How to Align the Timing of MG6 Engine?
3 Answers
Position the first cylinder piston at the top dead center, aligning the notch on the outer edge of the crankshaft timing pulley with the raised "" mark on the pulley housing. Secure the timing pulley and tighten the nut as much as possible. Assemble the belt idler pulley assembly and tighten the hex flange positioning bolt connecting the belt idler pulley assembly. Position the camshaft timing pulley and the fuel injection pump timing pulley at the corresponding threaded holes on the pulley housing. Replace and assemble the assembly line according to the markings. Fit the timing belt onto each transmission pulley. Align the markings on the belt with those on each pulley. The timing arrow on the belt should match the engine's running direction. Assemble the tensioner pulley assembly onto the pulley housing and secure the tensioner pulley assembly with a hex flange positioning bolt.
When I previously disassembled the timing system of the MG6, I found it required several steps. First, the crankshaft needs to be rotated into position, locating the marking point on the pulley and aligning it with the small arrow on the engine block—this marks the top dead center position of cylinder 1. Then, the camshafts are addressed; the gears on both sides have marking lines, and they must be secured with a special fixture to align the markings with the notches on the cylinder head. Next, the timing belt is installed, fitting it into each gear groove in a clockwise direction without any skew. Adjusting the tensioner pulley is critical—use a torque wrench to set it to the manufacturer's specified tension. Too loose, and the belt may slip; too tight, and it will wear prematurely. Finally, manually rotate the crankshaft two or three times to reconfirm that all marking points have realigned. The entire job takes about two hours, and without experience, it's easy to make mistakes, so it's advisable to have a helper assist.
In our repair shop, the timing alignment procedure for the MG6 is generally as follows. After removing the timing cover, use a 24mm socket to rotate the crankshaft and observe the alignment of the pulley notch with the engine timing pointer. For the camshafts, there are dot marks on the left and right gears, which need to be aligned with the grooves on the cylinder head, while securing them with the factory timing tool. When replacing the belt, ensure the teeth fully engage with the grooves, and do not rotate the crankshaft during the process. The tensioner bolt should be torqued to approximately 28 Nm using a torque wrench, as specified in the vehicle manual. After installation, manually rotate the crankshaft two full turns to recheck the marks—if any deviation is found, readjust immediately. This job requires a ratchet wrench and work light, and protective gloves should be worn throughout the process.
