Premature Cam Belt Failure

[engine killer 6]

Hi there,

 

I have killed my engine again. The cambelt snapped when it was in a traffic jam. It has done only about 45,000km which is about 30,000miles.

 

It seems like a premature failure because my last cambelt last for over 75,000 which was about 50,000miles. But this cambelt has gone through trackday section before, unlimited session in 2 days and I revved it well over 7,000rpm all the time.

 

How often do you change the cambelt if you trackday your Mi?

 

Regards

[welshpug 1,668]

how many years?

[engine killer 6]

how many years?

 

5 or 6 years.

[welshpug 1,668]

that be the problem!

[ORB 227 1 Cars]

You suit your name then!

[engine killer 6]

that be the problem!

 

so, shall i say either 40k-50k miles or 5 years go for a cambelt change?

 

You suit your name then!

 

i am a sarcastic humble idiot

 

it's my 4th time.

[richsmells 2]

Considering the damage it can cause, i'd err on the side of caution and go with 40k/3 yrs max.

Edited April 21, 2010 by richsmells

[DamirGTI 344]

Really don't understand .. why risking complete engine f*** up for a price of an cambelt set which is really inexpensive engine part and not as hard to replace either by yourself ..

Maintenance wise , it's really silly pushing it till the limit of replacement being years or miles/km's .. i'm used to replace it s*it loads earlier than specified as well as when ever it's removed from the engine such as in the case of the cylinder head dismantling , oil/coolant contamination , funny/suspicious appearance or similar no matter how much it's done 100 or 50.000 miles - i simply do not fancy gambling for a few quids worth piece of rubber/fiber material and some spare time with wrench job ..

 

Damir

[hothatch 2]

Really don't understand .. why risking complete engine f*** up for a price of an cambelt set which is really inexpensive engine part and not as hard to replace either by yourself ..

Maintenance wise , it's really silly pushing it till the limit of replacement being years or miles/km's .. i'm used to replace it s*it loads earlier than specified as well as when ever it's removed from the engine such as in the case of the cylinder head dismantling , oil/coolant contamination , funny/suspicious appearance or similar no matter how much it's done 100 or 50.000 miles - i simply do not fancy gambling for a few quids worth piece of rubber/fiber material and some spare time with wrench job ..

 

Damir

 

I couldn't agree any more ! Every 40k or 3years, or if in doubt, change it. Simples!

 

I don't like the thought of

 

16 new valves, all shimmed up

Head set

Pressure test

Straight check

New timing belt kit ANYWAY !

 

And a guts load of work an sometime off the road ! The thought of it

 

Oh yeah and a waterpump ! Coolant ! F**k me its a dear mistake.

[ORB 227 1 Cars]

I am obsessive about it too. I swap them sometimes without reason, even on the Audi V6, it's too much of a risk! Infact, the GTi will be getting a belt, pump and tensioner on Sunday night. It only takes an hour or so and is as easy as pie!

[hothatch 2]

I am obsessive about it too. I swap them sometimes without reason, even on the Audi V6, it's too much of a risk! Infact, the GTi will be getting a belt, pump and tensioner on Sunday night. It only takes an hour or so and is as easy as pie!

 

Without reason ! Bit extreme !

 

Yet can't fault it.

 

Peace of mind is good.

[Jrod 7]

And a guts load of work an sometime off the road ! The thought of it

 

2 Weeks after I bought my 205 the tensioner bolt came undone.

 

It's not cool.

[engine killer 6]

I really have learnt a damn good lesson this time.

 

1st time - 8 valve engine had gone through a long and victory life, so ending a loose piston ring after so many thrashing.

 

2nd time - 16 valve engine with overbored liners but they didn't sit perfectly (they sit a very very very little bit lower than the block), badly scratch on the cylinder wall.

 

3rd time - 16 valve oil salvation during trackday event.

 

I was about to change the cambelt at 50,000km which is about 31,000miles but I totally forgot about the "YEAR/AGE" factor! What a complete dumb I am!

 

Since the head have already been removed, solid lifter will also be placed on the job sheet.

 

Any comment or suggest for what I should have done as well?

 

Thanks

 

p.s. I hope the cam cover I bought from Jordan will arrive before the final assembly. I intended to have it on during the solid lifter conversion at the end of this year.

[StuF215 1 1 Cars]

Unlucky on the cambelt failure! You have a suitable name.

 

Iv just taken mine off the road as I have no idea how old the belt is, I couldnt shake that tense feeling knowing it could snap at any time

 

Sometimes I wish I still had an Mi16 in there because an 1hr job is now pretty much an engine out job for me

I've got some bits I want to change anyway so I dont mind

[hothatch 2]

Unlucky on the cambelt failure! You have a suitable name.

 

Iv just taken mine off the road as I have no idea how old the belt is, I couldnt shake that tense feeling knowing it could snap at any time

 

Sometimes I wish I still had an Mi16 in there because an 1hr job is now pretty much an engine out job for me

I've got some bits I want to change anyway so I dont mind

 

 

What engine do you have to make the belt kit change so difficult ?

 

I'm doing a gti6 conversion so a belt will be going on before dropping it in along with waterpump and tensioner. I will be fine for a 40k haul then hopfully.

 

But is the change possible in the car ?

[Anthony 1,003]

What engine do you have to make the belt kit change so difficult ?

His signature should give you a clue - V6 engine.

[ORB 227 1 Cars]

And yes, Gti-6 or an MI belt swap is still easy with the motor in the car.