Quick question about timing belts

[Panzer909]

I remember reading somewhere that timing belts are considerably more durable today than they were even a few years ago. If this were so, would this theoretically allow you to put more miles on them? Or is this just not true? Did Porsche ever issue a bullitin on anything about this?

[EugeneYu]

Good question. Anybody knows?

[T86951]

I had one brake 2 years ago. It had 60,000 miles on it when it broke and had "never been retenioned". I was driving a lot of highway miles then and kept meaning to get it replaced but waited too long. Bent some valves! My current belt has 30,000 miles on it. I retentioned it about 6 months ago and it looked perfect. I am tring to decide if I should go ahead and do the change now or wait another 10,000 or so. I think the key is to retenion so it is in spec and I think they will last a lot longer than 30,000. Getting real loose is the worst problem as mine was so loose you could hear it flapping when the engine was cold.

[todd951]

The factory recommends retensioning every 15k, and replacing every 45k.

[Rob-O]

Replace it at 45,000. At one time the factory was telling us 30,000 max. They moved it up to 45,000 a long time ago now. However it's still supposed to be checked every 15,000 I think. Retensioned after initially put on after 1500 or 2000 I think.

[Dave951M]

Maybe it's just me, but I would also check the tension on the balance belt as well. The timing belt is critical, but if the bal belt fails or shreds, the timing belt will surely follow very shortly afterwards. Since you would already be in there, why not check both?

Dave951M

[T86951]

Good comment Dave. The balance shaft belt needs retentioned also. I have always read that if it breaks it will take the timing belt out.