Technical timing belt interval with low mileage?

[Reg 65]

Fiat timing belt kits with the waterpump are probably driven by customer demand. Witness the owners on motorhome forums who all want their waterpumps changed as a matter of course with the timing belt. Nick Fisher, who used to run a fleet of Ducato hire vehicles and posted on one of the motorhome forums, once said that in his experience the OEM water pumps were good for 250K miles, and he had only ever had to replace one prematurely.

To avoid counterfeit parts, buy from reputable suppliers and avoid extreme penny pinching. Coastal Motorhomes sell Dayco belts, but they also stock Fiat OEM kits at very good prices compared to the dealer network. Probably because they can bulk buy at trade prices and have a lower profit margin. I've just bought my second Fiat belt and pulley kit from them, about £160. The first will have done 5 years service this summer. I bought the Dayco aircon and alternator belts though.

My understanding is Nick only replaced that one because the engine was already out. - I saved his quote (below) He is keen on replacing the tensioners, but then his Ducatos did huge mileages. As far as I can see with tensioners its more mechanical wear than ageing rubber. So I don't know if its necessary with low mileage motorhomes?

QUOTE FROM NICK FISHER (who was in charge of a fleet of Ducatos on lease/hire at Euroserve Leicester);
"The water pump on the 2.3JTD is designed to last the lifetime of the vehicle and unless there are obvious signs that something is amiss, it should be left well alone. It is a much bigger job than you might think and access is extremely difficult. The fuel pump has to be removed and if any of the bolts are problematic it will require the engine to be removed to remedy. I have only ever changed one and it was because the engine was already out. No problems so far and many of our vehicles do 250,000 miles before we move them on.
It is vital that the tensioners are changed as they are much more likely to wear than the belt itself. The screw for the adjustable tensioner should also be replaced and this is not normally part of the after-market kits."

 

[Reg 65]

The only Ducato water pump failures I have heard about have been after the water pump was changed. Most memorable was an interminably long thread somewhere from an English guy who took his Ducato in for a service with cam belt change whilst in France. They snapped a rusted up bolt getting the water pump off. Engine out to drill out the broken stud...drill slipped...block ruined...endless argument about who would pay for what. Van impounded in France until bill was paid. By that time it was on about page 59 and I had lost the will to live. I don't know how it all finished up?
Whatever, I will be leaving my water pump well alone!

 

[RS3100]

My understanding is Nick only replaced that one because the engine was already out. - I saved his quote (below) He is keen on replacing the tensioners, but then his Ducatos did huge mileages. As far as I can see with tensioners its more mechanical wear than ageing rubber. So I don't know if its necessary with low mileage motorhomes?

QUOTE FROM NICK FISHER (who was in charge of a fleet of Ducatos on lease/hire at Euroserve Leicester);
"The water pump on the 2.3JTD is designed to last the lifetime of the vehicle and unless there are obvious signs that something is amiss, it should be left well alone. It is a much bigger job than you might think and access is extremely difficult. The fuel pump has to be removed and if any of the bolts are problematic it will require the engine to be removed to remedy. I have only ever changed one and it was because the engine was already out. No problems so far and many of our vehicles do 250,000 miles before we move them on.
It is vital that the tensioners are changed as they are much more likely to wear than the belt itself. The screw for the adjustable tensioner should also be replaced and this is not normally part of the after-market kits."

Yes, that's the quote. Yes, tensioners and idler pulleys can wear or seize, as much from low mileage and sitting still as from high mileage which is partly what is considered when setting the time interval requirements I suppose. I have heard that more belts fail on modern vehicles due to pulley failures than simple wear of the belts themselves. And it's not unknown for failed ancillary belts such as the alternator or compressor belt to damage the timing cover and/or the timing belt itself after wrapping around and jamming in the crank pulley, so I always replace them at the same time.

I perhaps didn't make it clear in my previous post, when I mentioned Dayco and Fiat OEM. If you buy a Fiat OEM kit the belt and pulleys are all manufactured by Dayco. The belt (at least in the Fiat kit) is marked making it easy to check correct initial assembly, but as soon as you turn the engine the marks go out of line. I read a post a while back where someone claimed the marks were wrong, but that's not been my experience. Perhaps they installed the belt the wrong way round or didn't try to check the marks until after it had been rotated?

 

[Reg 65]

Just found a new you tube video detailing the timing belt replacement on the 2.3 X2/90 I really like this one because it gives more detail than the two I posted earlier. He changes the water pump which I would not do - but I like the way he removes the stiff bolts - winding them backwards and forwards and applying more easing oil - instead of brute force until they snap and you have got to take the engine out to try and deal with the snapped off bolt!! If you are not changing the water pump you shouldn't have to drain the radiator or remove the header tank. Other thing he does that I wouldn't do is support the engine on a hydraulic jack because mine gradually sinks so I would use a mechanical (scissor) jack if you have to lower the engine - which you may not have to do - you may just get away with levering it sideways to get the pulley off?