# Zero Clearance engine

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/zero-clearance-engine/21014>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** belts, timing-belts\
**Created:** [October 21, 2008, 4:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/zero-clearance-engine/21014 "2008-10-21T16:40:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![GRoy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/groy/32/5436_2.png) [@GRoy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GRoy)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 4:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/zero-clearance-engine/21014/1 "2008-10-21T16:40:53Z")

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I have a 2007 Hyundai Sonata with a 2.4l 4 cyl. engine. I know that the timing belt is not a chain. What I don’t know is if the engine is a zero clearance engine or when the timing should be changed. I have looked in the service manual and I cannot find anything that indicates when (or if) the belt should be changed. Does anyone have any ideas?

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 4:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/zero-clearance-engine/21014/2 "2008-10-21T16:45:54Z")

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By zero clearance I assume you mean interference.

If you have nothing in the owner’s manual scheduled maintainance pertaining to scheduled changing of the timing belt, you can safely assume that you have a chain. I’ve noticed that manufacturers seem to be going back to chains. I was pleasantly surprised when I bought my Scion tC, a Camry engine, that Toyota had gone back to chains.

If you’d like to feel more comfortable, call the Hyndae service department and ask them.

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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:** [October 21, 2008, 4:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/zero-clearance-engine/21014/3 "2008-10-21T16:47:11Z")

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If it’s a belt it WILL need to be changed. Most cars these days recommend a timing belt change every 100k miles. If it is a belt there should be a entry in the maintenance schedule of the owners manual. If it’s NOT there then call the dealer.

[www.gates.com](http://www.gates.com) might give you some information also.

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**Author:** ![87\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/f14d63/32.png) [@87\_Ranger](https://community.cartalk.com/u/87_Ranger)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 5:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/zero-clearance-engine/21014/4 "2008-10-21T17:09:52Z")

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Yep, as of 2006 Hyundai joined the crowd & went back to using a timing chain. Thank goodness.

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 5:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/zero-clearance-engine/21014/5 "2008-10-21T17:13:03Z")

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Amen.

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**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 5:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/zero-clearance-engine/21014/6 "2008-10-21T17:24:26Z")

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Congratulations! Your engine has a timing chain, and you have one less thing to worry about.