348 - How often do you do the timing belt service? | FerrariChat

348 How often do you do the timing belt service?

Discussion in '348/355' started by Augustin, May 10, 2020.

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How offer do you do the timing belt service on your 348?

Poll closed Jun 28, 2020.
  1. 3 years

    1 vote(s)
    2.4%
  2. 5 years

    16 vote(s)
    39.0%
  3. 7 years

    25 vote(s)
    61.0%
  4. I have already had a problem with the timing belt

    1 vote(s)
    2.4%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. Augustin

    Augustin Rookie

    Apr 19, 2019
    11
    Full Name:
    Augustin de Villeneuve
    Hello guys,

    I am creating this poll to figure out what the majority of 348 owners do with the timing belt service.

    I recently had a discussion with a ferrari specialist here in France who has strongly advised me to follow the 3 years recommended service time. But I believe the consensus is 5 years...

    Please vote for:
    - How often you do it?
    - choose the last option as well if you already had a distribution failure and you didn’t respect the normal 3 years recommended period.

    thanks all for your feedback !
     
  2. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
    Consultant

    Nov 29, 2001
    12,661
    San Carlos, CA
    Full Name:
    Mitchell Le
    Somebody, please lock this thread !!!
     
    mojocoggo and WATSON like this.
  3. Augustin

    Augustin Rookie

    Apr 19, 2019
    11
    Full Name:
    Augustin de Villeneuve
    Why lock it ?
     
  4. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jun 11, 2004
    10,630
    CT
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    John Kreskovsky
    Because the answer is anywhere between 3 and, "my car still had the original belts".
     
    phrogs, mojocoggo, MAD828 and 2 others like this.
  5. energy88

    energy88 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jan 21, 2012
    26,819
    West of Fredericksburg, VA
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    John
    JLF likes this.
  6. Ferrarium

    Ferrarium F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jul 28, 2018
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    Central NJ
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    Eric
    I suggest you search and read this has been covered. Believe it or not.... your not the first person to ask this.
    between 3-10 depending on how you feel is the answer. The is no actual right answer btw.
     
  7. Augustin

    Augustin Rookie

    Apr 19, 2019
    11
    Full Name:
    Augustin de Villeneuve
    I am not asking what is the answer because I know there isn’t a “right” answer. I am just asking how often do each one of you do it? Just to get a sense of what’s the majority...
     
    JasonS likes this.
  8. Wade

    Wade Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Mar 31, 2006
    32,793
    East Central, FL
    Full Name:
    Wade O.
    I've been hanging around here for a little while and I'd venture to say that 5 to 7 years are the winning numbers.

    However, this thread lays out the requirements from the owner's manual, plus has the Ferrari 3-year guidance letter (posted by Ernie).

    https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/348-major-service.185769/

    From 2006 - https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/timing-belt-change-348.127899/

    From 2009 - https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/timing-belt-change-how-often.235297/

    There are plenty of additional threads, but just for starters.
     
  9. KevZep

    KevZep Formula Junior

    Feb 17, 2020
    563
    New Zealand
    Full Name:
    Kevin Bennett
    I'm doing my major + extras at the moment, and I don't intend on doing a belt change for at least 7-8years.....
     
    Pangea and epb0 like this.
  10. WATSON

    WATSON Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Sep 9, 2010
    21,611
    WI
  11. Ferrarium

    Ferrarium F1 Veteran
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    Jul 28, 2018
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    Eric
    The manual says 3, if in doubt always follow that. Lot's of people say one thing but never keep the car long enough to do it. It is possible everyone's consensus is wrong? Just putting it out there.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  12. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
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    Jun 11, 2004
    10,630
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    John Kreskovsky
    Pangea, Ferrarium and Wade like this.
  13. KevZep

    KevZep Formula Junior

    Feb 17, 2020
    563
    New Zealand
    Full Name:
    Kevin Bennett
    Service manual written when the car was new, nowadays we are using superior parts and components, bearings, water-pumps, and manufacturing of said cambelts is superior to what it was 30 odd years ago....so the interval between these services can be longer now.
     
