Quote:
Originally Posted by Coastal i8
From looking at the information on the little B38 engine in the i8. The belt drive only runs 2 items. A coolant pump and the starter motor generator. The coolant pump is obvious. The Starter motor generator is the device that starts the ICE and generates electricity for the battery when the engine is running and supplies an electric motor boost to the ICE under “boost” conditions. The air conditioner is powered by a electric unit not a belt. There is a fat 8 ribbed belt that handles all of this through a pendulum belt tensioner.
No where can I find a replacement schedule for this belt. Looking through the service pack that came with my car only 3 services are ever mentioned and tied to specific oil change intervals. At every 2 oil changes replace ventilation microfilter and check door hinge bolts.
At every 3rd oil change replace the spark plugs.
At every 4 oil changes replace the engine air filter element and replace the door support struts. That’s it.
There are other checks associated with scheduled maintenance and condition based service reminders, but nothing about the drive belt anywhere.
Frequently replacing the drive belt probably isn’t a bad idea as you can’t start or operate the ICE without it.
In cars with a critical belt driven overhead valve assembly (timing belt) usually the manufacturer recommended belt replacement interval is 60,000 to 100,000 miles or 7-10 years regardless of miles. I guess 4 oil changes if your doing it every 15,000 miles does add up. But every 2 oil changes seems a little overdone. Also the belt only costs $23 and looks like an easy job.
I personally change my oil every 5,000 miles as turbochargers really like clean oil for long life.
Anybody else out there with a higher mileage i8 had their belt replaced?
|
Wow - thank you for the information. BTW - I didn't realise the door struts were a maintenance point... better start putting pennies in the jar.
With respect to the belt, the main cost is labour (3 hours quoted). Also, whilst my i8 is coming up to 5 years old, it's only done about 11,500km (just over 7000 miles), so hardly a "high miler". I probably should drive it more, since recent production numbers are so high (and depreciation) it hardly matters to keep it in "pristine" condition anymore.