XC70 2012 Model - Servicing Question

[tt82]

Originally Posted by Tatsfield

AntB said "you're running the risk of possible engine damage"

I'm interested to know what damage would be done to the engine if the aux belt failed. I understand the engine wrecking catastrophe of a timing belt failure on an "interference" engine, but surely the worst that can happen if the aux belt fails is the loss of drive to the auxiliary units driven by the belt. On a 215 D5 what are these? Alternator, steering pump, air conditioning compressor? I don't see that the temporary non operation of these sort of units would damage the engine. Can anybody advise me?

When the aux belt fails it takes out the timing belt!

[Tatsfield]

Ouch! Brilliant piece of engine design there then.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by tt82

When the aux belt fails it takes out the timing belt!

not always but certainly sometimes ..

[Tatsfield]

I have encountered this sort of thing before where the two belts are driven on the same shaft and the exterior aux belt derails from the drive pulley and comes off on the inner side of the pulley and gets drawn along the shaft to the interior timing belt. But firstly this only happens when the belt leaves the pulley unbroken and has nowhere to go. If the belt is severed it leaves the drive path and the chances of it being wound around the drive shaft are slight. And even if it stays in one piece and is derailed, it is a 50/50 chance which way it will come off. So I'd still say that losing a aux belt isn't great but it is nothing compared to losing the timing belt which will screw the engine however it fails.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Tatsfield

I have encountered this sort of thing before where the two belts are driven on the same shaft and the exterior aux belt derails from the drive pulley and comes off on the inner side of the pulley and gets drawn along the shaft to the interior timing belt. But firstly this only happens when the belt leaves the pulley unbroken and has nowhere to go. If the belt is severed it leaves the drive path and the chances of it being wound around the drive shaft are slight. And even if it stays in one piece and is derailed, it is a 50/50 chance which way it will come off. So I'd still say that losing a aux belt isn't great but it is nothing compared to losing the timing belt which will screw the engine however it fails.

Just as well volvo cambelts and rollers themselves are rock solid then :-) ( Kevlar reinforcement)

[Ant B]

Originally Posted by The Stimulator

I have just spoken to the dealer that supplied and serviced the car until I bought it.

The auxiliary belt was changed at the 54,000 mile service (at 53,850 miles), and in fact changed again under warranty as it was noisy at 63,678 miles, so that belt has done 33,000 miles.

Awesome, no need to get the aux belt done again so soon, and no need to get the cambelt done yet either as you've not hit the mileage (108,000) or time (10 years) interval.

Originally Posted by Tatsfield

I'm interested to know what damage would be done to the engine if the aux belt failed. I understand the engine wrecking catastrophe of a timing belt failure on an "interference" engine, but surely the worst that can happen if the aux belt fails is the loss of drive to the auxiliary units driven by the belt. On a 215 D5 what are these? Alternator, steering pump, air conditioning compressor? I don't see that the temporary non operation of these sort of units would damage the engine. Can anybody advise me?

Like a few others have said, the aux belt / tensioners can then go on to take out the cambelt when they fail, flailing around the engine bay, which like you say can be catastrophic. Doesn't ALWAYS happen but for the sake of a few hundred quid, probably not worth the risk?

Originally Posted by Scooser

The service sheet for my MY2009 V70 D5 tells me the aux belt recommended change interval is 10 years or 54k miles, whichever first.

Are you sure the later cars insist on 5 years or 54k miles?

Will check the service book and report back at the weekend; I thought it was 5 years on mine (MY2012) but could be wrong, will let you know!