What happens if the timing belt goes in a K8?

ElectricEnergy · Post by **ElectricEnergy** » September 23rd, 2006, 3:17 am

Hey guys,

This hasnt happened to me or anything but I'm just wondering. I know some engines have an interfeirence setup, or a non-interfeirence setup, non being that if your timing belt were to break the pistons will not contact the valves. I think I read somewhere on the forums that the i4 is a non-interfeirence engine. Is this the same with the K8?

I'm one of those super paranoid guys who is afraid to drive their car every time they hear a new sound.

MazdaNoob123 · Post by **MazdaNoob123** » September 23rd, 2006, 3:29 am

You know what happens when you blow a motor. Well yea when you have a timing belt go on a k8 you buy a new motor because it eats it self for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and a midnight snack.

illapino · Post by **illapino** » September 23rd, 2006, 3:58 am

how is that so?
when it's been already discussed here that the k8 is a non interference engine ...
have i been fed lies?

MazdaNoob123 · Post by **MazdaNoob123** » September 23rd, 2006, 4:08 am

hmm well when my buddies went, it ate it self up. 24v DOHC dont allow much room for error. You must be thinking of the 4banger, i could be wrong.

Steeb · Post by **Steeb** » September 23rd, 2006, 4:10 am

MazdaNoob123 · Post by **MazdaNoob123** » September 23rd, 2006, 4:20 am

Steeb wrote:yup

to which lol am i wrong? i want to get my facts straight lol and your answer isnt helping me lol.

Tunes67 · Post by **Tunes67** » September 23rd, 2006, 1:54 pm

Does anyone ever use the search function anymore? All K series engines are non interference. All B series engines are non interference. If your timing belt breaks you will NOT harm the engine. You just line up the marks.. put the new belt on and away you go. If your buddy's K8 ate itself up when the timing belt broke.. then it wasnt stock or the belt broke after some other problem occured. Like punching a piston through the block or dropping a valve.

Tunes67

hgallegos915 · Post by **hgallegos915** » September 23rd, 2006, 2:22 pm

sorry tunes but b series do get damaged... we bent the valves on the bp escort gt a year ago, we had to pull the heads and we did confirm it. Timing belt broke and she tried starting it.. We had the head rebuilt for around 300 dllrs. I must say the bottom end was like new. Pretty amazing for a 15 year old car.

Mom made mystake or taking it to the dealership where they oulled the head and charged 300 dllrs just for that! ...

On the other hand.. k series do not get damaged.

XxantwawnxX · Post by **XxantwawnxX** » September 23rd, 2006, 2:23 pm

Yup if the timing belt breaks on a k series motor..the motor will be fine.

ElectricEnergy · Post by **ElectricEnergy** » September 23rd, 2006, 2:27 pm

Thanks Guys!

I tried to search, perhaps I didn't try hard enough. Sorry

The reason I asked is I was tinkering with my car yesterday and I noticed a small rubbing sound coming from the timing belt area. I'm not going to worry about it.

Instead, today I will try and figure out why its leaking oil!

David

hgallegos915 · Post by **hgallegos915** » September 23rd, 2006, 2:30 pm

well.. i suggest changing it.. why risk being stranded?

ElectricEnergy · Post by **ElectricEnergy** » September 23rd, 2006, 2:48 pm

The timing belt was recently changed. The rubbing probably isn't even the belt. My parents kept telling me horror stories about timing belts going in their cars so I thought I should look into it.

illapino · Post by **illapino** » September 23rd, 2006, 6:13 pm

i have a k8 right now
is it okay if i replace the timing belt on it and swap it onto the klze when i get one? all i need to keep in mind is the kilometres the belt's been driven altogether on both motors right?

oh, and still no metal idlers. i can't find them. mazda dealership's are all plastic... where do u get steel

Tunes67 · Post by **Tunes67** » September 23rd, 2006, 9:49 pm

Ok.. I havent actually checked on a BP. So I cant say for 100% certainty that it is non interference. My Bad. I can check on that though to make certain. However.. B6DE, B6ZE, B6T are all Non interference engines for certain. And honestly.. no offense Hector.. but Since a lot of the BPs could come with turbos.. I seriously doubt they are interference engines either. Lower compression pistions for turbos usually (but not always) move the pistons down and help with valve clearance.

One additional note I will make.. Just because a engine is non interferance.. does not always protect it from damage if the timing belt breaks. It may depend on how fast the engine is spinning at the time of breakage. I have seen engines spinning 10k when a belt snaps and no damage (That was non interferance of course) but it also depends on the condition of the engine as well. A old engine thats well worn in may have enough play in the components that when going that many RPMs.. the loss of the belt may just cause it to throw itself apart. Also.. I have seen timing belts wrap around stuff and do all kinds of weird things. Just to wrap things up.. stock MX-3 engines are non interferance

Cheers

Tunes67

bmwm3guy · Post by **bmwm3guy** » September 24th, 2006, 8:55 am

illapino wrote:i have a k8 right now
is it okay if i replace the timing belt on it and swap it onto the klze when i get one? all i need to keep in mind is the kilometres the belt's been driven altogether on both motors right?

oh, and still no metal idlers. i can't find them. mazda dealership's are all plastic... where do u get steel

As far as I know the two motor's use different timing belts. When I swapped to KLZE I purchased a timing belt specifically for a 2.5L. Buy a timing belt for a 2.5L ford probe/mx6/626 and you'll be fine and it'll probably be cheaper.