You Can Trust Us With Your Wet Belt Service

Did you know that cars fitted with a wet belt need specialist tools to replace them?

Here at ACC UK Ltd we have the skills, expertise and specialist tools to carry out this service on your EcoBoost engine If you have purchased a vehicle with a wet belt you need to be aware of when to replace this. Manufacturers have vastly revised when this service needs to be done. So be mindful of this, because if a wet belt fails you will be looking at a very hefty repair bill. Please only take your vehicle to a reputable garage that has the experience and tools to carry out the service.

Every engine has either a timing belt or a timing chain to maintain operational synchronisation between the crankshaft and the camshafts. Traditionally, the standard timing belt runs outside of the engine, while timing chains operate internally, bathed in oil. However, the timing belt is being placed inside the engine, where it is immersed in oil – introducing the “wet belt engine.” This was being hailed as revolutionary and people were being told that it would not have to be changed as often as a traditional timing belt. Therefore, it would save money because this is an expensive part of car maintenance. The belt is rubber so over time it degrades and needs replacing. This new design where it is submerged in oil was supposed to increase the longevity of the belt (100,000 miles) thus reducing belt changes…however this has turned out not to be the case. There have been lots of reports where the belts are failing in as little as 30,000-40,000 miles. It is imperative that you check your servicing schedules (many manufacturers have revised them – some cutting the original timeline in half) however, experts advise you get them replaced even earlier than the manufacturers recommendations.

So, what are the signs that your wet belt needs replacing?

• Noises: Listen out for new noises coming from your engine that were not there previously. The type of noises we are talking about are squealing, grinding, ticking or rattling noises. You will typically hear these noises when first starting your vehicle or during acceleration.
• Check Engine Light: don’t ignore your dashboard warning lights – they are there to alert you to an issue. So, if yours comes on, take your car to your local independent garage for investigation.
• Low Oil Pressure: the oil ways may become blocked by debris from the wet belt as it starts to degrade. This will then cause the oil pressure to drop.
• Oil Leaks: have you noticed oil leaks around the wet belt? This can be an indication that the wet belt has failed.
• Engine Performance: has your engine performance changed? Does your vehicle sound like it is struggling when you are idling?

If you have a vehicle with a wet belt, we advise that you make sure that you get your engine oil changed every year or 10,000 miles, whichever comes first. This is because fibres from the belt will be shed into the oil which in turn will clog up the pump strainer which in turn reduces oil flow and pressure. If you are carrying out oil changes yourself, please make sure that you are using the correct grade of oil for your vehicle. Poor grade or quality oil may result in the wet belt not being lubricated correctly. If the “teeth” from the belt shear away and clog the engine oil ways, then the result will be engine failure!

We cannot stress enough that preventative maintenance is always going to be way more cost effective that reactive repairs.

Call us today on 01252 370701 for a competitive quote on your wet belt change!