Problems With Wet Belts
The blog this week is about the issues drivers are facing with vehicles that have a wet 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:
Wet belts were touted as the new best thing, however many drivers of cars fitted with a wet belt system have been encountering rather costly issues. Over time, it has become increasingly clear that wet timing belts aren’t without their flaws. One major issue is that the belts can degrade faster than expected when exposed to high engine temperatures and contaminants in the oil. As the belt material wears down, it can shed particles into the oil, leading to sludge build-up and clogged oil passages, which in turn can damage other engine components.
The quality of the oil that you use in your vehicle plays a significant role in the lifespan of a wet timing belt. Using the wrong type of oil or failing to change it regularly has been shown to accelerate wear on the belt. Additionally, seals around the timing belt housing can fail, causing oil leaks that reduce lubrication and increase the risk of engine damage. These issues often lead to costly repairs or even complete engine failure if the belt fails unexpectedly.
Therefore, the manufacturers of vehicles fitted with wet belt systems have now started to revise their replacement guidelines. Ford, for example, initially advised replacing the EcoBoost wet timing belts at 150,000 miles, but they now recommend doing so as early as 60,000 to 90,000 miles, depending on the vehicle and driving conditions. Volkswagen has similarly shortened replacement intervals for some of its TDI models, with new guidance suggesting belt replacement at around 75,000 miles. Peugeot and Citroën have also updated their recommendations, advising drivers to replace wet timing belts between 60,000 and 80,000 miles to prevent unexpected failures. We cannot stress the importance enough of educating yourself with this information. You must adhere to the manufacturers service schedule in order to keep your vehicle warranties intact. Check to see what revisions have been made for your vehicle and please adhere to them. Take your car to a garage that has the correct tools and experience to carry out this type of work such as us here at ACC UK Ltd. Proactive maintenance is always going to be cheaper than a reactive repair. Next week our blog will cover best practice and maintenance when it comes to owning a car with a wet belt. 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
