belt dressing
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belt dressing
my surpintine belt was making a little noise, and usually I just hit it with a little WD-40 and it quiets, but I had some belt dressing in a aerosol can that I thought I would give a try, read the label, helps preserve the belt, stops squeels etc,etc so I sprayed it on, well instantly it started to squeel, and now sounds like I have a turbine under the hood, I have since sprayed it with WD-40, and brake cleaner, trying to get it off, nothing works, might have to get a new belt, whats up with this, did I apply it wrong? 
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,679
Likes: 15
From: BC, Canada
I'm not sure what type of belt you have, some brands seem worse than others, but I do know that belt dressing usually ruins serpentine belts. They usually make tons of noise after and replacing it and cleaning the pulleys is the only way to fix it. Brake cleaner works good for cleaning the pulleys.
I use WD40 on belts too. It cleans them well and since (I think) it's silicone based it also softens up the rubber a wee bit. The one time I mentioned that on here I just about got my head torn off for even suggesting that
I use WD40 on belts too. It cleans them well and since (I think) it's silicone based it also softens up the rubber a wee bit. The one time I mentioned that on here I just about got my head torn off for even suggesting that
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,738
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From: FL
I got desperate on my old F-150, and was about to buy a new belt.... I tryed everything else..... One day i was cleaning my interior w/ some vinal/tire cleaner..... i had the serpintene belt laying on the ground next to me.... i figured what the hey!! so i sprayed it and it worked great!! i was very surpried that it worked.... i got a new belt 5 weeks later, because i didn't want the problem to come back. If you ran out of options.... you might want to give that a shot!!
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,860
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From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
If it is a matter of getting the belt dressing residue off the belt, try something like CRC QD Electronic Contact Cleaner (leaves no residue). NAPA sells it, so do many hardwares. I have gotten sun baked on duct tape stickum off things with it. Also kills wasps, hoses grease off the side of the engine, cleans weird gunk off your fingers, really good to get electrical tape stickum off fingers and wiring. Lots of other uses.
Now, I better toss that 20-year-old can of belt dressing I don't know why I ever bought in the first place.
Now, I better toss that 20-year-old can of belt dressing I don't know why I ever bought in the first place.
Last edited by TallPaul; Jan 1, 2005 at 11:05 PM.
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I've used that WD-40 on the belts lots of times and it works great, but I had this belt dressing I bought a while back from canadian trash and thought I would try it, you can guess where it is now, same place TallPaul put his, guess I have to buy a new belt, I should of taken it back and said you owe me a new belt, oh well live and learn
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
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Guys, NEVER use belt dressing or lubricants on belts, -either serpentine or V-belts!!!
Belts work by friction between the belt surface and the pulley. The noise you get is from a belt that is slipping on the pulley. Lubricants reduce friction and just make it slip worse. Slipping belts overheat and polish the pulleys leaving a "glaze" behind. Lubricants and dressings deteriorate the belt surface. Belts can slip because they are old, get foreign substances (oil, water, AF, etc) on them, or there is a bad accessory that is putting too much stress on the belt. Once a belt starts slipping it is shot and the pulleys are ruined.
To fix a noisy belt you need to remove the belt and either replace or fix the pulleys! To fix the pulleys clean them with some brake cleaner and then scrub the pulley surfaces with a scotch brite pad to remove the glaze and scuff the polished surface. Inspect the pulleys for damage or rough running. Clean the pulleys again to remove the grit. Make sure all of the pulleys turn smooth and easy. Put on a BRAND NEW belt, not the one you took off even if it is new. Make sure the tensioner works properly.
Belts work by friction between the belt surface and the pulley. The noise you get is from a belt that is slipping on the pulley. Lubricants reduce friction and just make it slip worse. Slipping belts overheat and polish the pulleys leaving a "glaze" behind. Lubricants and dressings deteriorate the belt surface. Belts can slip because they are old, get foreign substances (oil, water, AF, etc) on them, or there is a bad accessory that is putting too much stress on the belt. Once a belt starts slipping it is shot and the pulleys are ruined.
To fix a noisy belt you need to remove the belt and either replace or fix the pulleys! To fix the pulleys clean them with some brake cleaner and then scrub the pulley surfaces with a scotch brite pad to remove the glaze and scuff the polished surface. Inspect the pulleys for damage or rough running. Clean the pulleys again to remove the grit. Make sure all of the pulleys turn smooth and easy. Put on a BRAND NEW belt, not the one you took off even if it is new. Make sure the tensioner works properly.
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Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,679
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From: BC, Canada
Eric, next time you have a squeeky belt give it a shot of WD40 and see what happens 
Let's see if we can convert you
lol
Let's see if we can convert you
lol
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Carthage, IL
Originally Posted by Torque1st
Guys, NEVER use belt dressing or lubricants on belts, -either serpentine or V-belts!!!
Belts work by friction between the belt surface and the pulley. The noise you get is from a belt that is slipping on the pulley. Lubricants reduce friction and just make it slip worse. Slipping belts overheat and polish the pulleys leaving a "glaze" behind. Lubricants and dressings deteriorate the belt surface. Belts can slip because they are old, get foreign substances (oil, water, AF, etc) on them, or there is a bad accessory that is putting too much stress on the belt. Once a belt starts slipping it is shot and the pulleys are ruined.
To fix a noisy belt you need to remove the belt and either replace or fix the pulleys! To fix the pulleys clean them with some brake cleaner and then scrub the pulley surfaces with a scotch brite pad to remove the glaze and scuff the polished surface. Inspect the pulleys for damage or rough running. Clean the pulleys again to remove the grit. Make sure all of the pulleys turn smooth and easy. Put on a BRAND NEW belt, not the one you took off even if it is new. Make sure the tensioner works properly.
