Specialist work · Belt-in-oil engines
On some modern engines the timing belt runs inside the engine, in oil. When it wears, it can take the engine with it. We check, advise on and replace wet belts for drivers across Ferndown and Wimborne.
A timing belt keeps the crankshaft and camshafts turning in step, so the valves open at exactly the right moment. Most belts run dry, behind a cover on the outside of the engine. A wet belt runs inside the engine, lubricated by the engine oil, which makes it quieter and lets it last longer.
Because the belt sits in the oil, the oil's condition matters. As a wet belt wears, it can shed fragments into the oil. Those can block the oil pickup or, on some engines, the vacuum pump strainer that powers the brake servo. That's why low oil pressure warnings and a harder brake pedal are among the signs.
If the belt fails, the valves and pistons can meet, which can mean major engine damage. Replacing the belt at the right time is far cheaper than an engine.
Tell us the registration and the mileage. We'll check what engine the car has and what its manufacturer sets out for the belt, look at the service history with you, and advise whether the belt should be checked or replaced now. If it needs replacing, we'll give you the price before any work starts.
Dry timing beltsEngines
These are the engines we're most often asked about. Other manufacturers use belt-in-oil designs too, so if you're not sure, send us the registration and we'll check.
Wet belt questions
Your handbook or service schedule will say, but the quickest way is to send us the registration. Ford's 1.0 EcoBoost and the 1.2 PureTech used by Peugeot, Citroën and Vauxhall are two common examples.
It depends on the engine. Manufacturers set the interval by age and mileage, and some have revised their intervals over time. We'll check the current figure for your engine.
The belt lives in the oil, so the right specification of oil, changed on time, is part of looking after the belt. Overdue or incorrect oil is one reason belts wear early.
The engine stops, and on many engines the valves and pistons collide, which can mean a replacement engine. Debris from a worn belt can also cause oil pressure and brake problems before it fails.
