Reliable source of service interval requirements
Discussion
Thanks. That does seem such a change from 6yrs which I thought was typical across many makes and certainly different from the service book that says "check at 60k and every 20k thereafter" and [strangely] does not even mention a time based measure at all.
Also, what do you mean by:
Also, what do you mean by:
tristancliffe said:
...so low mileage (in itself a bad thing)...
Personally I wouldn't give a cambelt that had only done 12,000 miles a second thought regardless of its age. The Ford Focus cambelt is rated at 10 years/100,000 miles and if age related deterioration was such a factor that wouldn't even be possible. Unless contaminants are getting onto a belt I doubt if its age is of much significance until at least a similar time period.
Some engines were known as belt breakers but there's always a good reason. The Ford CVH was an example which had its recommended life reduced to 36,000 miles but it had extraordinarily stiff valve springs which put a huge load on the belt to turn the valve train. Most modern engines have much lighter springs.
If it were my car at such a low annual mileage I wouldn't be thinking about a belt change until at least 8 years / 24,000 miles.
Some engines were known as belt breakers but there's always a good reason. The Ford CVH was an example which had its recommended life reduced to 36,000 miles but it had extraordinarily stiff valve springs which put a huge load on the belt to turn the valve train. Most modern engines have much lighter springs.
If it were my car at such a low annual mileage I wouldn't be thinking about a belt change until at least 8 years / 24,000 miles.
Is this the same for all Polo's? Im in a similar position to the OP; I have a 56 plate VW Polo 1.9 TDi (PD 100bhp) with 42K on the clock. Reading around the net, it seems that the PD (pumpe duse) engines may need earlier cambelt changes due to "high torque", but I can't determine if thats crap or truth. Keep meaning to call a VW dealer but they don't seem to know their arse from their elbow. I don't mind getting it done, but I don't want to throw money away if its not needed. I will get the water pump done at the same time though.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Toilet Duck said:
Is this the same for all Polo's? Im in a similar position to the OP; I have a 56 plate VW Polo 1.9 TDi (PD 100bhp) with 42K on the clock. Reading around the net, it seems that the PD (pumpe duse) engines may need earlier cambelt changes due to "high torque", but I can't determine if thats crap or truth. Keep meaning to call a VW dealer but they don't seem to know their arse from their elbow. I don't mind getting it done, but I don't want to throw money away if its not needed. I will get the water pump done at the same time though.
Cheers.
I have since spoken with VW technical and it appears that VAG has relatively recently revised their requirements/guidance and now require replacement cambelts every 4 years regardless of mileage across all VAG vehicles (unless they have a chain of course). However, the necessity to change the belt on a diesel is probably higher.Cheers.
It still feels like an @rse covering exercise by VAG...
Bumble SV said:
I have since spoken with VW technical and it appears that VAG has relatively recently revised their requirements/guidance and now require replacement cambelts every 4 years regardless of mileage across all VAG vehicles (unless they have a chain of course). However, the necessity to change the belt on a diesel is probably higher.
Sorry to revive this thread, but I rang VW head office and spoke to customer services to ask about the cambelt change guidelines. I gave them my registration and she then went and spoke to someone "technical" to get a definitive answer. I was informed that for my car (56 plate 1.9TDi 100bhp Pumpe Duse) the cambelt should be changed every four years or 80,000 miles. My car is around four years old but has only done 42,000 miles. I guess I should get it changed as its cheaper than a knackered engine, but I can't help feeling its either scaremongering or a money making scheme. I wish VW would be consistent in what they tell customers as it seems every caller gets a slightly different answer.Toilet Duck said:
Bumble SV said:
I have since spoken with VW technical and it appears that VAG has relatively recently revised their requirements/guidance and now require replacement cambelts every 4 years regardless of mileage across all VAG vehicles (unless they have a chain of course). However, the necessity to change the belt on a diesel is probably higher.
Sorry to revive this thread, but I rang VW head office and spoke to customer services to ask about the cambelt change guidelines. I gave them my registration and she then went and spoke to someone "technical" to get a definitive answer. I was informed that for my car (56 plate 1.9TDi 100bhp Pumpe Duse) the cambelt should be changed every four years or 80,000 miles. My car is around four years old but has only done 42,000 miles. I guess I should get it changed as its cheaper than a knackered engine, but I can't help feeling its either scaremongering or a money making scheme. I wish VW would be consistent in what they tell customers as it seems every caller gets a slightly different answer.I have rung around for prices and I have since spoken with my local VAG Indy - a great guy who explained its not the belt that is the cause but the pre-tensioners (as someone mentioned aboved). The pre-tensioners are plastic and degrade over time or with very high mileage. So <4 years they are fine but after that they start to become brittle. [Sounds like a sensible explanation to me but it makes me think that VAG are using cheap/inferior parts!] Where the belts have snapped on cars, in most cases it has been as a result of failed pre-tensioners. However, if you need to replace the pre-tensioners ever 4 years, you might as well get the belt (and water pump for that matter) changed too.
FYI - £349 all in is my best quote.
Edited by Bumble SV on Friday 27th August 18:31
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