Should timing belt be completely dry?

[leakyfaucet]

I just popped my timing belt cover to see if the timing belt had been changed recently, and noticed it had a light coating of oil on the inside, ribbed part. Is that normal or does that throw a red flag as to a leak of some sort?

 

[Dream On]

I don't think oil on the timing belt is a good thing...

 

[steve]

The belt should be clean and dry.
There are lots of places that can leak oil up front so toy have to take off the plastic covers and find out where it's coming from and then replace the belt before it decides to let go or skip a few teeth.

Steve

 

[Joe's_GSX]

What a concept, an oiled timing belt! No it should be dry.

 

[PaulN]

Get that resolved ASAP. That oil will soften the belt potentialliy causing a catastrophic failiure. Fix it before driving it anymore.

 

[rborowy]

Where is the timing belt located? I'm almost at my 90K and wanted to replace that and the water pump...

 

[NOSLO2PT0]

Where is the timing belt located? I'm almost at my 90K and wanted to replace that and the water pump...

If you have to ask, just take it to a mechanic.

 

[NOSLO2PT0]

I just popped my timing belt cover to see if the timing belt had been changed recently, and noticed it had a light coating of oil on the inside, ribbed part. Is that normal or does that throw a red flag as to a leak of some sort?

I have a timing belt victim sitting here with this exact scenario. Oil all over the belts/pulleys. From initial viewings, it looks like the valve cover gasket disintegrated so badly, that oil leaked out the sides and got onto the belts/pulleys that way. Another place to check is the front case seal. If that leaks, it could possibly get onto the crank sprocket and belt there.

 

[steve]

Where is the timing belt located? I'm almost at my 90K and wanted to replace that and the water pump...

http://www.vfaq.com/mods/timingbelt-2G-NT.html might help.

Steve

 

[leakyfaucet]

The guy before me said he removed the balance shafts. I've heard that if you do that incorrectly, there can be a serious oil leak that can get all over the timing belt. True?

 

[10secdreams]

There should be no oil on the timing belt. Although it should be dry, if your car has enough mileage on it it might be to dry. The only way to see if its to dry is to replace it. When its off you can bend it and on the inside youll see it may be to dry and youll see cracking, thats no good.

 

[leakyfaucet]

It actually looks pretty new.

 

[NOSLO2PT0]

The guy before me said he removed the balance shafts. I've heard that if you do that incorrectly, there can be a serious oil leak that can get all over the timing belt. True?

Yes.


The hole for the balance belt tensioner is circled. When reinstalling the oilpump cover, make sure to either get a new shorter bolt, or install the old pulley and bolt. Put some RTV on the bolt threads before tightening it down. If you do not seal this hole, you will have a massive oil leak.

 

[leakyfaucet]

Is there any easy way to check for the hole?

 

[NOSLO2PT0]

Sure. Pull it all apart. Shouldn't take you 45 min. to get everything down to where you can see the pulley, or lack of one. Remove motor mount, remove water pump pulley/belt, remove lower timing belt cover. Should be able to see everything then.

 

[leakyfaucet]

Well I've never done it before and have no idea where to start. =\

 

[NOSLO2PT0]

follow the vfaq, or take it to someone that does know where to start.

 

[leakyfaucet]

I looked closer at the belt, and it is dry except for the very edges of the belt. The valve cover was leaking all around, even though the previous owner put a new valve cover gasket in. The valve cover bolts weren't very tight (I know its aluminum) so I tightened them a bit more and it seems to be sealing better.

If they left out the hole for the balance belt tensioner, wouldn't the timing belt be completely soaked in oil? This was a very little bit on the very most edge of the belt.

 

[Spoolin4Ever]

I looked closer at the belt, and it is dry except for the very edges of the belt. The valve cover was leaking all around, even though the previous owner put a new valve cover gasket in. The valve cover bolts weren't very tight (I know its aluminum) so I tightened them a bit more and it seems to be sealing better.

If they left out the hole for the balance belt tensioner, wouldn't the timing belt be completely soaked in oil? This was a very little bit on the very most edge of the belt.

Yes you are probably correct. It wouldn't hurt to wipe the oil off the belt maybe?

 

[leakyfaucet]

^^^
I did, but thanks for the advice

 

[sherwinz28]

I may be wrong but oil on the belt may cause it to slip, then your really screwed. I had oil on my belt and took it all apart and sprayed it down with brake cleaner and reinstalled it. It was a new belt mind you but I had an oil leak on the cam seals which I found out a little late about. Clean the belt thoroughly or put a new one on.

 

[IHeartTurbo]

I may be wrong but oil on the belt may cause it to slip, then your really screwed. I had oil on my belt and took it all apart and sprayed it down with brake cleaner and reinstalled it. It was a new belt mind you but I had an oil leak on the cam seals which I found out a little late about. Clean the belt thoroughly or put a new one on.

You used Brake Clean on your timing belt?


And oil on the timing belt won't cause it to 'slip', but will decrease the life of it.

 

[sherwinz28]

You used Brake Clean on your timing belt?


And oil on the timing belt won't cause it to 'slip', but will decrease the life of it.

Did I do something wrong, please let me know as I'm putting my car back together with the same belt? Is brake clean something bad to use to get oil off? Should I use something else?

 

[NOSLO2PT0]

You used Brake Clean on your timing belt?


And oil on the timing belt won't cause it to 'slip', but will decrease the life of it.

BULLSHIT! I've got a DSM sitting in my driveway to prove that theory wrong. Let's take a step back and see why your statement could be inaccurate. Auto tensioner provides tension to the timing belt, so when the engine/crank sprocket/cam gear sprockets turn, the belt stays in contact with those sprockets, via tension and friction. Oil = lubricant = decreases friction.

The valve cover on this DSM leaked so bad, it spewed oil over all the cam gears, the belt, front case, and everything else in it's way. The oil made the cam gears so slick, that the belt literally slipped off the teeth and timing jumped, creating ZERO compression in every single cylinder. I took everything apart, brake cleaned everything (EXCEPT THE TIMING BELT, put a new one on), retimed the car, and voila!! STILL ZERO COMPRESSION. Which means damn near every single valve in the head is bent.

 

[NOSLO2PT0]

Did I do something wrong, please let me know as I'm putting my car back together with the same belt? Is brake clean something bad to use to get oil off? Should I use something else?

Yes. Use a new timing belt. If you don't have the budget to buy a new OEM belt from Mitsubishi (~$60), then go to your local auto parts store, and get either a Goodyear Gatorback, Gates, or Contitech timing belt. Right around $35-45 or so.