Questions and Answers

Timing Chains Verses Timing Belts Q. I am getting ready to buy a 2000 or newer model used truck and want to look for one that uses a timing chain in the engine instead of a belt. I am from the days when everything used a chain and you never were left stranded by a belt breaking and I like that security. I have looked at the Toyotas, Nissans, and Fords and it looks like that the Japanese inline 4's use chains and the V-6 and V-8s use belts.

With Ford, I can't tell except I know that the inline 4 uses a belt. Can you shed any light or suggest a source of info?

Thanks,
Ron

A. All the Ford V-6 and V-8's do use a timing chain rather than a timing belt. You'd be hard pressed to find a Japanese V-6 or V-8 With a timing chain.

The only Japanese import that has a V-6 with timing chains is Mazda. All three of their V-6 engines use timing chains.