Dayco has launched a new installation video for a wet belt on the Ford Transit 2.0 diesel Ecoblue engine, helping technicians understand the intricacies of the procedure.
As part of its commitment to provide independent garages with both the original equipment replacement belt kits they need, and provide technical support to fit the correctly, Dayco’s video offers a step-by-step guide to the process on one of Ford’s most popular engine and vehicle combinations. The new video features a full installation of the timing belt kit KBIO017, oil pump belt 941121 and auxiliary belt 6PK1410S.
Despite the popularity, there are some steps that could be missed in the installation of the timing belt on the Ford Transit 2.0 Ecoblue. Therefore, another reason for producing the video is to highlight these issues and to help those doing the work complete it successfully, without any come back.
As the OE supplier of the timing and auxiliary drive systems for the Ford Transit 2.0-litre EcoBlue engine used in the model from 2016, Dayco is not only able to provide a genuine like-for-like aftermarket replacement, it’s also well positioned to highlight potential operational and installation problems.
Contamination issues
Although the timing belt is designed to withstand the environment in which it runs, one of the potential issues with this application is contamination of the oil, with diesel from the vehicle’s fuel system. Should this reach a level beyond those specified by Ford’s design parameters, then the belt becomes vulnerable to the detrimental consequences that a higher concentration of diesel contamination can cause.
For example, in extreme cases of prolonged exposure to higher than specified contamination, material can dislodge from the belt’s surface, which further affects the integrity of the oil and potentially causes problems such as blocking the oil pump strainer.
As a result, in addition to adhering to the manufacturer’s replacement interval on the Ford Transit 2.0 engine, Dayco recommends that technicians check the condition of both the oil and the belt, every time one of these vehicles enters the workshop.
In the case of the oil, this is easier than it might first thought, as the presence of diesel in the oil is generally noticeable by its smell. So, rather than undoing the drainplug and walking away, whenever carrying out a scheduled oil and filter change, technicians should smell it for diesel fumes and check the strainer that the oil will have passed through, because it’s possible that fragments of the belt, or deposits of material that have been dislodged, will be left behind.
When it comes to the belt, although a little trickier, it is possible to assess the condition of the back of the belt by viewing it through the oil filler, a check that Ford also states should be regularly made.
Following these checks on the Ford Transit 2.0 Ecoblue, if any evidence of diesel or debris is found in the oil, and if there is any visible damage whatsoever to the back of the belt, then belt replacement is necessary because the failure of the belt will have catastrophic consequences to the engine.
No matter what the condition however, Ford’s scheduled belt replacement interval must be taken as an absolute maximum, and that the oil pump belt is always also changed, along with the timing belt and tensioner.
Best practice in Ford Transit 2.0 Ecoblue
In addition to demonstrating the correct removal and replacement procedures, the video also highlights some best practice principles, which are important to carry out to ensure the best possible outcome.
The first concerns the tensioner, which, in contrast to most belt tensioners, is a slipper, rather than a wheel, but it too must be replaced along with the belt. However, it must be positioned correctly, with its location tab in the corresponding recess, before the bolt is tightened and the pin retaining the spring, removed.
The second is to smear oil on the back of the belt once it is fitted, which will lubricate the contact point between the belt and the tensioner when the engine is being turned over by hand to check the timing is correct, as well as on its initial start-up, once the replacement is complete.
The third concerns the oil pump pick up, which must be checked for debris and cleaned. However, if it is found to be excessively worn, it must be replaced.
The final point is the timing belt cover, which is a relatively thin metal sheet, that is not reusable, so a replacement, along with the appropriate sealant, must be sourced from the manufacturer before the work is started with the Ford Transit 2.0 engine wetbelt.
In addition, Dayco naturally recommends technicians refer to a reputable source of service and repair data, such as that supplied by Autodata or HaynesPro, for the full repair instructions on the Ford Transit 2.0 Ecoblue, as well as for the VM’s specified tightening sequences and torque values.
Technicians installing Dayco’s premium quality products and applying its sound technical advice as presented in this new video, should have few problems successfully and uneventfully replacing the timing drive system of this popular vehicle, allowing it to return to its daily duties, performing reliably, until its next scheduled timing belt replacement.
The video, with its step-by step guide for the Ford Transit 2.0 Ecoblue wetbelt replacement, is available on the Official Dayco TV YouTube channel, or by clicking here.