Belts work by friction between the belt surface and the pulley. The noise you get is from a belt that is slipping on the pulley. Lubricants reduce friction and just make it slip worse. Slipping belts overheat and polish the pulleys leaving a "glaze" behind. Lubricants and dressings deteriorate the belt surface. Belts can slip because they are old, get foreign substances (oil, water, AF, etc) on them, or there is a bad accessory that is putting too much stress on the belt. Once a belt starts slipping it is shot and the pulleys are ruined.
To fix a noisy belt you need to remove the belt and either replace or fix the pulleys! To fix the pulleys clean them with some brake cleaner and then scrub the pulley surfaces with a scotch brite pad to remove the glaze and scuff the polished surface. Inspect the pulleys for damage or rough running. Clean the pulleys again to remove the grit. Make sure all of the pulleys turn smooth and easy. Put on a BRAND NEW belt, not the one you took off even if it is new. Make sure the tensioner works properly.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,899
Likes: 2
From: Lynnwood, WA
Originally Posted by Torque1st
The noise you get is from a belt that is slipping on the pulley. Lubricants reduce friction and just make it slip worse.
As for how the noise is being generated, I think you're wrong there, too. Belt dressing is a rather sticky stuff, and when I tried it on my serpentine belt a long time ago, it really made the belt squel, more than ever before. So I think what's happening is that the belt sticks to the pulley, and the noise is generated when they are separated. This explains why silicone oil, WD40, and some other lubricants quiets squeling belts while belt dressing makes it worse.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Calgary, Canada
Why does a door hinge stop squeeling when you spray silicone lube on it? Friction between two objects being rubbed together will cause squeeling, increase friction (dressing) = increased squeeling; decrease friction (lube) = less/none squeeling.
Torque1st is right.
You have a race car that continously breaks the tires loose and lose races because of the spinning tires; do you put silicone lube on the tires or a traction/friction enhancer? Only one logical answer. Same with the belt; doesn't make any sense to put lube on a belt that is slipping.
If the reason belts squeeled is because of the way it comes off the pulley then every car on the road would have squeeling belts.
Any time I've had a squeeling belt I've rubbed a bar of Zest soap on it.
Torque1st is right.
You have a race car that continously breaks the tires loose and lose races because of the spinning tires; do you put silicone lube on the tires or a traction/friction enhancer? Only one logical answer. Same with the belt; doesn't make any sense to put lube on a belt that is slipping.
If the reason belts squeeled is because of the way it comes off the pulley then every car on the road would have squeeling belts.
Any time I've had a squeeling belt I've rubbed a bar of Zest soap on it.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
Ahem... Soap is a lubricant also... 
When you spray silicone or WD on the belt it lubricates it so well it slips real well. If you have a little moisture on your rubber shoe sole your shoes will squeal if you slide them. If you have a lot of water on them they will slide without noise. It is the make-break friction or stop-slip between the belt and pulley that makes the noise.
As far as belt dressing being available... They sell Tornado's too... People get taken every day... Half the junk in the auto parts store is the same thing. Caveat Emptor!
I have seen the mess people make with WD and silicone on belts also. I have seen people with oiled belts complaining about bad alternators etc. Nothing was wrong except the belt was slipping and the alternator barely turning. I have seen vehicles overheating for the same reason, -fan slippage. No power steering, etc etc. There are several belt dressing formulas, none of them work. Some of them do quiet the belt but for the wrong reason. I have been around the block a few times and learned a little bit. I have designed all too many belt drives for machines. Belts drive by FRICTION not slipping.
When you spray silicone or WD on the belt it lubricates it so well it slips real well. If you have a little moisture on your rubber shoe sole your shoes will squeal if you slide them. If you have a lot of water on them they will slide without noise. It is the make-break friction or stop-slip between the belt and pulley that makes the noise.
As far as belt dressing being available... They sell Tornado's too... People get taken every day... Half the junk in the auto parts store is the same thing. Caveat Emptor!
I have seen the mess people make with WD and silicone on belts also. I have seen people with oiled belts complaining about bad alternators etc. Nothing was wrong except the belt was slipping and the alternator barely turning. I have seen vehicles overheating for the same reason, -fan slippage. No power steering, etc etc. There are several belt dressing formulas, none of them work. Some of them do quiet the belt but for the wrong reason. I have been around the block a few times and learned a little bit. I have designed all too many belt drives for machines. Belts drive by FRICTION not slipping.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,679
Likes: 15
From: BC, Canada
WD40 doesn't make belts slip unless the belt is very loose. I suppose that if you could somehow spray enough on it and keep it soaked in it then it would slip. Just giving it a shot of WD40 cleans and softens the belt. If it made it slip then it would make the alternator stop charging, the engine would overheat, the PS would stop working etc.
Eric you said that a noisy belt needs to be replaced anyway so next time you have one just try giving it a shot of WD40 and see what happens. You've got nothing to lose
It doesn't work 100% of the time but it's worth trying.
Also note that I'm saying WD40 and not any other kind of spray lube. Spray grease etc will cause problems.
Eric you said that a noisy belt needs to be replaced anyway so next time you have one just try giving it a shot of WD40 and see what happens. You've got nothing to lose
It doesn't work 100% of the time but it's worth trying.
Also note that I'm saying WD40 and not any other kind of spray lube. Spray grease etc will cause problems.