Ok... so I just replaced my serpentine belt not long ago... it needs replaced AGAIN.

My crankshaft seal or whatever has been leaking oil VERY slowly for a while now... and getting onto the belt and spraying oil all over the engine bay... but it's gotten worse. (i.e. before I had to add a quart of oil only every 3 months or so, whereas now it's about a quart every month and a half or month).

I can't replace it myself... and I have someone that said they'd replace my seals for me, but just haven't had the time yet. So... from my understanding, the oil is wearing out the belt wayyyy faster than it should...

So is it the oil wearin out the belt quick, or could it be something else to check out too??

It not that it is wearing it out but the belt is being saturated with oil.....the belt should be dry and grease free.....when it gets oily the belt can actually slip around the pulleys......(ie......power steering, causing poor/tought steering when belt is soaked in oil.)

The cold doesnt help the situation. Cold temps have the tendency of cracking the threads on the belts.

El Fuego ( the unstable ) wrote:The cold doesnt help the situation. Cold temps have the tendency of cracking the threads on the belts.

Not with oil soaked in it.

The oil is causing the belt to slip and wears it out. added friction.

Oil is your problem. Just have your seals, main, valve cover, timing cover ( if applicable), drain pan, etc.


- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new

Sweet... so get the seals replaced, get everything cleaned up and I should be fine then right???

Should be fine once the seals are replaced... also the oil will have a tendancy to break the rubber down a little... combine that with the heat of the engine and any possible slippage of the belt, and that will cause the belt to fail.