Coolant on Belts? | FerrariChat

Coolant on Belts?

Discussion in '308/328' started by Rv5, Feb 14, 2008.

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  1. Rv5

    Rv5 Formula Junior

    Dec 22, 2005
    333
    Full Name:
    Ross V
    While working to get the bad alternator out of my 84, i had to pull the coolant hose to get it out of the way. I disconnected it up top and tried to avoid a mess, but didnt do so well. Coolant ended up running down the belt side of the engine in a fairly large quantity. At the time I just wasnt really thinking about the sensitive nature of the belts and if this could effect them in any way. Did I do any damage? This was on tuesday and the car hasnt been turned over since. I likely wont attempt to start the car until Saturday at the earliest, but is there some cleanup I should do?
     
  2. desire308

    desire308 Formula 3

    Oct 19, 2007
    1,433
    Florida
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    Peter W
    Not sure this is the "right" answer but coolant is water soluble and runs thru rubber hoses so I would have sprayed it off carefully and then shot it with compressed air.

    I would be more concerned if oil had gotten on the belts.
     
  3. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
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    Feb 24, 2006
    15,843
    Cerritos, CA.
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    Mike
    or maybe you could take the belts and soak in a bucket of watter with dish washing detergent then rinse it and let it dry.
     
  4. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
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    Feb 24, 2006
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    #4 miketuason, Feb 14, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Ross, I have to remove my alternator too, but before I do that, does this pipe really have to be remove and no way around it?

    When you said disconnect it up on top, what exactly did you mean? Thanks.

    Mike
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  5. Rv5

    Rv5 Formula Junior

    Dec 22, 2005
    333
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    Ross V
    Mike,
    This is great! My first time using personal experience on an fcar to advise someone else!

    I really wanted to avoid removing the coolant line. I fought with that alternator for a good 30 mins before I caved and pulled it off. So from what I can tell, unfortunately it does have to be disconnected and pulled out of the way. I disconnected it at that very top where it runs into the engine. I pulled that 6 inch hose line that mates the engine and the aluminum tube out, and then i was able to pull the tube downwards toward the ground to get it out of the way. Moreover, I also pulled out the closest stud that was used to attach the mounting bracket to the block. I have a custom exhaust with headers so i dont know if that made it tight, but with those pieces removed I was able to finally wedge it out. If youd like I can snap a picture of what Ive done when I get home this evening. Its still all completely disassembled.

    And to clarify my original post, I am concerned about timing belts, the others. The alternator belt looks brand new. But with coolant free flowing from the top of the engine, running down the side of the block, would it get the timing belts wet and should I be concerned about this?
     
  6. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
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    Feb 24, 2006
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    Mike
    Ross, thanks for the advise, I had a feelings that pipe has to come down. Now as far as the Tbelt getting wet, my experience with the other cars, it should be ok.
    I haved done this many many times before on a Fiat/Lancia spilled coolant on the Tbelt and didn't start the engine till after a week. Belt lasted 20,000 miles.

    Again my experience is with a none Fcar, BUT the belt I dealt with was a DAYCO, Pirrelli, Gates, Continental, and the original Fiat/Lancia brand.
    And yes, please post some pictures I love to see how you're doing it. Thanks.:)
     
  7. Steve King

    Steve King F1 Rookie

    Feb 15, 2001
    4,367
    NY
    Ross it should not be a problem.
     
  8. Rv5

    Rv5 Formula Junior

    Dec 22, 2005
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    Ross V
    awesome, thanks guys! hope to have the freshly rebuilt and upgraded alternator back today or tomorrow and plan to put it back in this weekend.
    Mike, I will definitely take pics and post this evening when I get home.

    And one other thing, offtopic, but as long as I got so much stuff out of the way, is there an easy way to inspect the tbelts?
     
  9. Verell

    Verell F1 Veteran
    Consultant Owner

    May 5, 2001
    7,027
    Groton, MA
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    Verell Boaen
    Inspection can only tell you if the belt is definitely bad, but can't guarantee that it's good. ie: You can pull the belt covers & take a look at the belts to see if any teeth are separating or starting to separate. If so, then the belts are definitely bad. If the teeth are OK, the belt might be good.


    IMHO, if you've got the AC compressor & belt covers off you might as well go ahead & replace the belts. Cheap insurance & not much additional work.
     
  10. Rv5

    Rv5 Formula Junior

    Dec 22, 2005
    333
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    Ross V
    #10 Rv5, Feb 14, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    mike,
    heres a pic of what ive been working with. when i went down to snap the pic i noticed the rear belt cover is totally exposed, save for that one line running near the top. it doesnt have much play in it, but i think i can get the cover off anyway so ill try that tomorrow and take a look.
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  11. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
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    Feb 24, 2006
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    Thanks for the pic Ross, yes it's good if you can remove the cover in this case you realy can see what condition it's in.
    And you can clean everything around it. If you can take pic after you remove the cover. Thanks.
     

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