Q: I want to find out how I can identify if a car’s engine is interference or noninterference from a layman’s point of view; that is, some signs or writings on the vehicle.

– Eric Knox

A: This is an important topic because many engines can incur significant internal damage should a timing belt break. Automotive and light truck engines use either a chain, belt or, in rare cases, gears to synchronize the camshaft(s) and crankshaft. A camshaft operates an engine’s valves, and the crankshaft transfers the up and down motion of the pistons and rods to the transmission and ultimately to the wheels. Belt-drive systems have been popular on overhead-cam engines because they’re inexpensive, quiet and lightweight. Chain-drive systems are making a comeback on many newer engines because they’re sturdier and last longer than timing belts.

Many engines are designed so the valves can collide with the top of the piston should the belt or chain fail and the cam(s) and crankshaft lose synchronization. This is known as an interference engine, and it is a compromise of performance vs. belt failure likelihood and consequences. Engine performance is all about breathing and a high compression ratio. Superior breathing requires large and/or multiple valves that open deep into the combustion chamber, and high compression means a smaller-than-typical combustion chamber. This means the valves need to extend into the area swept by the piston, and that’s where interference may occur.

Timing belts are highly durable, and failures are rare. Most automakers recommend belt renewal somewhere between 60,000 and 120,000 miles to play it safe. Belt replacement is not cheap, ranging from $500 to $1,000, as the water pump, belt tensioner and other nearby parts are often replaced at the same time. This is prudent, as anything that’s driven by or contributes to belt tension could cause a failure that could break or derail the belt. Timing-belt replacement should be a consideration when purchasing a used car. If no documentation exists that the belt has been replaced on schedule, it’s best to assume it hasn’t been and to plan accordingly.

In the case of a noninterference or “free-wheeling” engine, the worst thing that should happen, if the belt fails, is that the engine will simply stop running. This certainly has other consequences, from a safety and convenience standpoint.

Unfortunately, there is no way I’m aware of to determine if an engine is an interference or noninterference type via information attached to the vehicle. The majority of modern engines are interference type. Here’s a link to the somewhat dated Gates Rubber Co. timing belt application chart, which also indicates if an engine is of interference (star symbol) or free-wheeling design (no symbol): http://cdn603.ilcdn.net/files/20110223193902/gatesdocs/TimingBeltReplacementGuide.pdf

If a vehicle/engine is not listed in the chart, it likely has a chain-drive system.