Yep... another 355 belt question... Sorry

I understand the belt service required on the 355's every 3-5 years. I get that it needs to be done... but simply, why? Why does it need to be done so often? Is it that the components go bad easily?

 

Ounce of prevention better than a pound of cure. That's about it....
3 years is often considered too much, 5-7 is considered reasonable.

 

Well tire manufacturers say to replace tires every 5 or 6 years and a timing belt is running in a much harsher environment.

 

I just did my belt after 7 years, the old ones felt just as soft and healthy as the new ones. The hill tensioner pulleys we're in perfect shape as well.
The reason you do it every 5 to 7 years is a little bit of cheap insurance, mixed with resale I guess

 

This makes sense. I've just always read that you HAVE to do it every 3-5 (sometimes 5-7) years but never quite understood why. But obviously keeping up with it helps in resale among other things.

 

Given the engine architecture of the 355 the cam belts are super important and any stretching can affect the function of the engine as well as cause potential and serious damage if one snaps - but you probably already know that

I do mine religiously every 5 years per this maintenance cycle - Major=> Annual=> Bi-annual=> Annual=> Bi-annual=> Major

I think 3 years is a bit ridiculous for 355 majors and 7 is pushing my luck and will just end up being more expensive and risky anyway so adhere to the above schedule and budget plan for it.

Just me - Others may have different thoughts but this works for me and I have not had any major issues with my 355 in 10+ years of ownership.

Cheers

 

You don't HAVE to, there is no auto engine self destruct if a sensor detects its not done or anything. Its the factory recommended schedule. Prevention and being a good steward...

 

Am I mistaken or are the new belts superior in quality/durability to the belts when the 355 was a new car? And the Hill bearings are also reputed to be better than the OEM bearings. Has anyone using these newer parts done a major at 5 years (or whatever) and found significant wear?

 

These are some of the most asked questions on the internet. If you do a search there is more information available that can be read in a lifetime.

If you are too Fing cheap to service the car....sell it.

 

My Rosso car had an engine out service in Oct 2016. I'll be preparing for an engine out late 2023, which would put it right at 7 years. It has Hill bearings and whatever belts Ferrari had in 2016. Only issue is the car has seen less than 1000 miles since 2016, so I'm not sure if we're going to see much wear from my examples.

 

Over these long years your nasty sarcastic tongue gets as old as these cambelt threads.

 

There used to be a TV show called Fear Factor. Surprised they never had an episode where they had a Ferrari with 10 year old belts and dared the contestants to start it.

 

How about mileage?

 

One thing to point out is that originally the service schedule called for belts to be changed every 60,000km (37,282mi). No timeframe was given.

The belts will be fine.

It is more likely that the tensioners will go bad before the belts. My car had a major done five years I think before I bought it. One of the tensioner bearings was noticeably flat spotted.

 

Lets take my case. End of 2023 will be 7 years since last service, but only 1000 mi in. What should I change outside of the belts? Looking to save a buck or two .

 

You can change to Hill Engr tensioner bearings.
If it's original and showing sign of collapse, also change the tensioners
Check the heat exchanger, they wear out in time not miles
You really want to change all the cam seals, paper gaskets, and orings
All coolant hoses now that the engine is out, it's a lot easier
Are your fans 25 years old and blowing fuses?
Are your oil hoses leaking, fuzzing, or drippy? The little one between the engine and the oil tank is the worst. Now's the time
Dump the spark plugs. You can never trust the color
Repaint the cam covers
Your engine mounts under the headers, if they collapse more than 1/4 inch, they are gon
Beyond 35k miles, change the oil pump chain tensioner
If there is an oil leak between the engine and gearbox, change the RMS
Death rattle? repack the kluber grease
Leaky inspection ports under the gearbox, change those gaskets
The original aluminum banjo bolts at the gearbox oil lines, they do not last 30k miles
Your timing case cover has cracks, JB weld to the rescue
Smoke test the headers. Replacing them when engine is out is much easier
TDC sensors... cheap
Coolant temp sensor... cheap
CV boots cracked? $100 each
And then there is that pesky waterpump.

 

7 years, 1000 miles? If the cam seals aren't leaking and no other issues, get in a drive it.

 

Thanks for the lengthy response.

Has Hill tensioners replaced in 2016 (less than 1k mi)


All coolant hoses seem fine. I’ve checked a few times and they look great.

Fans didn’t blow under my watch, but I saw fan fuse was changed in one of the invoices (from previous owner). I need to locate that fuse to see if its a 30 or 40 amp. Fans are still original to the car. I actually took them apart to clean and didn’t see much dirt in the motor. I’ve read they draw more power as they get old and dirty. Still contemplating to buy new fans now or not as I do have them off at the moment.

There was an oil leak between engine and gearbox reported in the invoice already fixed under previous ownership.


Gearbox is smooth. No rattles. Has Hill TO bearing.

Cam covers still look brand new. I’m sure they were done at one of the previous engine outs.

I’ve screenshotted this and will be keeping an eye on the rest when that time comes.

 

I’ll definitely be driving it until the start of 2024 .

 

Brian, Brian - We really must work on you coming out of your shell and learning how to craft and deliver a direct and succinct response

 

No, he is right. I'm too Fing cheap to spend money replacing parts that don't need replacing.

 

They all seem fine until they are not. 95% of all hoses I replaced are fine, but that is actually the point.

 

Some dude joins Fchat this very day and lobs a cambelt post directly into the 355 forum.....and look at you people.....

SMFH

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It’s a religious argument.

 

And he's clearly a Corvette owner