[ajengli]

Apologies if this has been covered before...

Just emailed the local Ferrari garage, asking what service they recommend I have (they know the car) and they said "The cam belts should be done once every 2 years according to Ferrari" - mine were last done about 2 years ago and the car has done about 3000 miles since.

In the 308 Dino manual it states that they should be changed after 25000 miles but before 37000 miles (no time specified).

What is the truth behind this, I can fully understand why anyone connected with providing Ferrari servicing or parts would claim they should be done every two years. The service with belts is approx twice as much as a normal service and I don't want to change perfectly good belts for no reason. On the other hand though I don't want to skimp on servicing.

If it makes any difference he car is kept in a garage when not being driven and I put the de-humidifier on during damp weather, I drive it at least once a month for at least 20 miles to keep it moving. Any advice/facts/figures appreciated.

 

[Stradale]

The standard cambelt change is 30,000km or 3 years whichever is earlier. The belt will deteriorate and has a finite life, even if you don't use the car. In fact it's worse if you don't!!

Changing the belt at the recommended time is a precaution, an insurance you mght say. If the belt snap while driving, you're going to be in for a very, very expensive engine repair. You have to change the valves for sure because they'll be bent and whatever else that is damaged/spolied due to the broken cambelt. A friend of mine tried to prolong his 348 cambelt change and he ended up paying almost 10 times the cost because the of the damage to the engine!!

It's just not worth it to prolong the change.

 

[4kids3fish]

Andy,

Ferrari appear to recommend different change intervals for different models. This may just reflect a better quality of part is used for later cars, as Stradale's servicing says 30,000km or 3 years, but my Mondial 3.2 (1987) calls for :

"Replace timing belts every 35,000 - 45,000 km, or 24 months maximum"

I agree that hardly anyone will every hit the mileage limit & will instead be faced with changing the belts every 2 / 3 years. I'd go with what your manual says, as it is probably based on the life expectancy of belts made for the funky GT4. Maybe 360s, etc use a different tooth profile with a lower belt tension - I dunno.

 

[Stradale]

Andy,

Ferrari appear to recommend different change intervals for different models. This may just reflect a better quality of part is used for later cars, as Stradale's servicing says 30,000km or 3 years, but my Mondial 3.2 (1987) calls for :

"Replace timing belts every 35,000 - 45,000 km, or 24 months maximum"

I agree that hardly anyone will every hit the mileage limit & will instead be faced with changing the belts every 2 / 3 years. I'd go with what your manual says, as it is probably based on the life expectancy of belts made for the funky GT4. Maybe 360s, etc use a different tooth profile with a lower belt tension - I dunno.

I think for the older models the time period is less because at the time of when the cars were made, the belt quality was not as good as it is now. Now if you check any of the Ferrari owners manual, it's 3 years. So I assume the older cars will have current specs belts and should last 3 years rather than 2.

 

[Boxer]

From experience, I would tend to agree with Stradale. On the Boxer, the manual calls for changes every 40-60,000 km with no time limit (I have been advised that it should be done at least once every four years). The F355 is every four years or 60,000 km. I would guess that the 8 cylinder models put more stress on the belts and therefore require more frequent changes.

 

[ajengli]

Thanks for the replies, I will probably go for a belt change, as it was stated earlier it's almost like an insurance - probably not necessary but I may be glad I got it.

The service with belt change costs £998, the normal service is £528. I guess that's the cost of ownership! Having said that a freind had his cam belts done on a Peugeot 406 3ltr coupe - £900.

 

[Stradale]

The service with belt change costs £998, the normal service is £528. I guess that's the cost of ownership! Having said that a freind had his cam belts done on a Peugeot 406 3ltr coupe - £900.

There you are. :green: