Does the engine belt need replacing? When do you need to replace

The engine belt is generally divided into the engine timing belt and the crankshaft belt. The timing belt is the belt connecting the crankshaft to the camshaft. The crankshaft drives the camshaft to rotate through the belt. Now the engine rarely uses the timing belt. There are many chains. The timing belt also needs to be replaced regularly, usually every 80,000 to 100,000 kilometers, because the timing belt is very important and cannot be broken, so it is necessary to regularly check and replace the timing belt and components. Not to mention the engine timing belt here. Instead, let’s talk about the crankshaft pulley belt of the engine.

engine timing chain

The role of engine crankshaft pulley

The engine crankshaft pulley mainly drives generators, compressors, water pumps and other components. If it is a timing belt, it is usually the timing belt that drives the water pump. There are also some engines that use the timing chain to drive the water pump.

engine crankshaft belt

Some engines use two belts to drive the compressor and generator respectively, and some engines only use one belt to wind them together. Different belts and different engines have different belt lifespans.

Although the life of the belt is not the same. But we can go and check if the belt needs to be replaced. As shown in the picture below, it looks like the belt is aging and cracked. The car has run 200,000 kilometers.

Cracked engine belt

Check whether the belt is aging and cracking. Because the rubber parts of the belt are removed, aging and cracking will occur with the increase of kilometers and years. The older the tortoise, the bigger the crack, and when the crack gets bigger and bigger, the belt may break. As a result, the generator and compressor cannot work properly.

There is also a way to see if the belt is worn abnormally. For example, the belt is worn too deeply, the belt groove is severely fluffed, and the belt groove is cracked. When abnormal wear is found, it needs to be replaced, and check whether there is any problem with the pulley. There are two engine belts in the picture below, one drives the compressor and the other drives the generator. This engine belt basically starts to age in 3 years.

Generator belt and compressor belt

Most belts can be used for more than 100,000 kilometers. I have seen belts that can be used for more than 200,000 kilometers. I have also seen belts that can be used for 3 years or 60,000 kilometers. Some belts begin to age and crack after 3 years, and some use a 6 It is not a big problem if it is more than one year old, so whether the belt needs to be replaced depends on the inspection results.