what is an interference engine and what cars have them?

Answer 1

i own a shop and most foreign cars have an interference engine, what that means is if your timing belt breaks the chances are very high you are going to bend a valve and you can expect the head to be pulled off the car and taken to a machine shop, a non interefence engine is one that is not as likely to cause severe engine damage if the timing belt breaks good luck

Answer 2

An interference engine is usually an engine that has a timing belt configuration. If the belt breaks, it would throw the engine timing off and cause engine damage (interference). Basicly the pistons come in contact with the valves at very high rpm`s and damage the engine. Most of todays engines are interference. It would be difficult to name all of them since you didn`t list the year and make of the car. If the car has a timing chain, then you can bet it is interference.
Hope this helps!

Answer 3

An interference motor means that the valves will hit the top of the piston and bend/break if the timing chain jumps or breaks. Normally the timing chain keeps the valves opening at just the right time so they won't hit the piston. In a non-interference motor the valves will never hit the piston, even if the timing chain breaks. It's hard to say what cars have interference motors, since most cars come with more than one motor option. Generally speaking DOHC motors are more likely to have interference than regular pushrod style motors, although this is not always true.

Answer 4

As others have already posted, an interference engine is one that will bend valves if it goes out of time.As a general rule of thumb, MOST engines that employ timing chain(s) with tensioner(s) are interference engines. And, MOST engines that use timing belts are NON-interference engines. There are exceptions, but it depends on the engine being referred to. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Non interference engine. When the piston is at the top of its travel, there is still room for a value to be open without damage to the valve or the piston. Interference engine, when the piston is on top, the valves MUST be closed since there is no room for them to be open. Most of the newer engines are interference type, which is why they recommend you change the timing belt based on mileage. If it breaks it can lead to a valve being open and severe engine damage.

See http://www.leemyles.com/articles/interference-engines-and-timing-belts.html for more on the subject.

Answer 6

Interference engine information here:
http://www.leemyles.com/articles/interference-engines-and-timing-belts.html

Answer 7

I agree with oklatom and the others. An interference engine will wreck the valves if the timing belt breaks. There will be two things trying to occupy the same space at the same time. Someting will have to give. It will be your wallet, I bet. good luck.

Answer 8

if the timing belt breaks it will damage the valves. A lot of new cars have them.