360 belt service interval: 5 years with newer Kevlar belts?

Yes, another belt service interval thread.

I'm having a discussion with someone about 360 belt service intervals. Now, I know about the Ferrari service bulletin stating that for the modern V8 cars, the belt service interval is 3 years/30K miles.

However, I just got information from my very trusted independent Ferrari technician, as well as the local Ferrari dealer, that with the newer Kevlar belts available, the belt service interval is 5 years/50K miles.

So, if a car has the newer Kevlar belts from the previous belt service (i.e. the service was done within the last few years since the newer belts were available), is this true? Does anyone have any official Ferrari documentation on this?

Edit: Before I posted this, I did do a search on this topic. I still posted because I cannot get a definitive statement on this, if a definitive statement actually exists that is.

 

The problem with the belt service isn't only the belts, but the tensioner bearings as well and while you're in there, there's the water pump that needs to be looked at for leaks... In the end it's all about preventive maintenance. This is not your run of the mill chevy or something where you can get a motor around the corner... They don't make the 3.6 ltr engine for the 360 anymore, so I wouldn't advise doing more than 3 years between belt services... BTW, nowhere is it mentioned by Ferrari that you can stretch the belt service to 5 years with Kevlar belts . Their WSM as well as the owners maintenance manual clearly states that the belt changes are required every 3 years.

 

What new Kevlar belts? Part number different from 184986, which replaced 181610 over a decade ago, and was introduced before the technical bulletin was published in May 2004? 184986, which does have Kevlar, was introduced around the 2002 timeframe and at about the same time as the new Kevlar belts for the 575M, part number 184688. Ferrari published two bulletins on those belts after they were introduced, and one says 5 years for the 575M and the other says 3 years for the 360. 360 belts live in a much harsher environment than the V12 belts on the 575M and 612 and rev 1000 rpm more.

 

I change my belts every 7 years. And guess what.... When you hold the old belts next to the new belts, they look exactly the same! Of course there are people who will argue that the belts should be changed every 3 years or less! Some people don't drive their cars and still change the belts. Some people just wait until the miles are at 30,000 or 50,000. This is an age old debate. If you search the forum this topic along with the "clutch" topic, these threads are always the biggest

 

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Just driving around for an hour or so and parking it. There is so much heat soak to the entire engine bay and surrounding structure that I think it took at least 4 hours for it to cool down. This is with the engine bonnet up! Of course it's warm where I live maybe about 86 degrees but still I am amazed how long that puppy stays hot after a drive. This is another reason to stay on the prescribed belt regimen, heat cycles and heat soak to the max.

 

I do 5 years. Just because I want to.

I also believe if you look long enough at the sky at night, you'll eventually see a falling star...

 

If you talk to a good mechanic who has worked on these things for a long time you will hear that the problem with the belts and needing to change them every three years is from sitting more than anything. When one part Of the belts sit in a pinched or curved position where it's stressed more for a long time and then someone gets in and tips through the gears after it sat like that for 6 months and drives it like they stole its put in a harsh situation. Drive it regularly and I've talked to numerous guys around here who do 5 years on the normal belts with no probs. sitting kills it more than anything

 

Earlier this year I looked at a one-owner 1999 360 with about 15K miles that had the original belts on it. I think the guy was crazy to push it that far, but it does say something that the belts and tensioner bearings can last that long.


I ended up not pursuing the car because of other issues.

 

Just done belts and tensioners on my 2000 modena, not sure how long ago was done previously but both belts with the driver side more, were stretched .... my advise ? I would follow the Ferrari 3 years intervals !

 

Just got a low mileage car driven just 2000 miles since last belt change 6 years ago in 2008. Took it apart first thing and found the driver side belt was so loose I couldn't get a harmonic reading. Passenger side reading was low too at 60Hz when it should have been 100Hz.

Yes it had a Kevlar belt code dated end of 2007 on a June 2008 install.

It takes only a few hours to inspect it each year when you change the coolant so that's my plan. Belts every 3 years for me too.

 

100hz??

Where did you get that spec?

It's wrong by a whole bunch.

 

I'll have to check the manual later, but I thought the math is an an aggregate of both "branches" on each bank at ~100hz equaling 190-220hz.

 

I had a 99 360 with a hair under 20k miles, that was on stock everything (besides Fluids)........... 14 years! People are nuts

 

I look at it this way. You can shell out a small amount of money every three years or gamble and possibly shell out for a motor rebuild when the valves meet the pistons.

 

I'm wondering, has anyone considered a belt-to-chain conversion? Not sure how difficult this would be to achieve, but it could be worth it if you were going to keep the car a long time and were otherwise planning to replace the belts every three years.

 

It's a Ferrari, not a Ford. Follow the maintance schedule, that's what I do. My 2 cents...

 

That is talked about every time someone says the word "belts".

Cheaper to buy a 430 than convert/butcher a perfectly good car

 

I guess that's why I did.

 

Not just the belt that has to be serviced regularly back there. Cam seals also tend to need to be changed every other major service, so you are not buying anything by never doing belt changes.

 

I had a few reasons why I went with a 430 vs a 360 and no belts on the 430 was one of them.

That being said, I know me and I would probably replace between 3-5 years if I owned a 360.

 

To my knowledge with the service history I have my car has two belt changes in 15 years and 29k miles (last changed at 21k and 2012). I'll probably go with the 3 year interval as my left bank cam seal is weeping (so that lasted 15 years and 29k miles) otherwise I would go with a 5 year interval. Not bad enough so was advised to change out at next belt service which will be next July.
Alan

 

Below is screen shot from the FWM.
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The screen shot below is from 19July2011, but there are many other examples. I was told that the service manager at FOQ later retracted his statement.
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Steve- That is the sum of the two branches on each timing belt, not the sum of one branch from each bank. One branch from each bank would make no sense at all since one at 20 and one at 200 would give you what you needed.