i snapped this picture today.

i can't see any cracks or other signs the belt is bad. a short while back when cleaning up the engine bay, i took a scotch brite pad, and with the engine running, lightly "scrubbed" the buildup off this pulley/tensioner. i comes back, and i was wondering what causes this. is it normal, or does it mean the belt is worn, or the pulley is not turning free enough? any ideas.

 

Kevin, how many fingers do you have? lol. Don't think I would try that. Anyway, I changed my belt at 100,000 miles. It still looked good but I changed it and keep the old belt as a spare. I have seen marks like that on pulleys before, but don't know how or why they are there.

If you think it needs changing, change it.

 

well it is the pully on top, so i wasn't close to the fan at all it is the shiny one on top in the middle here

 

Like Rick said. The service life of the belt is 100,000. Changed mine out though looked good also. I did change the idler pulley at the same time. The bearing felt smooth, but there was some "walk" to the pulley. I'd check that also. You could see a slight wobble to it while turning.

 

Your scotch brite method scares me a little too. But that is one nice paint job on your ic and inlet pipes Kevin.

 

Kevin, that looks nice. Good job on the painting.

 

I'm on my third belt.
Cheap insurance and the second one was slipping like mad in the hot weather, AC on.

 

Nice paint Kevin, looks sharp! I,m a thousand away till 100,000 and thats next along with the other maintance. Like Roland said or close to it, the tensioner could be out of balance and locking up at times.

 

The rule I use is 4 years regardless of mileage. Belts and hoses change at the same time. Tires over 3 years old that are weather checked will fail you sooner than later while towing, especially in the heat of summer. I doubt the tracking means anything other than " there is rubber on the pulley", but stick to the 4 year rule and you'll rarely break down for belts and hoses.

 

Is it just on the top pulley? or is it on the water pump pulley as well? any oil leaks or anything that migh be building up the stuff on the pulley? oil leaks, dust and dirt, etc. Just wondering as teh the pattern is a little funky and not a straight line across the pulley.

Also looking at the picture again, to you know if the tension is even across the pulley? Maybe it is tilted back some putting more of the pressure on the side closer to the engine.

 

I just changed mine last weekend while installing new water pump and upper rad hose to the duel alternator style. Have 165'000 on my 2000 x 7.3 and it looked like it could go a lot longer!

 

That is a nice clean engine bay- Great paint job

 

i'll probably do both as well. where's the best place for these. i seem to recall others having problems with advance auto or autozone belts. are motorcraft parts the best?

 

I bought all my parts at NAPA this time, water pump has a lifetime warrenty! We'll see! I put in a new waterpump, thermistat, upper rad hose and belt. Took about 2 to 3 hours. Keep on Truckin!

 

How is that bearing? It is dragging a little. Making the belt slip and heating up that pulley causing the belt to stick to it? Just a thought. Probably just a crap belt though.