Have you heard of wet timing belts?
While many drivers are unfamiliar with this type of engine part, they’re a common component in many cars produced between 2012 and 2021, including some of the most popular makes from top manufacturers like Ford, Peugeot, and many more.
While they were initially introduced to help cut emissions and ensure a smoother ride, they’ve led to serious headaches for many drivers — including total engine failure and eye-watering repair bills.
What is a wet timing belt?
A wet timing belt has exactly the same purpose as a dry one: it synchronises the rotation of the crankshaft and camshaft, which in turn ensures the valves open and close at the right time. This keeps the engine running smoothly and efficiently.
The difference comes down to where the belt is housed. A standard timing belt is located outside the engine housing, while a wet belt sits inside it. Another major difference with this type of belt is that it is also constantly lubricated by an oil bath at the bottom of the engine system — hence the name.
A lack of understanding about wet timing belts may be exacerbating the issue. Despite being quite common, many mechanics are much less familiar with them than other types of belts, meaning issues are harder to spot and fix. The knowledge and skill required to deal with the issue can make repairs more difficult and costly, too.
And, as a result, wet belts have certainly garnered their fair share of detractors in recent years. If you Google ‘wet timing belts’, you won’t have to scroll for long to find forums full of disgruntled car owners lambasting the feature and comparing repair bills.
What are the symptoms?
There may be a few tell-tale signs that a wet engine belt is starting to fail. Symptoms may include:
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Strange noises from the engine bay, such as squealing, grinding, or rattling noises when the engine is switched on or during acceleration.
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The engine light is on.
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Engine oil leaks. This can be a sign that the condition of the belt is deteriorating.
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Low oil pressure.
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The engine misfiring.
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The engine running poorly when idling.
To further complicate things, there won’t necessarily be any obvious signs that the belt is failing or that the oil has become contaminated until it’s too late. Ultimately, the only way to check is for a qualified mechanic to conduct a thorough visual inspection.
What can drivers do to protect their motors?
The good news? While there’s not exactly an easy fix for the problem, there are ways motorists can protect and preserve their engines if they have a wet timing belt.
Regular inspections: Many motorists have complained that their wet belts failed or needed replacing well before the change interval stated by the manufacturer. So, one thing owners of wet timing belt engines can do is check the condition of the belt well before the replacement is due.
Using the right oil: Using the wrong oil will cause the belt to degrade much faster, so getting the right grade and type of engine oil for your car is crucial to the performance and lifespan of the belt. Check the handbook, or contact the manufacturer to get the most up-to-date advice on this.
Replacing the belt before the change is due: Many motorists have found that their wet belts failed before the stated change interval. You can get ahead of this problem by replacing your belt earlier than the manufacturer’s recommended interval, at the first sign of deterioration.
Mark Barclay, Head of E-commerce at My Motor World said,”Without regular inspections and proper maintenance, wet timing belts can be an engine killer. To avoid costly repairs, owners of cars with this type of belt really have to be on it with their maintenance schedule.
“It might be annoying and expensive to keep checking and replacing the timing belt and changing the oil, but it’s still cheaper than a new engine — or even a new car. It’s a case of spending little and often to avoid spiralling costs further down the line.”
He added, “If you have a wet timing belt, my advice would be to get regular inspections at a garage that’s familiar with them, replace the belt at the first sign of deterioration, and keep that engine oil as clean as possible. And only ever use the exact type of oil that the manufacturer recommends.
“It’s hard to imagine what the engineers were thinking when they introduced this feature, given how unpopular it has become. But, it just goes to show that the rigorous testing cars undergo cannot catch every type of fault.
“Finally, a word of warning to owners of cars with the standard timing belts. You may not have the same issues to contend with as a wet belt, but you still don’t want to get complacent, because they can and do fail. So, stick to the change interval given by the manufacturer. Replacing the timing belt is a fairly big job, but you might consider sourcing your own timing belt kit to help reduce the cost of professional repairs at a garage.”