Timing belt service interval
 

I've only had my 92' svx for a few months now. And I was wondering
what the replacement interval is for the timing belt.
One of the service recipts from the previous owner, showed it being replaced
at around 120k. It has 147k on it now.
Thanks.

Re: Timing belt service interval
 

Every 60K miles is the schedule for it. However, the EG33 is a non interference so if it fails, it will not damage the valves.

Re: Timing belt service interval
 

The service intervals are in the How-Tos so you can see what is done and when. I would say that your SVX is ready for a new timing belt. While you are in there, you should replace some other things. The water pump and thermastat for example. You are already in there, so this is a good time to do it. :)

Re: Timing belt service interval
 

The factory recommends the timing belts be replaced every 60K; you seem to have only 27K on the belts, so you should be good for a while.

The belts will last longer than 60,000 miles. California mandates that timing belts last 105,000 miles.

I changed the timing belt for the first time in my 1996 Polo back in 2008 at 122,000 miles. The belt looked perfect and had all of the original markings still visible. Still replaced it anyway because the original was 12 years old.

New water pump and thermostat are essential, since they may not have been replaced at your last timing belt change. New Subaru OEM is best; not too fond of the rebuilt units.

.

Re: Timing belt service interval
 

Resurrecting this thread from the dead. I have seen the quoted service interval of 60K miles. I also saw a third party service interval suggest 105K miles. Most new cars, interference and all, suggest 100K or 105K.

What do the experts here say?

I understand that it is common practice to replace a lot of other stuff when you do the timing belt. It would seem overkill to replace the water pump every 60K miles. For those that do the timing belt every 60K do you replace the water pump every 60K also or, say, every 120K miles or every other timing belt change? Or do people do the timing belt every 100K or so and do the water pump and assorted pullies and seals at the same time, every time?

And the service intervals for diff oil and ATF are equally confusing. It says, for severe conditions, that the ATF be replaced every 15K and the diff oil every 30K. But there is NO interval specified for normal conditions. I had always heard ATF should be replaced every 30K and I assume that was for more "normal" driving conditions. I have opted for a drain and refill that I am doing every 12K. Given how much drains out, it works out to be roughluy equivalent to a full change every 30K. If I towed stuff or did a lot of hill driving I would probably cut those in half to be inline with the "severe" interval mentioned above. Does that sound about right? And how about the diff oil? What do people normally use as an interval for normal conditions? 30K? 60K?

Re: Timing belt service interval
 

Incidentally, it's 100k km _OR_ ... five years :)

Re: Timing belt service interval
 

The SVXi that I have service history from and were dealer maintained have had the belt and pump done at 60k miles, or thereabout. Take a look in the "what have you done to your SVX" thread to see what happens to a water pump that seized up at 88k miles. Considering it's only an extra $120 plus an addition hour or so of labor, it's worth getting it done so that 10k miles later, it doesn't take out everything you've just done. Also, most shops won't warranty a timing belt failure if the pump seizes. I also do all of the idlers everytime. The seals are 50/50 and depends if they're leaking. If they're not leaking, I won't touch them.

As for trans fluid, I stongly suggest 30k miles max before a drain and refill with a filter change. (I realize there is debate about the filter) A lot of people do a drain and refill of the trans fluid every other or every 3rd oil change as well. Doing it more often definitely can't hurt.
As for differentials, wouldn't hurt to change them every 60k miles or so. I've seen plenty that I'm sure were original when doing 4.44 swaps and normal service with well over 100k miles.

Re: Timing belt service interval
 

Also, I'd like to add that I have seen mentioned several times on both forums, water pumps seizing near the 120-140k mark. My black 97 for example was very well maintained but the water pump was not changed at 60k when the timing belt was. Then at around 130k it seized and shredded the timing belt (and then I got the car). So 60k miles might be a little overkill for the water pump, but that's why it's called "preventative maintenance", after all. So better to change it at 60k than have it fail right before 120k, when it would get changed at the 2nd timing belt.

Re: Timing belt service interval
 

I agree, 60k could be overkill. The belts do seem plenty strong at 60k so you may get away with even stretching the service to 75k, MAYBE 90k, but I wouldn't go too far beyond that unless you don't mind doing a job on the side of the road. ;)

Re: Timing belt service interval
 

Thanks for the input guys.

Nate,

Is it common for a water pump to fail in less than 100K miles? From everything I have heard, modern timing belts are usually pristine at 60K and can easily reach 100K. The real wild card here is the water pump. If it regularly fails at less than 100K, well, that would mean the pump and belt should be changed in less than 100K. If they generally make it to 120-130K, I would think a change at 100K would be sufficient. I'm sure there are factors other than just time. How regularly the coolant is replaced and how hard the car is driven (how often it sees max RPMs) probably matter. My current SVX had its belt replaced at 40K (due to age) but nor not the water pump. I am approaching 100K so I was going to do the whole job for the sake of the water pump more than the belt. The question really is, once they are done, do I go to 200K or do them again at 160K? I change my coolant every 30K and have only seen power mode kick in once since I bought the car over two years ago.

I am on the fence about the seals. I know at least one was replaced when the belt was done last. I have ZERO evidence of leaks right now. I will probably buy the seals just in case. Is there a reason to not do them if they don't appear to be leaking?

Re: Timing belt service interval
 

You may be fine another 100k miles if you do the belt and pump now, or it could fail at 75k. There's no way of knowing for sure. It's not an interference motor so you don't have to worry about any damage should it fail.
The reason I choose not to do them if they aren't leaking is because there have been cases where non leaking seals are replaced and start leaking shortly after for reasons unknown to me. The main thing is to ensure the new seal is seated exactly how the old one was.

Re: Timing belt service interval
 

Has anyone purchased this timing belt kit from Rock Auto:

http://www.rockauto.com/dbphp/x,carc...onent_Kit.html

It looks like it has a USA made belt from Goodyear and Rock Auto carries decent stuff. I get my Timken bearings from them.

Re: Timing belt service interval
 

I, as well as YT, and a few others have all used the PCI kit off ebay and as far as I know, never a problem.

Re: Timing belt service interval
 

As have I;)

Re: Timing belt service interval
 

Resurrecting an old thread.

Seems some of the gaskets and seals for the cover are no longer available from Subaru.

An advice on what to get or avoid on the after market?