46 replies to this topic

[Loyale 2.7 Turbo]

I Don't want to Open a Can of Worms asking if I Should let them off or reinstall them.

I have readed for years, opinions of people that Preffer them on and other people that Preffer them off, each one with reasons.

I Did the Last Timing belt service on my BumbleBeast in Year 2009, when I Found This:





So I obtained The New timing Belts + Covers at the Local Subaru Dealer:

Now the Belts are Two-year old... Time for Fresh belts. But this time I Might give a Try to let the Timing belts' covers off ... ... So I have a couple of Questions:

In the case I have a Power Steerin' failure that Spill out the Power Steering Fluid, Will the Timing Belts Slip? ...or have another Failure?

Also, if I Let my Subie unused for some months (I Plan to Travel Home with my Parents for Vacation) Could the Timing Belts be Damaged by Rodents or insects?

Kind Regards.

[zukiru]

running open on my 86 xt DL since I got it in 08. it has both sat and run and had leaks and I have yet to have any issue with no covers.
(the back half of the covers is still on, as I have had no need to remove the cam sprockets)

[grossgary]

you opened it, here we go, another thread like all the rest!

we can list failure scenarios by the dozens, even ways timing belt covers themselves could cause failures - which i've seen.

power steering leaks typically drip and are rather simplistic. not a big deal.

insects and rodents if that was a true concern you'll have much bigger problems than belts - when they start chewing on electrical stuff, shorting stuff, and causing fires then you got real troubles. a 15 minute belt change is a drop in the bucket....but either is unlikely to happen.

seems you've already seen and read other threads about this, pick what's best for you.

[MilesFox]

I doubt rodents would get onto the belts as it is not somthing they would use for nesting, and without the covers, nothing to hide inside. I could imagine spider webs.

It ius possible to spill fluids on the belts when servicing the power steering, adding oil, coolant. But you can immediately clean it off is you do spill some.

At any chance you would suspect a compromise, you can easily inspect or replace a belt. Just keep a spare in the trunk, it takes 10 min to change.

The idea of a belt breaking is outweighed by how easy it is to change with no covers.

Plus coverless makes other service easier like the water pump, cam seal, oil pump.

[porcupine73]

Just don't eat say a peanut butter and jelly sandwich over the timing belts. The cam seals usually provide adequate oil for the belts without the steering leaking onto it. Sometimes small animals like to get up into the accessory drive belts.....I suppose it would be worse for it to get caught in the timing belt.

[Loyale 2.7 Turbo]

Just don't eat say a peanut butter and jelly sandwich over the timing belts. ...

LoL!

My BumbleBeast Timin' Belts are two years old but they haven't reached too many miles; How much is the average of Miles you put on a Timin' belts before Change?

Kind Regards.

[zukiru]

another thought...

my 86 Xt dL is a beater in a sense. so no covers.
the 88 XT GL still has the seat belt tool bag and a complete (nothing broken) interior, nice paint and some shiny wheels. in a sense of sustaining a stock look and function this one will retain the covers.

different strokes for different folks, attitudes, and cars.

[robm]

The only story ever related on this forum that had a problem with running without covers stuffed his engine so full of snow the belts jumped. His sump guard wasn't installed....

You don't worry about snow in Central America very much, do you? And you do keep your sump guard in place, to fend off sticks and rocks and such?

Porcupines will eat anything rubber under the hood of a car. Hoses, belts, power steering hoses, electrical, etc. They would probably eat the covers, too. If they go after your car, timing belts will be the cheap, easy part to fix.

Do you have porcupines in the neighbourhood?

Timing belts are good for 55,000 miles or 90,000 km.

Bottom line, don't worry about the covers, and you probably have lots of life left in those 2 year old belts.

[Loyale 2.7 Turbo]

Thank you... My BumbleBeast's Timin' belts are around 40,000 Miles, so maybe I will let them sit there for a While.

Anyway, I will take the Covers soon because there is a Small Grinding noise coming from that Area (Not absolutely sure if is Related to the Timin' belts yet) I suspect for a worn ball bearing on one of the Tensioners.

No Snow here at all.
(But History tell us that the only record of Snow here in my country were in 1914, but that was Weird)

Porcupines... yes there are some but they trend to Scape from Humans and their things.

[Loyale 2.7 Turbo]

Now my Only Concern is when I do Steam wash the Engine...

Will the Hot Water / Steam be Harmfull to the Timin' Belts?

[notliving]

Oil, water and what have you is not going to make a difference unless your belts are old stretched and worn. Anyway the covers won't stop fluids from getting on the belts.

