Looking After Your Wet Timing Belt
The blog this week is about how to look after your wet timing belt system. Do you have a wet belt on your car? If so, you need to be aware and read this. Everyone is trying to save money at the moment, interest rates are rising, fuel bills are rising, food costs are soaring etc so when it comes to owning a car, we need all the help we can get to keep costs down. Read on to find out more:
The new wet belt timing system that has been introduced into several cars by various manufacturers comes with vulnerabilities that have been highlighted and caused the manufacturers to adjust the service schedules quite drastically. You need to be aware of these dependent on your make and model of car. What it has also highlighted is the need for more proactive maintenance in order to avoid very costly wet belt failures. Just like of course the more traditional timing belt failures which are also very costly.
Maintaining a wet timing belt is essential for keeping your engine in good working order. First and foremost, it’s important to make yourself aware of your vehicle manufacturer’s updated maintenance schedule. If your car’s original recommendation was over 100,000 miles, check for any revisions and consider replacing the belt earlier as a precaution. Believe us when we say it – a failure of a wet belt or a traditional timing belt is a VERY costly consequence. Failure to adhere to the manufacturers service schedule will invalidate your warranty.
Please ensure that you have regular oil changes, because the wet belt relies on clean, high-quality oil for lubrication. If you are carrying out an oil change yourself then ensure that you use the grade of oil specified in your car’s manual. Do not use a lower-quality or incorrect oil because this can dramatically shorten the belt’s lifespan. Always dispose of oil in the correct manner – and no this is NOT down the drain at home!
If you notice unusual engine noises, oil leaks, or reduced engine performance then take your car to your local independent garage like ACC UK Ltd in Farnborough. Not all garages have the specialist tools, knowledge and experience to work with wet belts so make sure they have this. Do not ignore any dashboard warning lights or miss any services or oil changes, and if possible, get your wet belt changed BEFORE the manufacturer says to just in case. Especially if you have purchased it second hand and are not fully conversant with the history of the vehicle. Happy Safe Motoring Folks!
Here at ACC UK Ltd, Winners of The Motor Trader Independent Garage of The Year 2015, 2019 & 2020, GRA – Outstanding Automotive Service Excellence 2025, The IGA Big Awards 2022, The Inspire Customer Service Excellence 2016 Award, The Eagle Radio Customer Focus 2017 Business Award, The Workshop Magazine Workshop Manager of the Year 2017 Award, The LiveWire Excellence In Vehicle Servicing 2019 Award and The Aftermarket Excellence Award for Best Website 2019, The Eagle Radio Biz Award – Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 & the SME News Magazine Most Trusted Car Servicing Provider 2020, we pride ourselves on offering an outstanding customer experience for a fraction of the cost of a dealership. Give us a call and let us quote you for your next service or repair on your Volvo or Toyota. We service all areas around Farnborough, Fleet, Aldershot, Farnham, Guildford, Frimley, Camberley, Hook, Sandhurst, Crowthorne, Yateley, Hampshire and Surrey. We offer free collection and drop off services. We also have a fleet of courtesy cars to allow you to get on with your schedule whilst your Volvo or Toyota is with us. Happy Motoring from all at ACC UK Ltd – Independent Volvo & Toyota servicing, repair and MOT specialists based in the heart of Farnborough, Hampshire
