Shopping for a 3.5RL right now - I heard they changed from using timning belts to timing chains but I cant find out which model year the switch happened. Ive also heard some use both.

Can anyone shed any light on the subject?

Also, what is everyones experience who bought an RL over 90,000mls...did it cost you or did it keep on going? Anything to check for mechanical-wise when evaluating a vehicle on the lot?

My last car was a '04 Grand Prix GTP and the engine was still going strong at 150,000 so I feel an Acura should perform even longer if well looked after.

Thanks

 

Sorry to say, but the RL uses a belt. Get it changed at 60,000 miles as Acura advises or you could be facing a blown engine.

 

Rexorg what is your reference for Acura advising timing belt replacement at 60k miles? I have a 2000RL and both the owners manual and factory service manual have it listed as being done during the 105k mile scheduled service.

 

Its 105,000 miles.

And all Honda/Acura six cylinder motors use timing belts.

 

^^^
Bingo!

But I think they say 105K or 7 years.

 

Are you guys normally replacing anything else while getting the timing belt done? Water pump?

My dads 02 RL is closing in at 90k miles so i want to start looking at what is involved.

 

Might as well do the water pump.

 

I agree ^

 

Anything else? Havent done much to the car since new, but i think we already changed the coolant. Thats about it.

 

Transmission fluid and differential fluid.

Thats about it.

 

I have a 1998 RL, and I did my timing belt and water pump at the same time....I had around a 100k on it......costed an arm but well worth it

 

im chainging my timing belt, tensioner belt (?), water pump, and spark plugs on sat.
Quick question, i have horrible gas milage (about 14mpg city/18 hwy). do you think my mpg will go up after the change? i hope so, its costing me $50 to fill up now.

 

I have an 02 RL with 155K miles original owner. The only thing that went on it were the main relay and 90k, power steering pump pully at 12ok and radiator at 130k and SRS switch at 140k. My steering rack is starting to leak but not bad. They are great cars that will hold up.

 

There are also various oil seals you should replace during the timing belt procedure that can only be accessed while the belt is off. Given the next time the belt will come off will be at 210k miles it's probably a wise choice to replace everything that requires the tb to removed, the water pump, etc. The procedure is more or less the same on all honda v6 engines around this time frame, you can check here acura 105k maintenance for more specifics.