I took mine off when I pulled the engine and have no plans on putting them back on. (think I threw them away)

Plus you can paint the cam gears a bling color and be all Fast and Furious.

Edited by notliving, 14 November 2011 - 08:52 PM.

[Loyale 2.7 Turbo]

...Plus you can paint the cam gears a bling color and be all Fast and Furious.

Yes, it sounds Nice... imagine all the Spinning things there, the Engine should look more... Complicated! I Like the Idea!

So Oil & Dirt will not be Harmful to the Timin' Belts, but...

Could a Steam / Hot Water Wash, Damage the Belts?

Kind Regards.

[notliving]

I think you're over thinking this. I mean just think about engine temps. Timing belts are built to hold up in some pretty extreme conditions.

Steam cleaning or pressure washing your engine is pretty common.

Ever been to a car dealership and wondered how they got the engine so clean?

[kerandt]

I don't regret leaving mine off. How often do you pressure wash your engine? I maybe wash mine 2-3 times a year. I'm actually surprised how clean the belts stay (without the covers). I just like being able to see and inspect things without having to deal with the whole cover deal.
-Keith

[Loyale 2.7 Turbo]

I wash my Cars' Engines like You, two or three times per Year.

OK, I'm Sold on the "Without Covers" idea... ...so I will remove 'em this weekend when I remove the EA82 from my BumbleBeast to install the Lift kit, it will be easier with the engine off the car.

Kind Regards.

[grossgary]

Could a Steam / Hot Water Wash, Damage the Belts?

as much as you're thinking about and questioning this it's probably a good idea to just keep them, it's not that big of a deal either way.

you probably don't have the rusted bolt/insert phenomenon that us snow driving rusted up subaru people deal with anyway.

[Loyale 2.7 Turbo]

...you probably don't have the rusted bolt/insert phenomenon that us snow driving rusted up subaru people deal with anyway.

No snow here for sure, but I tend to drive 50% on Road and 50% off-road...

So my subie Run on Gravel / Muddy \ Dusty Roads very frequently.

Kind Regards.

[MilesFox]

as much as you're thinking about and questioning this it's probably a good idea to just keep them, it's not that big of a deal either way.

you probably don't have the rusted bolt/insert phenomenon that us snow driving rusted up subaru people deal with anyway.

Go ahead and do without. I think you asked because you wanted to try it, and want to gain confidence in going around naked:)

Worst comes to worst, keep a spare belt, and 2 tools. You can always put them on the next time a cam seal needs changed; we all know how much they always leak!

I think you will appreciate being uncovered the next time you have to service the engine.

[Loyale 2.7 Turbo]

Go ahead and do without. I think you asked because you wanted to try it, and want to gain confidence in going around naked
...

Yes, You're Right!

I Love Simplicity, so Naked Timin' Belts are Simplier to Service, plus Easier to Check 'em and their Tensioners.

I'll Post Pics when I got 'em Naked ... ...

Kind Regards.

[porcupine73]

Maybe you could get some small battery powered blue LED lights, and mount those to the timin' belt cam sprockets for even more bling.

Yes just as a caution, porcupines will eat anything in sight, especially if it is bacon or other meat.

[Loyale 2.7 Turbo]

... blue LED lights, and mount those to the timin' belt cam sprockets for even more bling...

Ha, Ha! ... ... LoL!

I've seen Blue Led Lights on Engines, but only in Motorcycles




How will Look my BumbleBeast's Weberized EA82 with Blue Leds
illuminating its Engine internals? ... somehow Like This?:




I Guess that Rice mod will add +2 Hp to my Wagon

Kind Regards.

[porcupine73]

^^^^^^^ hahaha yes that's what I'm talking about but I couldn't find any good pictures! I mean just look at what blue LED's do for computer fans and power supplies, surely they can spruce up timin' belt and even timin' chain components too!

[zukiru]

Haha!
I had an invader style cf hood on my ford zx2

(my actual photo)
And I had a sound activated light in the opening.
It would glow when I revved.
In my defence, I was 24, and I worked in the stage lighting business.

[bigjimd]

Aren't the rest of the belts made the same way? Other than the cog part? I mean those belts never have a cover. Serpentine belts are never covered either right? We left ours off.

[Loyale 2.7 Turbo]

Yes... I always wondered why the Timin' belts are covered while the outside (Fan, alt, A/C...) Belts are "Nude" also the Material seems to be similar.

I Guess that the Covers are for Protecting them, but also for add Styling.

If the Outside Belts and Timin' belts are made from the same / similar material and the outside ones can bear the Hot water / steam wash very well...

I believe there will be no problem with that.