wrecked the valves. What I don’t know is, if this happened on my new 5 would it wreck the valves?
I’m not mechanically minded with car engines so keep it simple guys.
TIA
Mark
Like the NC/MK3, the ND/MK4 has an internal timing chain. The engine will also be interference, so if the chain breaks or jumps teeth there will potentially be contact between the valves and pistons resulting in damaged engine and lots of expense.
I don’t know if the valves are interference or not, but it is a chain drive for the timing and not a belt. It is hydraulically tensioned by oil pressure, with a ratchet mechanism so the tension is still there if oil pressure drops. It has three guides including the tensioner arm to prevent any thrashing and to maximise life.
The valve clearances are self adjusting with ‘hydraulic lash adjusters’ at the fulcrum of the rocker arm to the valve. There is a needle roller on the rocker where the cam shaft bears on it.
The whole thing looks like it is designed to last for ever!
The only thing the owner needs to do is make sure the oil is clean and topped up.