A wet timing belt is similar to a traditional timing belt, although in this case it is in the engine and is being carried out in an oil bath. Just like a typical belt, wet timing tires are made of rubber, but reinforced with different fibers and coated in fabric. Although they are designed to be sustainable, problems can still occur, and when they do that, the consequences can be terrible.
One of the most important headache associated with wet belts is, while wearing, can break down fragments of the outer coating, so that the engine oil contains contaminated in which it is. This contamination spreads through the lubrication system and causes further mechanical damage as it goes. In addition, as a belt ages, the outer surface can begin to fray, reducing the width of the belt and his ability to grab the pulleys on which it is. The interior teeth, which are responsible for traction, can also smooth out over time. If traction is lost, pulleys can slip and the timing of the engine will change. This wrong alignment can cause the pistons and valves to collide, resulting in curved valves, damaged pistons or full engine error.
The dependence on correct oil levels also makes wet belts vulnerable. If the engine has little oil or is filled with the incorrect number, wear on the belt can be accelerated, making it soft or crack, which means that your timing belt can click. Eventually, with a rubber belt in an oil bath, and that oil that is then used to spread the internals of the engine, requires problems in the eyes of many, and therefore wet belts have built up a rather terrible reputation.
The costs for maintaining and replacing wet belts further feeds their poor reputation
In addition to the risk of internal damage, wet timing tires have developed a poor reputation because of the costs and complexity of maintaining these. In contrast to dry belts, wet belts are in the oil oil system, making access difficult and replacement labor -intensive. Nobody likes to pay for a distribution strip change at the best times, and adding more hours of work will hardly win the wet belt design in the way of support. It is common for such a job to easily come across four digits thanks to countless parts that need to be replaced, and in some cases several days of work.
Manufacturers also provide inconsistent guidelines for replacement intervals, because it all depends on the exact materials from which the belt is built. Ford originally claimed that his wet belts would last 150,000 miles or ten years, but later advised 100,000 miles. Nevertheless, many owners have reported errors well for these figures, even with full service districts.
Such cases were emphasized in the UK by the BBC show “Watchdog”. The four -year -old focus of a few with 50,000 miles suffered motion error, which led to a bill of £ 3,000, while another owner was confronted for a similar costs after a belt failed at 52,000 miles. In the US, a recall with more than 139,000 Focus and EcoSport models required a redesigned belt massage to reduce the risk that breaking down teeth. Only these few examples perfectly show why many are right to be on their care to pick everything up with a wet timing belt.
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