Old Age

[sad old git]

Hi.I recently posted a question on here about the age and deterioration of tyres and was given some very helpfull and informative information about that. However that brings me to the question of what other bits of the modern engine are prone to fail because of age and not of use? My car is coming up to ten years old but has only done 26000miles and doesn't do much motorway driving.I hear of cam/timebelts snapping. I reguarly check the belts I can see and all visible hoses etc but that's as far as I can go so can anyone elaborate on this subject and what mileages are we talking about? Thank you All.

[Hopkirk]

The cam belt needs to be changed at a specific mileage or age.

At ten years yours will certainly need changing, if it hasn't already. There is a very real danger of it perishing and snapping.

That is, of course, assuming it has a cambelt. It might have a chain, or if the engine is an old design, it might use pushrods instead.

[jake-the-peg]

As I recall you have a proton Satria like this

http://carleasingmadesimple.com/business-car-leasing/proton/satria-neo-hatchback-special-editions/42867/technical-data/

Looks like the recommended timing belt interval is 60,000 miles *or 84 months* which means if yours hasn't been done you're 3 years overdue

The timing belt ensures that the valves open and close at the right time compared to the piston travel. If it breaks then in most cars (of the last 20 years) the pistons will hit the valves and the damage will be extensive and in te case of a cheap car probably more than it's value.

Belts and rubber components will age and temperature variations, exposure to oil and other engine bay contaminants will accelerate that.

I would look into having your timing belt changed if I were you, whilst it's probably going to be a few hundred quid if it breaks you'll be buying a new car

[TWR]

As said, Cam Belt, with the stop / start of the engine over thousands of times the belt becomes worn, also the Fan Belt, Engine + Gearbox Oil / Brake Fluid / there are many other items, all filter to change at regular services. 26000, I would drop flush out the Rad, then refill.