What is timing belt purpose in car engine?
Today's manufactured cars are found to use timing belts as an important component as engine parts. The car timing belt is made of high-quality rubber material reinforced with nylon to extend the service life.
The use of timing belts on vehicles requires extra attention and care. Periodically, the car timing belt must always be checked, both physically or mileage that has been passed. Failure in timing belt maintenance can cause a lot of losses, such as engine damage, which can impact expensive repair costs.
So, what is a timing belt purpose on the engine? In this blog post, we will inform you about the timing belt purpose of the engine. Check it out.
1. Synchronizing camshaft and crankshaft rotation
A timing belt's specific purpose is to ensure that the intake and exhaust valves open and close at the right times while the piston moves up and down to create a four-stroke engine working step.
A four-stroke engine can only work correctly if the intake valve opens just as the piston starts to descend. And then, it closes as the piston reaches the bottom of its stroke.
Both valves have to stay closed during the compression and power strokes to ensure the engine gets maximum power results. On the last strokes (exhaust), the exhaust valve has to open as the piston rises again to dispose of unused residual gases.
The camshaft operates both valves (intake and exhaust). If the valves open at the wrong times, the engine will make little or no power, and at worst, the valves will hit the pistons, and the engine will destroy itself. The camshaft itself is driven by the timing belt connected to the crankshaft as the main place where the piston is paired.
The timing belts must drive the camshaft and crankshaft with synchronous rotation. And also, while the crankshaft spins twice, the camshaft only spins once. To ensure this rotation is always synchronized, the timing belts have teeth that engage with notches in each sprocket for the crankshaft and camshaft. Therefore, the timing belt cannot be allowed to slip relative to the pulleys on the crank and the camshaft.
2. Makes the engine sound smoother
Another timing belt purpose for an automobile engine is to create a smoother engine. As we know, in addition to using the timing belt, some car engines use a timing chain or timing gear to create synchronous rotation between the crankshaft and camshaft.
In the past, these systems created engines with noise sounds that were rough and uncomfortable to use. Moreover, those systems need lubrication while operating.
Therefore, a timing belt is created with the advantages of a smoother and more comfortable engine sound. Otherwise, timing belts reduce noise with the clean operation and no need for lubricating.
Read also:3. Creates a more responsive engine
As we know, for an internal combustion engine, the last timing belt purpose is to create a more responsive engine. Made of rubber that has flexibility, the timing belt provides the ability to rotate the engine more responsively and more silently. Moreover, the timing belt is also able to increase the mechanical efficiency of the engine.
Chain or gear drives engine has a lower mechanical efficiency rather than timing belt drives an engine. Thus, timing belts are lighter and run smoother, resulting in better fuel economy and less noise. Also a lot cheaper to make rather than the other engine drives.