Where does the "3" years for a belt service come from?

It was Technical Service Bulletin issued during the time of the 360 cam variator failures, in which FNA revise the interval to 3 years or 30K miles and it refered to "ALL V8 ENGINES".......at least those still under their warranty.

That's where many of us NON CAT low temperature engines just yawned and continued with whatever was in our Manual.....


I have one car with belts 15 years old, I don't run it, (needs clutch and brakes) but there they are......

 

I guess it's fear that your belt may snap if it gets too old.

Three years is not too old, although the material does deteriorate, but not in three years in my experience. I've started other (junked) cars that have been stood for over ten years and the belt has been fine - I'm not suggesting for one minute that anyone should do that, just illustrates that belts laster longer than people think.

Clearly a belt going on your Ferrari is bad news, but so is wear on the tensioner pulleys or drive pulleys.

Turning it around, changing then belts too often increases the chance of someone doing the job wrong...

Lee

'77 GT4

 

Absolutely, our Service Interval shows every 3K miles to perform certain operations and it always includes "inspection" of the belts, so I am not implying you should slam the hood and leave them on for 12 years....LOL!

 

Mike,

the 360 uses a hydralic (spelling damn ?) tensioner....they were and are more prone to failure because when these cars sit the hydralic tends to dry out.

The 308s/328/ series all use a stationary tensioner (or bolt on tensioner)....therefore this is a better design (if you can call it that) so the 52,500 mile interval was used. As with all rumors to do with ferrari's everyone gets paranoid and presses the panick buttons, plus ferrari likes to add a few bucks into there pockets and there dealers so they came out with this 3 yr rule.

If its any help, my TR went 8 years on its belts before the change, and all was well inside. I have a 308 right now on its 5th year and again all seems well. I would follow the original rule of about 7-8 yrs and run the car regularly to make sure the belts dont warp.

Enjoy !!

 

It says "all v8 Ferraris" and makes no other distinction.....so careful.

But as Big Red notes you'd follow 1976 books, on a 1976 car!!

Sleep well!

 

Not too sure what your query actually is but does this clarify ?

All v8 Ferrari regardless of model year
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Correct,
But notice it came out in 2004...timing is spot on for the 360 series. As for the 308/328 series, they put that in for good measure as an add on. I somehow doubt that ferrari was 30 yrs late in realizing that 308s and 328 shouldnt have been thought of sooner

 

It is interesting that they mention only BELTS, and not bearings/tensioners (to be concise)....and I believe that is where the crux of the concern is. How often has anyone heard of the belts themselves being the issue?

 

The 52,500 number comes because of the EPA requirement that emissions parts (which includes timing systems) be warranted and maintenance free for 50K at that time.

I had an 85 QV once that had a factory bulletin stuffed in the manual that said belts required changing every two years! Nevertheless, the car still had the original belts when I bought it early in 2000.

Dave

 

LOL, Off subject, but get the Google toolbar. Free and makes you spell like a pro.
Dave
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I think Ferraris intent is quite clear from the bulletin. ALL YEARS, ALL MODELS OF V8's.
Whether you choose to follow it or not, is entirely up to you. I, personally, always changed at the 5 year or 30k interval. But make no mistake, I am NOT following FNA's recommendation, but I was comfortable with it. If there is any question, call your local Ferrari dealer in Mexico City.