Cam belt change

[Oldgustaf]

Just had the cam belt changed. Hadn't been done before. A mechanic friend told me that the belt wouldn't be very worn but that they 'age'. Fiat Ducato 2.3. Done 24k miles and is eight years old. Was this really necessary?

 

[Bluemanc100]

If the engine is fail-safe you would only risk the nause of breaking down... if the engine is not fail-safe then you potentially avoided a massive bill... It's very hard to tell visually if a belt is likely to fail

 

[Oldgustaf]

How does one know if the engine is 'fail-safe'?

 

[Bluemanc100]

How does one know if the engine is 'fail-safe'?

You can google it or wait till the belt breaks.... you have peace of mind now at least

If the engine is not fail-safe then the pistons will come into contact with the valves if the belt / chain breaks (or slips a tooth or three) and that's not good

 

[gus-lopez]

How does one know if the engine is 'fail-safe'?

It will be 30 years old.

Was this really necessary?

Yes but 4 years ago really .

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[Podney]

Yes.

 

[Oldgustaf]

It was running on borrowed time! Glad I've had it done. Thanks for comments all.

 

[Ernesto]

Depends on which model but eight years is a long time in car terms... and (don't quote me) but I was thinking 5 years was the Ducato lifetime..? But your handbook would have the exact timeframe?

Failed cam belt can destroy an engine so not something I plan to skip ...

 

[Oldgustaf]

Depends on which model but eight years is a long time in car terms... and (don't quote me) but I was thinking 5 years was the Ducato lifetime..? But your handbook would have the exact timeframe?

Failed cam belt can destroy an engine so not something I plan to skip ...

I think I read five years or 125k miles, which ever comes first.

 

[Hettie's Crew]

It was necessary to be sure and have peace of mind, just had ours changed at 5 years and only 19000mls.
Fail safe, that Bluemanc100 referred to is when the engine is designed to not damage the valve gear if it snaps. I don’t think Ducatos are designed like that unfortunately, though I have seen an Alfa Romeo that was brought in to a garage near us. The mechanic was expecting it to need a huge expensive rebuild until he got the valve cover off to see some of the followers had broke off instead, no other damage.
Don’t FIAT own Alfa Romeo? but the 2.3 engine is really a IVECO.

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[Oldgustaf]

It was necessary to be sure and have peace of mind, just had ours changed at 5 years and only 19000mls.

Good to hear this. Feel better about the expense now...