# Timing Chains

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-chains/60574>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** intrepid, dodge, timing-belts\
**Created:** [January 28, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-chains/60574 "2011-01-28T20:34:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2011, 1:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-chains/60574/21 "2011-01-29T13:02:11Z")

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“With dual overhead cams, you would need five pounds of chain and the guides to go with them.” Close, But Not Entirely Accurate. See Above Comments.

CSA

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**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-chains/60574/22 "2011-01-29T15:39:26Z")

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And I also change my oil at 5k miles…Now if I didn’t have an interference engine then I’d probably NOT worry about it. But when a chain starts to make a little noise…it’s then you better get it changed. Could it last another 50k miles or so…MAYBE. Chains don’t have to BREAK to cause a problem. A chain that slips on an interference engine will do just as much damage as a timing belt does when it breaks.

I’ve said this MANY times before…but for some reason CCA you ALWAYS misinterpret it.

A TIMING CHAIN is ALWAYS BETTER - ON A NON-INTERFERENCE ENGINE. If however it’s an interference engine then a BELT is better. It’s a maintenance item that’s far far cheaper to replace then a timing chain. Since MOST people don’t keep their vehicles past 150k miles then a CHAIN is better. And that’s why manufacturers are going back to chains. It’s cheaper for the owner. But I’m in that 5% minority who keep their vehicles past the 250k mile mark. I’d prefer to have a vehicle that’s a non-interference engine with a timing chain. But if an engine is an interference engine AND you keep your vehicles past the 250k miles then a timing belt is financially BETTER…FAR BETTER.

I could have bought a Cherokee with the 4.0…But maintenance costs on that vehicle are way way too high…especially when you get past 150k miles.

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**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-chains/60574/23 "2011-01-29T17:33:14Z")

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> It’s recommended that cycle chains be removed, cleaned in kerosene, and soaked in oil every 1000k miles.

I’ve never seen a motorcycle drive chain last 1,000,000 miles, let alone have that long of a service interval.😉

Having a motorcycle with an O-ring sealed chain, I don’t remove and bathe the chain at all. I simply lubricate it and wipe the excess chain oil with a clean rag until the chain is clean. However, I have read about removing and bathing a chain at least once a year. The OEM Honda chain on my Nighthawk 750 barely requires any adjusting, which is supposed to be done every 500 miles. Maybe it would stretch more if I rode it more like a madman. I don’t know.

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