  14. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
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    Jun 11, 2004
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    John Kreskovsky
    I wouldn't count on it.
     
  15. KevZep

    KevZep Formula Junior

    Feb 17, 2020
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    Full Name:
    Kevin Bennett
    I would.
     
  16. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jun 11, 2004
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    John Kreskovsky
    Noting wrong with the old stuff. More problems with cheap part today, which is why we have Hill T-bearing. I went 25 years on my 308 with original T-bearing and belts. T-bearing were fine. Belts showed minimum wear. Currently 10 on the 308, 7 on the 355.

    Here is an interesting tidbit form Dayo.

    With a fact like that, if timing belts were so fragile there would be dead cars all over the highways.
     
  17. A348W

    A348W Formula 3

    Jun 28, 2017
    1,741
    North Wiltshire, UK
    completely and utterly agree.

    having just done my major, one tensioner bearings had play in it; outside tolerance. Was new 3 years ago and 8k miles.

    mine will be going back in, in three years for engine out major. Small price to pay to avoid a blow engine.
     
  18. KevZep

    KevZep Formula Junior

    Feb 17, 2020
    563
    New Zealand
    Full Name:
    Kevin Bennett
    Wow this is a sensitive subject isn't it......
    Everyone is entitled to their opinion, people will do what they feel is right....
    Life carries on...
     
  19. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
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    Jun 11, 2004
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    John Kreskovsky
    Exactly. :)
     
  20. Ferrarium

    Ferrarium F1 Veteran
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    Jul 28, 2018
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    Eric
    #21 Ferrarium, May 11, 2020
    Last edited: May 11, 2020
    Thinking out loud... the OEM tensioner bearings and front timing case bearings on the 348 sucked not because they did not have technology to make them, they sucked because they were poor quality selection among a sea of really good options. The hill offerings for both are much better not because they manufactured them better but because the original ones were under spec'ed and never should have been used. I have a 1976 Yamaha 650 and the best and most expensive bearings for the crank you can get are original OEM from 1971-83 which are very rare now and were German made. The new bearings are horrible and last few years. Lots of cars from the same era (toyotas for example) still have the original bearings and "probably" belts still in them running well over 150K mikes.

    While I am sure 348 belts failed I have not read of them, I'm sure folks in shops have seen them but I suspect much of it can be traces to incorrect procedures on prior service, just a hunch, I have no empirical data, but I do know I have not read any posts of "crap me belt broke".

    Planes were not exactly droping out of the sky in 1950,60,70,80 and 90's due to bad bearings the list of examples goes on forever. I did however stumble across a slew of threads of 458's with bad bearings. Go figure with all the new methods and materials and what not.
     
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  21. Andy 355

    Andy 355 Formula Junior

    Jun 2, 2013
    434
    Sydney
    Note to Enzo... Use Porsches flat 6 chain in the next life.
     
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  22. kryten2001

    kryten2001 Formula 3

    Exact same issue with Ducati's. Almost every single belt failure I have ever heard/read about didn't come from an aging belt, but rather poor installation from the prior mechanic.

    Not taking a position, but I would suspect there's nothing at all wrong with 5 years as a minimum period but I personally wouldn't go more than 7 myself. Anything less than 5 is probably overkill, but hey if it makes you happy, go for it.

    Labour rates in some parts of the world are very expensive so I'd understand people wanting to stretch it out a little.
     
    NMF1 likes this.
  23. vjlax18

    vjlax18 Formula Junior
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    May 12, 2014
    679
    Nottingham, MD
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    John
    I was planning on every 5 years... Looks like I'll be on a 6 year cycle. :)
     
  24. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
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    Jun 11, 2004
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    John Kreskovsky
    WATSON likes this.

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