Driving your car every day requires you to know a couple of things, such as when to change timing chain. It is a complicated operation, which can only be performed by a professional or by someone that has vast motoring experience. It is critical to know when to change timing chain, and how, or else you could destroy your engine.

The timing chain provides with a perfect functioning of the engine when it is installed correctly and is in good condition. It can also completely destroy it if the chain is not the correct one, it is in poor condition or it was not installed properly.

You will know when to change timing chain from the fact that it either becomes loose or you can clearly see that your engine misses a stroke or misfires often. Usually, the timing chain is pretty sturdy, lasting for up to 50000 miles or more. You might not have to change it at all for some engines.

So, we learned when to change timing chain, we have to know how it should be done. Taking the old one off is quite easy (as are all things when you take them apart). Don't hurry this. First, before taking the chain off, you have to make some marks on the pulleys and crankshaft. Take a permanent marker and draw a line on the cam shaft pulley and anther one on the engine block so that these lines make up one continuous line. Do the same with the crankshaft as well. Now you can take the timing chain off. Install the new one so that the lines you drew earlier overlap in the same way they did before you took the old chain off. This technique ensures most of the time, a perfect working engine. Keep in mind the fact that you are not a professional mechanic and that we still recommend going to one for this operation. We are not liable for any damage your engine sustains after using this technique in a wrong way.

Now you know how and when to change timing chain. Your car needs this, especially if it is an old one, so if you bought it second hand it would be wise to do this, just as a back-up. Your engine will work as it should and all other parts of it are protected against unnecessary wear that a loose timing chain causes.