Re:Timing belts - age of

[Alex Kowalski (audial@aol.com) (Tonya Jones) <tjones@wppost.depaul.edu>]

Phil Payne wrote:  

> Has anyone ever seen an age limit for timing belts in months rather than
> miles?  My own rule-of-thumb would be five years - anyone of a 
> different opinion?

I don't have hard data, but it's a good question and five or six years
sounds reasonable to me considering the cost of the belt.  Also the
environment during storage has to have an effect on its life.  What about
the belt taking a set if the engine isn't turned for extended periods?  Radial
tires do, why not timing belts? 

Even though the belt is protected from sunlight by the cover, it's still
exposed to the atmosphere, and if the engine isn't turned it's more
vulnerable in some places than others.  That sounds like the makings of a
potential nonuniformity in the belt to me.

Speaking of deteriorating rubber products, I've noticed that the wiper
blades on my girlfriend's car seem to be wearing out more quickly in the
last two years, during which time it has been parked in an enclosed,
public garage.  Previously, it was parked beneath her building but the
garage was not enclosed and was open to the outside.  Maybe the extra
smog is attacking the rubber?

I'd be interested to hear what Rudy C. has to say about this subject
(since he designs tires).

Best Wishes,
Alex