RE: Timing belts - age of

[Dave Shreeve <shreevda@cannondale.com>]

Ozone from electric motors will degrade rubber...

HTH!  -David

> ----------
> From: 	Alex Kowalski[SMTP:tjones@wppost.depaul.edu]
> Sent: 	Tuesday, December 9, 1997 9:48 PM
> To: 	quattro@coimbra.ans.net
> Subject: 	Re:Timing belts - age of
> 
> 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
> 
> 
> 
>