Motorhome Cambelt Replacement

Hearing that tell-tale screeching howl when you start up your beloved motorhome or as it sits idling? It’s time for a motorhome cambelt change!

Your motorhome cambelt is both hugely important and thankfully serviceable. As your engine turns, your cambelt keeps the two parts of the engine top (valves etc) and bottom halves (pistons etc.) timed and in unison.

The typical cambelt is a rigid rubber strap, laced onto the engine with a very specific pattern and tension. There are chain versions, referred to as timing chains. The cambelt is positioned so it can be accessed by a mechanic as these belts/chains are subject to great stress and need servicing.

There are various problems that can happen with cambelts: stretching, slippage or even snapping. All of them can be avoided by following the manufacturer’s recommended servicing timetable – this is usually defined by the number of miles or amount of time since the last cambelt service. If your cambelt goes, it can cause immense damage to your engine!

Typically, you should have your cambelt serviced every 30,000 to 50,000 miles or 5 years. And if you are buying a vehicle without a service history, you should probably have the cambelt serviced as a precaution.

If you are not aware of the repair history of your vehicle it would be wise to err on the side of caution and replace the timing belt/cambelt at the next service.