What does interference engine mean?

Answer 1

An interference engine is a type of internal combustion engine where the pistons and valves occupy the same space within the cylinders at certain points in their cycles. If the timing belt or chain fails, the pistons can collide with the open valves, leading to significant engine damage. This contrasts with non-interference engines, where such collisions are physically impossible. Therefore, regular maintenance of timing components is crucial for interference engines to prevent catastrophic failures.