A timing chain does not break suddenly. It wears first, at the point of contact between the chain pins and the sprocket teeth. (see note 2)
VANATEC™ is a HEPU® technology that hardens the chain pins by vanadium diffusion, exactly where elongation occurs. In a comparative test, the result was close to 50% less elongation of the new timing chain offered by HEPU®.
If these symptoms appear, diagnose the system, including lubrication. Then replace the complete timing kit, not just the chain.
Most often, lubrication. Long oil change intervals, sludged oil passages and pressure drops make the hydraulic tensioner respond with a delay. The chain runs in a pulsating manner, alternately slack and taut, and the jerks hammer the pins. That is why pin hardness and wear resistance matter so much.
In workshops, people say the chain „has stretched“. In reality, the links do not stretch like rubber. The chain elongates because the contact surfaces between the pins and bushings wear. A chain has dozens of these joints. Microscopic wear at each of them adds up along the entire length, and the chain becomes longer.
The following example shows the scale: for a 1,000 mm chain, elongation of 0.269% means an increase in length of approx. 2.7 mm, and elongation of 0.136% means approx. 1.4 mm. The tensioner can compensate for these values, but only up to a point. Every millimetre shifts the relative position of the camshaft and the crankshaft.
VANATEC™ is a technical and quality standard for timing chains, defined by HEPU®. It is based on vanadium diffusion on the chain pins, the component where wear begins.
The treatment method itself is not our invention and is not patented. Our work consisted of cooperation with a specialised production partner. Together we selected and defined the parameters a chain in a HEPU® kit must meet, and we combined them into a single standard under the name VANATEC™.
VANATEC™ is a protected trademark of HEPU®.
We compared four pin surface treatments under identical conditions: 800 hours of continuous operation at 5,500 rpm. Under real-world operating conditions, this corresponds to a vehicle mileage of approx. 150,000 km.
| Pin surface treatment | Chain elongation after 800 h |
|---|---|
| VANATEC™ (vanadium diffusion) | 0.136% |
| Enhanced carbonitriding | 0.181% |
| Diffusion chromizing | 0.198% |
| Standard carbonitriding | 0.269% |
Test result: close to 50% less elongation than with standard carbonitriding, which means approx. 2× higher wear resistance in this test.
Note: The comparative test of pin surface treatments was carried out under identical conditions. The results describe chain wear and elongation, not total service life in a specific vehicle. Service life also depends on lubrication, servicing and operating conditions.
Workshop tip
Every time you replace a timing chain drive, change the oil and filter and check the oil pressure. A hardened pin is no substitute for correct lubrication, and a working hydraulic tensioner needs the right pressure.
The timing drive works as a single unit: the chain, tensioner, guide rails and sprockets operate within tightly defined tolerances. Even the best chain cannot make up for a worn guide rail or a tensioner from a different kit. That is why VANATEC™ reaches the workshop as part of a complete HEPU® timing kit, designed, matched and tested to work together.
One manufacturer = full compatibility = full responsibility.
Premiere of the new standard in the timing chain category at Automechanika Frankfurt
17 references of popular timing chain kits available to trade partners
40 timing chain kit references with VANATEC™ technology planned by the end of 2026
Within 2 years, the current diffusion chromizing technology will be fully replaced by vanadium diffusion
