Cambelt change interval

[benough]

Hi there.

I read in my manual that I need to change the cambelt at 120,000kms. Pretty standard I thought.

I looked up the service manual I bought from ErWin and it says cars 2007 an newer don't need to change it until 150,000km.

LINK Goto to page 13, my engine code is BMN.

I rang VW dealership, DENLO and Barloworld and they are saying 105,000kms.

I want to lean towards the ErWin manual b/c I can't afford it at Christmas

Anyone care to chime in?

[gldgti]

150,000

The dealers dont know anything. ***edit - they do know things, but the person you talk to probably doesnt and also is trying to get work***

[Buller_Scott]

would that theorhectically apply to the pd 1.9tdi's as well? or does 8v / single cam change things?

[gldgti]

150,000 for the 1.9 too.

Honestly though, these days with belts as they are, unless there's a problem they will go for a loooooong time. I will change at 150k because thats the interval it says in the service manual and I'm confident the belt would go to 500k if I didnt bother changing it at all.

[Buller_Scott]

ah cool, gld....

yeah, my old man laughed hard when he heard me saying "i will have to go in for a 90,000km timing belt change".

"what?!?!?! no... look at the thing - that will be good for at least a few hundred thousand... timing belt at 90k? piss off"

[benough]

Thanks for the replies guys.

My Dad said the same thing. I'll just have to remember to put money aside for this time next year

[Idle]

According to VW (and the belt makers, whose name I forget,) they have been using a super-flexible "lifetime" cam belt that's supposed to outlast the motor since 2007.

If that's true, and I've no reason to suppose it's not, then the only reason to replace it would be income for the workshop and parts department.

That doesn't necessarily apply to tensioners and the waterpump, tho'.

I recall having a tensioner bearing lock up on the old Cressida at around 90,000. Luckily it was a split pulley with a separate bearing for each half (a feature all engine builders should adopt), so neatly removed the teeth from only one side of the belt.

Apart from the lack of half of each tooth, the belt still looked like new and the timing remained spot on.

Incidentally, I found used timing belts to be excellent for hoisting engines etc. — they'll lift a lot more than you'd think.

[Transporter]

Yes, it somehow unclear when to change the t.belt, I wouldn't do it on our Golf before 150,000km if the water pump lasts or 8-9 years whichever comes first. Remember it is a rubber/fiberglass or high temp. Neoprene/fiberglass belt and it will perish, so the time needs to be taken onto the consideration as well. How tight are the bends and the size of the pulleys are important factors too. The grease in the pulley/tensioner bearings can also fail, so going more than 200,000km is asking for the trouble.

Here is the link to T.belt manufacturer for VW and other carmakers. For those who missed it in MK6 section, where is another thread with similar discussion going.


ContiTech develops belts for lifetime use in common rail engines

[thealienfromuranus]

Cambelt change was originally 130km or every 6 years but got lowered to an inspection at 100km or every 5 years (in the uk anyways) after VW saw an increase in snapped belts before the service interval

They can last much longer but TBH i would rather change it sooner than later as a snapped belt could cost you a new engine

[gldgti]

Cambelt change was originally 130km or every 6 years but got lowered to an inspection at 100km or every 5 years (in the uk anyways) after VW saw an increase in snapped belts before the service interval

They can last much longer but TBH i would rather change it sooner than later as a snapped belt could cost you a new engine

Yeah, but over here some owners are being told to have it changed at 60,000.... thats simply robbery.

[buzuki]

at the previous dealership i worked at, they were getting done at 60k.

Currently the service sheet says 7years or 105k. And thats when we do them now. Regardless of material used or how long you think it will last, I would much prefer to get it changed when VGA suggests.

Same as we dont adopt extended service intervals.

But its your gamble if you choose not to do it.

[Buller_Scott]

But its your gamble if you choose not to do it.

what gamble? i've gone 40,000km's without paying a dealership to check my tyre pressures, light bulbs, hand brake, brake pad thickness, coolant levels, brake fluid levels, and windscreen wipers....

am i taking a gamble by not paying a dealership ~$1000 over 40,000km's to do visual inspections of my headlights and windscreen washer tank levels, despite VGA saying that i should?

[stickshift3000]

am i taking a gamble by not paying a dealership ~$1000 over 40,000km's to do visual inspections of my headlights and windscreen washer tank levels, despite VGA saying that i should?

lol totally irrelevant, not quite the same consequences as a cambelt letting go....

[Buller_Scott]

lol totally irrelevant, not quite the same consequences as a cambelt letting go....

ah, just as well that we've established that 60,000km belt changes are a fcking joke/ naked profiteering, and that these things would easily go PAST the 150,000km's as alluded to by the gurus' posts above.

[Transporter]

ah, just as well that we've established that 60,000km belt changes are a fcking joke/ naked profiteering, and that these things would easily go PAST the 150,000km's as alluded to by the gurus' posts above.

yes, as long as we all talk about the unmodified engine.