Coolant change

[jps]

Hi guys

Quick question - the service schedule says change the coolant every 4 years - but then you have to do the belts on the 5th year.

I assume the coolant has to be replaced when the belts are done - sooooo this begs the question, do people change the coolant on the 4th year or just wait until the belts are done and do it every 5 years?

Would seem pretty silly to have to do it twice in 2 years.

Thanks

 

[Kett]

If you’re going to do 10k miles per annum; then it’s advisable to stick rigidly to the service schedule.
Less mileage gives some license to plan service scheduling according to usage.

 

[DaveL485]

I always do it all together - on all of my cars. Rounding up or down to suit has never done anything any harm.

I extend belt services on my low mileage cars too - so my Volvo S60 daily gets on-schedule services for everything as it does ~20k/PA, but the V6 for example which does around 2000 miles a year i'll leave the cambelt to 7 years. Same for the 21, and my RS197....if i'm nowhere near the mileage it gets time-extended a bit. Even doing that I always find myself surprised how good condition belts are when they come off. Mileage is a much bigger wear-er than time.

 

[jps]

I always do it all together - on all of my cars. Rounding up or down to suit has never done anything any harm.

I extend belt services on my low mileage cars too - so my Volvo S60 daily gets on-schedule services for everything as it does ~20k/PA, but the V6 for example which does around 2000 miles a year i'll leave the cambelt to 7 years. Same for the 21, and my RS197....if i'm nowhere near the mileage it gets time-extended a bit. Even doing that I always find myself surprised how good condition belts are when they come off. Mileage is a much bigger wear-er than time.

Thanks for this. It makes a lot of sense. From what I have read on here, I might not have to do my belts next year then, as I only do low mileage in the vee.

Silly question but is it easy to inspect the belts (when up on ramp)? Or hard to get to?

 

[Jamesv6]

Looks like you might see a tiny bit of the belts.

[album]21391[/album]
[album]21392[/album]

 

[jps]

Looks like you might see a tiny bit of the belts.

[album]21391[/album]
[album]21392[/album]

Thanks James. What is your opinion on belt changes?

 

[Jamesv6]

Oh don’t ask me anything technical. I only know how to fit an air freshener.

 

[jps]

Oh don’t ask me anything technical. I only know how to fit an air freshener.

Ha! Let me re-phrase....do you do your belts every 5 years or do you extend a few years based on low mileage?

 

[Kett]

Oh don’t ask me anything technical. I only know how to fit an air freshener.

Ha! Let me re-phrase....do you do your belts every 5 years or do you extend a few years based on low mileage?

James is Vee-less, so I’ll share my thoughts:

I’ve always thought the ‘engine-out’ process was pretty severe and pretty expensive to change a rubber belt.

Therefore, I’ve elected to change every 7.5 years (which means x2 changes in fifteen years instead of x3). This reduces costs and reduces the risk of an ‘engine-out’ calamity.

To me, risk vs benefit is better suited to 7.5 years. That said - a Vee with an overdue belt-change (ie over 5 years) won’t achieve market value.

 

[jps]

Oh don’t ask me anything technical. I only know how to fit an air freshener.

Ha! Let me re-phrase....do you do your belts every 5 years or do you extend a few years based on low mileage?

James is Vee-less, so I’ll share my thoughts:

I’ve always thought the ‘engine-out’ process was pretty severe and pretty expensive to change a rubber belt.

Therefore, I’ve elected to change every 7.5 years (which means x2 changes in fifteen years instead of x3). This reduces costs and reduces the risk of an ‘engine-out’ calamity.

To me, risk vs benefit is better suited to 7.5 years. That said - a Vee with an overdue belt-change (ie over 5 years) won’t achieve market value.

Thanks Kett. I did see you say this elsewhere so this is one of the reasons I thought it could something to think about.

It does make a lot of sense.

 

[DaveL485]

Oh don’t ask me anything technical. I only know how to fit an air freshener.

Ha! Let me re-phrase....do you do your belts every 5 years or do you extend a few years based on low mileage?

James is Vee-less, so I’ll share my thoughts:

I’ve always thought the ‘engine-out’ process was pretty severe and pretty expensive to change a rubber belt.

Therefore, I’ve elected to change every 7.5 years (which means x2 changes in fifteen years instead of x3). This reduces costs and reduces the risk of an ‘engine-out’ calamity.

To me, risk vs benefit is better suited to 7.5 years. That said - a Vee with an overdue belt-change (ie over 5 years) won’t achieve market value.

Same as this, for me. general rule of thumb being that if I am under half the mileage of the belt interval then add 50% time.

If I were selling it i'd do a service & belt change regardless to increase the sale-ability. It's a big bill for a new owner (whereas I can do it myself for 1/4 of the cost). I Did my last oil/filter/plugs/air filter/fuel filter last year and it cost me less than a hundred quid with premium parts and oil.

For future ref, always use good quality fully synthetic oil and change on or before schedule on mileage. The reduction in engine wear and general internal condition is staggering.

 

[Kett]

I probably should add that I don’t scrimp on an annual oil change (because it costs peanuts). The official service schedule is 2 years though.