Tdi serp belts. How many kms before a change?

[JamesH]

Happy New Year everyone.

I noticed some slight perishing on the ribs of my serpentine belt. I had a new one, I dunno maybe 40-50 thou ago. If I went through my invoices I'd know more precisely.

The perishing is very slight but is it normal or should I do something about it?

[ATH]

I'd change it anyway just in case. For the costs involved it's not worth running the risk of it breaking whilst you're out enjoying yourself. Change the aircon belt at the same time.
That's what I would do anyway.
Alan.

[Phantum]

G'day

I agree with ATH belt can fail at any time without any warning. For piece of mind I would be replacing them to. Better to do it in your own time than trying to on the side of the road. Over what time did you do the 40 or 50 thou? Time and heat are the biggest killers of rubber.

Regards

[JamesH]

Well it was probably a few years ago and your comments about heat and time are well taken. And I can always keep this one in my box of spares under the drivers seat, which is where the last one is now I think about it.

[mcrover]

I generally do a major going over on mine once a year where I check everything I can think of or can check without ripping it apart and every 2 years I replace the belts as a matter of course and I do the idler pulley bearings at the same time.

It's probably going over the top a bit but I have had both a pulley fail and a belt break and both cost more than just replacing the 1 part so it is cheaper and safer to do it as Preventative Maintenance.

I find that doing a lot of river crossings seems to get to them a bit as well as time and heat and if you like mud then that will wear them much quicker so I'd be checking it more often if you go through a lot of mud holes.

[LRHybrid100]

if the belt had not been changed for a while you may also need to change the tensioner - as the belt over time compensates for the tensioner and when you install a brand new perfectly flat belt it may be thrown off and shredded.

rule of thumb is to replace the tensioner, or bearing, every other new belt.

HTH

LRH