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I do & did check the oil between services, as I checked all the other fluid levels. What galls me is that the mighty Vectra owners handbook recommends oil changes at particular intervals, but apparently (and according to others I have spoken to) you should drop the oil every 6 months.
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That's right. Vauxhall timing belts often don't last the life laid down in original service schedules. Now chain tensioners on Vauxhall chain cam engines are proving that 20k mile oil change intervals can be also be inadequate.
HJ
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I need to thank the experts on this site for saving me a huge bill! Last week I had the belt, pulleys and tensioner changed on my '99 Astra 1.6 16v Ecotec at 41000 miles, fully serviced, carefully driven. My friendly independant mechanic told me I'd just had it done in time and showed me the plastic pulley with signs of wear and "flattening out" - well worn!
So thanks for the advice. Without this forum I'd very likely be a grand down before too long.
I thought GM had switched to chain to improve reliability. Is this chain failure specific to the new petrol 2.2 or does it affect the DI and DTi motors as well?
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I have a 10% off voucher for a Vauxhall cam belt fitted as a Mastercare Depot valid until Jan 23rd. If anyone wants it I'll e mail me and I'll stick it in the post.....
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Bazza,
I really have no idea whether the cam chain is specific to the 2.2 (the SRi being mine) but I would seriously consider getting the car regularly checked and, as I have recently found out....drop the oil every 6 months.
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HJ,
So what IS the advantage of a chain cam engine over a belt cam, if chain cams are letting fly at around 20k?
VD5D.
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Azrael, I can't see anything in your postings saying that it is definitely the chain that has broken. Although the 'Subject' is "... Cam chain" you started off by saying that it was a cam problem. Do you know for sure that it's the chain that's broken or could it be the camshaft or something else?
VD5D, Camshaft drive chains are *almost* indestructible, though of course if they are incorrectly specified for the load to be carried they may break. Likewise the tensioners.
If the design and build is correct, there should be no early failures. Take the Perkins Prima diesel for example -- the injection pump on this engine puts an extremely high shock loading on the drive belt but it was very thoroughly tested before the engine was released and I have heard no reports of failures. I personally would not buy a car with belt drive though because I don't want the bother of periodic belt renewal.
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Dizzy, The Perkins Prima is in my wife's car and what a great engine it is.
Interesting to read your comments> The service interval for belt change is 72000 miles.
On inspection at 39000 it had a couple of splits running along the centre and had it replaced.
At 70000 miles now the new one shows no sign of wear. As you know Perkins state this is an extra wide belt for long life.
Any thoughts on the early deterioration of the first belt.
I personally thought it was perhaps an old new one when fitted or simply a manufacturing failure. The tension was correct.
alvin
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Alvin, Sorry but I have no useful suggestion as to why the first belt split. I'm pleased that the replacement looks OK.
I didn't know that the marketing people say that the extra wide belt is for long life. True, because a standard width belt would have lasted about one engine revolution! The extra wide belt was essential because of the shock loads from the injection pump. Every time the pump builds up pressure for an injection event (i.e. twice per revolution) there is a sudden and extremely high resistance to turning.
This sort of belt width had never been made before but we worked on it hand-in-hand with the belt makers. A long while ago now and memories fade, but isn't it something like 3" (76 mm) wide?
We also had to make the bracket that supports the injection pump very strong indeed. Looking at it, it seems way over the top but it was essential to make it that strong, again because of shock loadings.
We also designed a marine version of the Prima engine and I don't think I'm giving away any secrets in saying that this is still marketed under the Volvo Penta name. The car engine is no longer made because the engine compartment of the Montego's replacement didn't have the space for it. I think this was the Rover 200 which was basically a Honda.
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There just seems to be a specific problem with the oil feed to the tensioner of the chain on the GM 2.2 16v petrol engine which probably gets blocked with contaminants suspended in the oil because the oil hasn't been changed often enough.
HJ
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