Timing belt / chain

A 98 SL2 doesn't have a timing belt. It has a timing chain.

Keep up with the oil and filter changes every 3,000 miles or 3 months, and keep the oil level up (the 1.9 liter Saturn engines tend to burn oil) and you should be fine.

Leave it alone unless it starts acting up(rattling)......

Saturns do not have timing belts. A timing chain does not typically have a recommended replacement interval, they're generally only replaced when a problem is suspected (such as wear causing the chain to have a lot of play in it).

Coolage, thanks to all :-)

Saturn Services (now 6th Planet after Saturn threatened them), a well-regarded independent Saturn shop in Florida, suggests changing the chain at 70K miles for preventive maintenance:

"saturn timing chains are failing at an alarming rate, i'm recommending to my customers to replace them at 75k as preventive maintenance. were now selling apx 4 engines every week now and most are due to t-chain failures. the twin cams are failing more than the single cams f.y.i."

A lot of people have been misled on this issue, a timing chain, even though it is steel, does NOT last the life of the car. As Tom and Ray state:

"Timing chains do last longer, but not necessarily the life of the car. And when they do break, it's a big job and a lot of money to replace them." See

So it's up to you. You can probably go another 30K km before you need to change it, as long as it's not making any noise. Just ask your mechanic if he/she thinks the chain is okay for now. If they are Saturn experts they'll know what a deteriorating chain sounds like.

In 96, when we bought our 97 SL1 4-cyl, I was told by the salesman that it is a non-interference engine. Are you saying it's an interference engine?

Saturn engines are interference engines.

Sometimes it's nice to have someone run interference for you. ;+)))))

Ken

Yeah........I guess the word interference has its ups and downs....... :)

Its definitly a down though when pistons hit valves..........

Jamie

No, the piston is up when it hits the valves. At this point the valves are permanently down.

Seriously, is the SL1 an interference engine? It's so low performance.

True.......but the valves are down :)

But permanently - they're not as far down since they're bent over :)

As far as I know, all Saturn engines are interference.

Yes, it's an interference engine.

When you asked if it was an interference or a non-interference engine did the salesman ask: "which do you want it to be?"

I'm thinking of buying a 2000 SL2 tomorrow. How hard is it for an amateur mechanic to change the chain? Any estimates on time?

Thanks,

WEs