Timing belt crud Topic is solved

Post by **ogatrulle** » 25 May 2017, 20:35

Finally got at the timing belt on the 06 v70 today. This has 118K mi.

I have not worked on Volvos until this year, and this is my first time doing a timing belt. Found some crud on the inboard edge of the belt and toothed pulleys (cams, wp, crank). It appears to be bits of grease - I can smear them on my fingers.

Other online photos of this area don't seem to have these bits of crud. Is it significant? Do I need to track down the source, or just swap in the new belt and forget about it for another 100K miles?

Post by **mrbrian200** » 25 May 2017, 23:16

If it were mine I would probably just visually inspect the new belt by removing the top cover once or twice in the first year to see if it comes back. I do see some oil soaked crud on top of the engine in pic #1. But that could be from almost anything on that side... PS fluid...engine oil...AC Compressor oil...owner spillage while adding fluids...

The cam seals are recommended to be changed every so often but that doesn't look like engine oil to me, more like CV axle grease.

Have you ever had a CV boot fail at speed and make a big mess on that side or maybe even drive over fresh concrete sealer where the tires might have kicked it up into a fine mist that got sucked in there?

Post by **oragex** » 26 May 2017, 08:51

Happened to me when I put Dayco parts. Looks like one of the new pulleys/tensioner is throwing grease from the bearing. I guess some cheap brands. I would replace them asap with quality (Gates) or better original Volvo parts.

Post by **ogatrulle** » 26 May 2017, 09:48

Thank you everyone for your ideas. My first timing belt so I am wary of screwing up.

I just bought this car, so I am not certain of its repair history. PO did include a fair amount of repair paperwork, which I have reviewed. Nothing about CV boots/joints. I also believe this is the original Volvo timing belt, WP, tensioner, and idler (all of which I will be replacing with Volvo parts).

Note that the crud is all on the inboard edges of the belt and pulleys, which I guess supports the hypothesis that grease is coming off of one of those turning parts. It's obscuring the timing ticks on the inboard edge of the crank timing pulley, and I'll have to get a long-reach tool to try to clean it off a little so I can see them.

Since this crud seems to be grease and not oil, would I be correct in assuming the cam and crank seals are OK?

Post by **mrbrian200** » 26 May 2017, 10:00

oragex wrote: ↑26 May 2017, 08:51 Happened to me when I put Dayco parts. Looks like one of the new pulleys/tensioner is throwing grease from the bearing. I guess some cheap brands. I would replace them asap with quality (Gates) or better original Volvo parts.

You found on the old one - took a picture before replacing- confirm this is a picture of the old or did this appear after putting the new stuff on? I thought the pulley/tensioner used dry bearings. Or is that not the case with some of the lower quality aftermarket stuff?

Post by **ogatrulle** » 26 May 2017, 11:05

mrbrian200 wrote: ↑26 May 2017, 10:00 confirm this is a picture of the old or did this appear after putting the new stuff on?

I'm not sure if you're asking me or oragex, but in the case of the photos in the first (my) post, those are the original parts. I have not taken the timing belt off yet and I believe these are the original factory belt, idler, tensioner, and WP.

Post by **mrbrian200** » 26 May 2017, 11:47

That was two questions directed at both.
Since that's the old one, the theory that a PO replaced those with substandard parts is as plausible as anything I can think considering oragex had a similar experience.

On an interference engine you don't mess around with potentially inferior aftermarket timing components. When I did mine I used the performance kit from FCP (Gates glass/Kevlar reinforced belt, OEM pulley and tensioner).

Post by **ogatrulle** » 09 Aug 2017, 11:38

I completed the timing belt service in June, including all the usual components (water pump, tensioner, idler) and cleaned up all that crud.

When I started on the next task, replacing the PCV components, I saw that there was oil all over the top of the engine. Service records from the previous owner showed recent replacement of the upper PCV hose due to leakage. The plastic ribbed wire loom over the ignition wiring had been disintegrating for some time into little bits which were mixed with the oil. My current hypothesis is that the crud on the timing belt was a combination of these plastic bits and oil from the pcv hose leak.

PO's mechanic, who specializes in Volvos, apparently didn't bother cleaning up the oil, and installed a URO hose. I'm scratching my head over that one because the Volvo part is only a few bucks more expensive.

Post by **oragex** » 09 Aug 2017, 13:04

I've read some negative feedback about URO pcv rubber parts not lasting indeed

The water pump was not needed before 200k, did the garage install a good brand in place such as Volvo or Aisin? Several aftermarket brands have failed quickly and suddenly.

Post by **ogatrulle** » 09 Aug 2017, 14:29

oragex wrote: ↑09 Aug 2017, 13:04 The water pump was not needed before 200k, did the garage install a good brand in place such as Volvo or Aisin? Several aftermarket brands have failed quickly and suddenly.

Yep, Volvo brand water pump. Buddy of mine who does not do his own work tells of an aftermarket pump with plastic blades that self-disassembled almost immediately after installation, so I'm cautious.

I see now that I probably could have waited. I'm just used to GM northstar pumps that only last about 120K.