While many people think of car maintenance as changing oil, fluids and filters, keeping gas in the tank, or maintaining tires, there are some other things that fall under the category of car maintenance that can be equally important. These include the timing belt, a critical component that keeps your engine running correctly and safely by harmonizing the rotation of the crankshaft and camshaft.

Timing belts for engines with larger bores and strokes are essential parts of the combustion process in gasoline engines. They synchronize the rotation of the crankshaft and camshaft, which in turn allows the valves to open and close at the right time during the intake and exhaust pump cycles, allowing air and fuel mixtures to ignite in the combustion chamber.

The belt also functions to keep the pistons from hitting the valves. This ensures that all the cylinders fire at the proper times, which saves you money on fuel and prevents you from experiencing costly repair bills.

Your belt may appear glazed or glossy on the underside and will need replacing. This can happen due to material loss, a problem commonly experienced by heavy haulers pulling trailers or in wet conditions, or because of pulley misalignment.

Cracks along the pulley's edges are another sign that your belt is failing and should be replaced immediately. This is especially true if your vehicle has neoprene timing belts, which can be very vulnerable to cracking.

If you fail to replace your timing belt at the recommended time, it can result in engine failure, broken or bent valves, cylinder head or camshaft damage, and a cracked or damaged cylinder wall. Whether your vehicle is older or newer, changing the belt at the recommended time can help prevent thousands of dollars in engine repairs and replacements.