How Many of You Soak Your Belts?

[Gebo]

I've gone a little off the deep end so I have come here for counseling and/or validation.

I've started buying 303 by the gallon and soaking my timing belts, alternator belts, power steering belts, the insides of all my new Michelin (or Mastercraft) tires with it.

Basically any moving piece of rubber (oh, I forgot my windshield wiper inserts) gets an overnight treatment when possible.

Now this is causing some marital tension as my wife slipped and nearly fell after stepping in some of the 303 that leaked out of the gallon bag overnight and onto the polyurethaned garage floor.
Her elbow seems a little tender (driver's fender broke her fall) but on the bright-side, this has convinced her to not buy any more of the cheap resealable bags.

I'm expecting miraculous results of lifetime longevities.

How many of you soak your belts?

 

[gman2304]

I've never heard of such a thing!

 

[RooflessVW]

I've never heard such insanity.

 

[RamFan]

How's the fender?

 

[StevieC]

I watched that video you are speaking of... I've not had a problem in later model vehicles with the serpentine belt lasting over 100K KM (60K miles). I change it at this point because for me I can't afford downtime.
But I've seen cars go 200K KM (120K miles) on the original belts and they appear fine. I know that the channels are worn down drastically by then and it's most likely slipping a bit but it doesn't give any indication in the charging system or that is audible.

 

[Gebo]

Originally Posted by RamFan
How's the fender?


Her skin is soft and pliable. I use that Collinite so nothing gets through it.

Now my rear end....

 

[kschachn]

Originally Posted by Gebo
I've gone a little off the deep end

So much of the time you don't even have to list the obvious, the poster has done it by themselves.

 

[Gebo]

I'm starting to feel all alone......

 

[EricG]

Originally Posted by Gebo
I've gone a little off the deep end so I have come here for counseling and/or validation.

I've started buying 303 by the gallon and soaking my timing belts, alternator belts, power steering belts, the insides of all my new Michelin (or Mastercraft) tires with it.

Basically any moving piece of rubber (oh, I forgot my windshield wiper inserts) gets an overnight treatment when possible.

Now this is causing some marital tension as my wife slipped and nearly fell after stepping in some of the 303 that leaked out of the gallon bag overnight and onto the polyurethaned garage floor.
Her elbow seems a little tender (driver's fender broke her fall) but on the bright-side, this has convinced her to not buy any more of the cheap resealable bags.

I'm expecting miraculous results of lifetime longevities.

How many of you soak your belts?




Sweeeet Idea!!!!

 

[02SE]

I plan to start bathing in it. The XADO just isn't cutting it anymore.

 

[expat]

Dear Abby. .........

 

[KGMtech]

I thought this kind of stuff was limited to Reddit?

 

[Gimpy1]

This is a perfect example of "if a little bit is good, then a whole bunch is even better".

 

[HangFire]

I only use 303 where the Sun's UV light hits the rubber... which is not on the belts.

 

[Omahaug]

I don't, I really think you should stop too.

1. You have no idea what it could be doing to the belts.
2. Rubber (whether nitrile or EPDM) is porous, are you really comfortable with this stuff saturating your belts?
3. What happens to it when it's heated?
4. What about the friction changes?

I could maybe understand someone using it to shine up the exterior of visible belts. That's excessive to me though and I'm the one who hoses out and waxes the paint in the engine bay every month or so.

Doing a soak though? That's absolutely insane in my book for some reason. One thing I will not do is put any kind of protectant on rubber. On hard plastics yes, not rubber. Especially not mission-critical rubbers like belts. Vanity rubbers or rubbers for things like air or water dams, sure.

I'd rather change the belts when I need to, rather than trying to do the impossible which is protect or extend the life of a wear item. There isn't even any proof (anecdotal or otherwise) that doing this does anything good for your belts right?

 

[thescreensavers]

This is a great thread

I personally use my belts dry, just like the OEMs would.

 

[philipp10]

I bathe my hair in it....keeps the gray away.

 

[pandus13]

Originally Posted by 02SE
I plan to start bathing in it. The XADO just isn't cutting it anymore.

You don't know anything...

XADO is for kids mini-bikes.
You need the new improved in the 60's Forever SYNLUBE. It comes as a complete solution with an 80's website. I hope you still have an AMIGA somewhere in that garage.

 

[pandus13]

Originally Posted by Gebo
I'm starting to feel all alone......

Why do you keep liquids in a gallon bag?

 

[Gebo]

Originally Posted by pandus13
Originally Posted by Gebo
I'm starting to feel all alone......

Why do you keep liquids in a gallon bag?

Originally Posted by pandus13
Originally Posted by Gebo
I'm starting to feel all alone......

Why do you keep liquids in a gallon bag?


That's what I soak new belts and wipers in. I will periodically flip them like pancakes. I pour in about a pint of 303 and put belt in to mix and seal the bag.