Cam-belt change

[PompeyMagnus]

Hello, my 2016 T6 last had a timing belt change in May 2020 at the VW Van Centre West Yorkshire. My query is 5 years on should I get the belt changed again now (60k in clock). I ask because reading other posts I understand the change frequency is now 133k miles and no time period. I'm wondering though if my current May 2020 belt predates the new 133k period belts and I should get it done? Thank you. Andrew.

 

[PompeyMagnus]

Hello, my 2016 T6 last had a timing belt change in May 2020 at the VW Van Centre West Yorkshire. My query is 5 years on should I get the belt changed again now (60k in clock). I ask because reading other posts I understand the change frequency is now 133k miles and no time period. I'm wondering though if my current May 2020 belt predates the new 133k period belts and I should get it done? Thank you. Andrew.

 

[T6ChrisO]

I wouldn’t change it until 133k personally

 

[Sasquatch]

If you're concerned enough to be asking the question then change it.

 

[PompeyMagnus]

I wouldn’t change it until 133k personally

Thank you.

 

[Chippie1]

I wouldn’t change it until 133k personally

Depends how long it takes him to get to that milage for me

 

[Anthony1965]

I think the life span of a cambelt, water pump and tensioner is 4 years or 100,000 miles.

 

[cgtmiles]

Is there 3 of these threads?

 

[JOG]

Is there 3 of these threads?

Can’t be too sure, eh?!!

 

[Anthony1965]

Cheaper to get it changed than need a major engine rebuild.

 

[barky-sparky]

was a VW belt fitted? if you dont know change it, Just lost my 2012 touran only 100k on the clock, belt was changed 5 years ago

 

[manfrotto]

Often they put a sticker on the engine (cambelt cover probably) with the date and mileage the cambelt was changed. Worth a look, and otherwise I would assume it has not been changed.

 

[PompeyMagnus]

Thanks for all replies. Best wishes.

 

[PompeyMagnus]

Further update. I changed the cambelt and water pump, new coolant too, yesterday at VW Van Centre, West Yorkshire. £660 Inc VAT, with a 2 year guarantee. Didn't think that was too bad. Was told belt life 133k and no time period. I asked how the increased belt life had come about, recentlt changed from every 4 years to 133k miles. The service desk told me they believe the belt quality has been improved although wasn't certain of this (I had this told me by a local VW indie garage in Keighley too), but he also said it was due to criticism from low mileage California drivers who said it was lunacy they were changing belts every 4 years when they might only have done, say, 25k miles! Haha! Anyway, one thing less to worry about. Thanks everyone for your replies.

 

[southscaff]

My t6.1 will be 5 years old in September. Has been serviced every year and only done 19,000 miles . I am a bit confused as to when the cambelt should be changed . Vw poole are saying every 5 years but independent garage says roughly 60 -70,000 miles ?
My previous van was a t5 which I had for 8 years and 200,000 miles on the clock .cambelt changed at 90,000 and 180,000 miles .
Any advice?????

 

[Sasquatch]

VW have in essence done away with the time interval, rendering it mileage only.

Id be looking at 6 or 7 years, 70k-ish miles, whichever comes first, although VWs official recommendation is now far in excess of that.

 

[whodat]

Yes - imagine a strong piece of rubber with metal bands inside it constantly being under pressure in temps between -10C and 100C with hydrocarbon vapours and various other gaseous products and vibration etc etc.
The only redeeming feature is that it isn't exposed to sunlight also.
7 years is more than fair. (in my non-mechanical opinion). Shit - may be should be changed every couple weeks to be sure.

 

[southscaff]

OK sounds a bit more realistic. After all if a genuine vw cam belt needs replacing after 19000 miles it doesn't say much for the quality.

 

[DXX]

Yes - imagine a strong piece of rubber with metal bands inside it constantly being under pressure in temps between -10C and 100C with hydrocarbon vapours and various other gaseous products and vibration etc etc.
The only redeeming feature is that it isn't exposed to sunlight also.
7 years is more than fair. (in my non-mechanical opinion). Shit - may be should be changed every couple weeks to be sure.

But those are the conditions it is designed for.
I have a worthless A4 TDI that has a 17 year old timing belt with over 110K miles on it.

 

[whodat]

They are designed for those conditions, yes.
However, in the slight past, they were made to as higher quality as they could. (see your 'worthless' A4 which will probably last out most T6.1's)
Nowadays, they are designed to be manufactured as cheaply as possibly with the only 'must' being that they must last past the warranty and after that it doesn't matter.
See wetbelts. I know they are different but this is the mentality that manufacturers have now.
It is pretty much in their interest to have parts that don't last much longer than the warranty period. If an engine goes sizzle, that is great for them. Lots of replacement pipes/bolts/ and the 15k engine.
It would be interesting to know how much of a manufacturer's profit is from new vehicles, finance etc, and how much is from ongoing manufacturing of parts. Given that they can sell all the parts of a vehicle for (at a guess) 3x the price of the whole vehicle. (not talking about caravelle - or equivalent - can't figure out how anything like that could cost 100k)

Unless you are fleet, your business is just pin money to them. Fleets are pretty much just for christmas, and the next christmas, and possibly the one after, but after that, defo not.