You may have heard one of the employees at Soobie Surgeons tell you about getting your 105,000 mile service done, or read about it on our website. During that service, one of the key components we service is the timing belt, and the pulleys that go along with it. But what does that mean? What is a timing belt? Isn’t there something called a timing chain too? Why do I need to change it? Here we’ll tell you what the difference is, and why the maintenance is needed.

Timing Belts
A timing belt is a toothed belt that allows the valves inside the engine to open and close at the proper times by running off the crankshaft. When the valves open and close, they allow for air to come in and exhaust to go out of your engine. Timing belts are lightweight, relatively inexpensive and operate quietly. On most cars, including your Subaru, the timing belt has to be replaced after a certain number of miles because they eventually start cracking. On a Subaru, if the timing belt breaks it can damage your engine and require you to get your entire engine rebuilt or replaced. We encourage you to get your timing belt serviced promptly when it reaches the 105,000 mark because not doing so can cause catastrophic damage to your engine.

Timing Chains
Timing chains look a lot like bicycle chains. They have a number of key differences from timing belts. Timing chains have to be bathed in oil while they operate, are usually noisier than timing belts, and they’re also much heavier than a timing belt. Timing chains require less maintenance, so on a Subaru we don’t usually have to service timing chain cars until well over the 100,000 mile mark. When we replace timing chains, we end up replacing most of the gears that turn them as well, so although they last quite a bit longer they can be more expensive when it comes time to service them. On the plus side, timing chains are often stronger than belts, and we don’t often see them breaking and resulting in engine damage.

The verdict?
Many mechanics, car designers, journalists and hobbyists have made a decision on what they prefer in the timing belt vs. chain debate, but there is no right answer! We tend to prefer timing chains on a Subaru. Even though they are noisier and more expensive to service, we think they ultimately result in a longer lasting, more reliable vehicle. No matter what your Subaru has though, the most important way to keep your soobie’s timing system happy is through appropriately timed servicing – no pun intended!