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[robson]

I know it is recommended to change V6 belt and bearings etc at 4years or 40000mls, whichever comes first I assume.4 years comes up in august but I have only done 13000mls . What would the experts say. By the way James fitted my last one and found it was a tooth out probably fitted by somebody without the skill of James.

[TheBoy]

Well, its your car, so your choice.

But as you have said, 4yrs or 40k, whichever comes first.

Its unlikely to fail at 4yrs 1 day, or 41k, but the recommendations are in place for a reason.

[Nick W]

If it were my car, I would have no qualms about leaving the belt change another year, knowing that there is a (small) risk of serious damage.


That advice is worth precisely what you paid for it, so if you have any doubts spend the £150 and get the belt changed.

[grifter]

I know it is recommended to change V6 belt and bearings etc at 4years or 40000mls, whichever comes first I assume.4 years comes up in august but I have only done 13000mls . What would the experts say. By the way James fitted my last one and found it was a tooth out probably fitted by somebody without the skill of James.

Would defo change it if it's a valve hits piston type of engine. Used to drive a cortina and sierras and rover 216 with austin S series engine, the ohc engines never cracked valves/pistons if belt broke, so never really bothered, and guess what, never had a broke one. Sods law will dictate otherwise with omega.

[baggers]

It's that horible though of will it-won't it.  The GM kit was increased to 8 year and 80k but then reduced back to 4 year or 40k, so the kit should be "safe" but your choice.  I'm happy for mine to be on 5 years.

[Lincs Robert]

I know it's not directly Vx related, but when I had the cambelt kit changed on my T5 engined Mondeo 18 months ago (70k mikes & 9 years old) the kit that came off was in perfect condition & that's double the Vx rated life, if you see what I mean. It's also known for new kits to fail - so that's another factor ....

[terry paget]

I think what fails is one of the pulley bearing. When this happens the belt either hops off or breaks, then pistons hit valves, end of engine. Running six Omegas for the last 12 years I have never suffered that. The auxiliary belt drives ancillaries with similar bearings, with a similar tensioner pulley. I have had three of them fail.

I have bought 2 used Omegas which had not had the cam belt and pulleys changed for 100,000 miles. I suppose owners of 12 year old Omegas think the risk is worth taking. Value of car £200, cost of cam belt change £400. They have a point.

[Lizzie Zoom]

After having a 1 year old 2L Carlton CD snap it's cam belt, although no engine damage was done, I will never go longer than the recommended age/mileage.

All my Omega's have had there belts, water pump, etc, changed on 4 years, and my current one will have it's second change next year, the fourth year since the last one.

Why risk a great engine saving what must be paid out in due course anyway.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

And therein lies the point. If the car is a nice example which you want to look after and keep for a long time its crazy not to change the belt / tensioners at the correct interval.
If its a tired runabout which increases in value by 30% every time you fill the tank with petrol, then it may be worth just keeping driving it until something lets go.
It may carry on for years as it is, plenty do,  or it may drop 24 valves tomorrow. Owners choice at the end of the day.

[zirk]

And therein lies the point. If the car is a nice example which you want to look after and keep for a long time its crazy not to change the belt / tensioners at the correct interval.
If its a tired runabout which increases in value by 30% every time you fill the tank with petrol, then it may be worth just keeping driving it until something lets go.
It may carry on for years as it is, plenty do,  or it may drop 24 valves tomorrow. Owners choice at the end of the day.

Agreed, if it was a 'My Baby' the Keeper, then I would stick to the recommended intervals, or as said a few hundred quid run around that's only acquired 13k since the last belt changed I would be tempted to push my luck on going over the 4 year recommended.

[BazaJT]

I had mine changed[by DLK]last year.This was 9yrs and just over 50,000mls since the previous change.Since having it changed the car has covered a quarter of a mile from here to the lock up garage where it's now kept.

[Marks DTM Calib]

I know it's not directly Vx related, but when I had the cambelt kit changed on my T5 engined Mondeo 18 months ago (70k mikes & 9 years old) the kit that came off was in perfect condition & that's double the Vx rated life, if you see what I mean. It's also known for new kits to fail - so that's another factor ....

How do you know it was in perfect condition though, the fact is that a basic visual inspection shows very little, the cords in the belt could be failing or a ball in the bearing housing fatigued and showing signs of heat/age related fracture...

[Doctor Gollum]

Used to do mine every 80K miles... But car was doing upto 800 miles a week

[Lincs Robert]

I know it's not directly Vx related, but when I had the cambelt kit changed on my T5 engined Mondeo 18 months ago (70k mikes & 9 years old) the kit that came off was in perfect condition & that's double the Vx rated life, if you see what I mean. It's also known for new kits to fail - so that's another factor ....

How do you know it was in perfect condition though, the fact is that a basic visual inspection shows very little, the cords in the belt could be failing or a ball in the bearing housing fatigued and showing signs of heat/age related fracture...

Fair point, it looked ok with the old bearings feeling as smooth as the new ones. No obvious wear on the belt either. Ford recommends a 125k belt change interval so I went early to be on the safe side.