i'm coming up to 60k miles since i had timing belt replaced on my 2.5 99 outback when we had headgaskets done etc.

 

can i go a little longer? i'd like to wait until late spring. that would be about 65k. should i also have everything like tensioners and pulleys replaced? the engine has 248k on it.

 

what is your experience in this matter?

 

thanks

Afaik the 60k timing service only applies to 96 and earlier ej22 engines and the ej25 had a 105k mile interval.

 

When the service was last done did you replace all of the idlers and water pump or just slap a belt on it?

99 should be 105k interval.

 

GD

and I do not know a single person who has the early ej22 who replaces at the 60k interval. We run them til they get 175k or til they snap. then we install a new one to last another 175k

 

You simply cannot do that on the new ones, cauase you will bend valves when they snap.

 

I have seen the aftermarket belts and the instruction in the aftermarket kit sometimes say replace at 70k interval. That makes sense, they are not oem quality.

 

OEM belts on the new ones are 105k interval. Don't go past that.

105k is Subarus interval.

 

at 13+ years old the pulleys/tensioner are as troublesome as the belt. i'd be planning on replacing those.

 

with age it's not a bad idea to replace early.

and I do not know a single person who has the early ej22 who replaces at the 60k interval. We run them til they get 175k or til they snap. then we install a new one to last another 175k

 

You simply cannot do that on the new ones, cauase you will bend valves when they snap.

 

I have seen the aftermarket belts and the instruction in the aftermarket kit sometimes say replace at 70k interval. That makes sense, they are not oem quality.

 

OEM belts on the new ones are 105k interval. Don't go past that.

 

 

thanks. the water pump was replaced but i'll have to speak with the mechanic to see if he put a oem belt on and new idlers.

It's the cogged idler beside the waterpump that usually fails first.

as to "hard and fast rule" - no it's not a hard and fast rule.

 

every month adds 0.5% (i'm making that up) failure rate (although actually it would be parabolic-ish, not linear), anyway of course it's not hard and fast....risk of failure just increases with time.

 

can you make it another 50k, of course. would I be surprised if it broke before then - not at all (but you would be!), particularly if the pulleys and tensioner are all original.

Just a data point, I am not making any recommendation, my 2001 Forester 5MT has 112k miles on her. Haven't replaced the original belt etc yet, but I am going to do it within the next year. Fingers crossed.