Cam belt schedule?

[Trevsked]

Evening all. Can anyone confirm the V8 has a 24k miles/4 year service interval for the cam belt? If not, what should it be?

 

Trevor.

[Thartje]

The handbook from the car says 102k miles or 8 years. I don't think I would let it go that long though 😬

[mike_sekinger]

The original UK owners manual states 36K miles or 3 yrs. There was a Service Bulletin in late 2000 that recommended the interval be reduced to 24K miles. This was not changed for the US market due to legislative requirements - but the whole cambelt servicing for US cars was done differently.

The 102K miles/8 yrs is for the fuel filter

[Trevsked]

Mike,

Thank you, that’s what I seemed to remember. Belts were done 2021 so would need attending to next year. 
 

Trevor.

[Sparky]

Ooooooh.....

[Bibs]

I was about to say the same thing

 

[Thartje]

They were more ambitious with the longevity of their cam belts in '97 it seems @mike_sekinger

 

[mike_sekinger]

2 hours ago, Thartje said:

They were more ambitious with the longevity of their cam belts in '97 it seems @mike_sekinger

The cambelt story for the US market was weird. I think that the dealerships ended-up taking a big hit related to belt changes due to the overly long service interval that was mandated.  Clearly the belts themselves were never intended for that tour of duty.

[Thartje]

16 minutes ago, mike_sekinger said:

The cambelt story for the US market was weird. I think that the dealerships ended-up taking a big hit related to belt changes due to the overly long service interval that was mandated.  Clearly the belts themselves were never intended for that tour of duty.

I was surprised when I saw the time/distance in the book 😂 I didn't realize they had it different for other markets. Would be interesting to know what drove that decision.

[Escape]

Wasn't it some regulation that mandated a 100k 'fit for service' interval, and somehow the timing belt was not considered a normal maintenance item but had to be covered?

[Bibs]

Exactly that. The USA mandated that a cambelt should last 100k so Lotus did a free change at 50k as a way to get around this I seem to remember.

[lotuslover1]

i just changed mine after 6 years from the black belts to the blue Gates belts.