Quote:
Originally Posted by Idle
I recently towed a W111 about 500 miles with my old Chevy van. No problems at all. The car was on a trailer that weighs 2,200 pounds.
A friend just did the same thing, only it was 200 miles, with a Japanese truck with a timing belt. The belt self destructed and was just eaten up.
Is this common knowledge? Are you running the risk of timing belt failure if you tow normally with a timing belt engine?
Or was this just a belt replacement that was put off for too long?
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I don't care what the marketing weenie says at the supplier: Fibreglass/rubber timing belts do not last as long as steel chains.
I have changed belts on several Volvos, for example and always did it under the timing belt wear mileage.
The only timing belt disasters I have seen were on Volvos and some Fords which are interference engines. Timing belt goes and so does the valve train!
Timing belts on Mitsubishi 3.0 litre engines are non interference, so you can redo them even if it goes. But chains last longer, no way around it.
Plus, the way people drive has a lot to do with timing belt stresses.