Esprit V8 cam belt change advice

[Essex Metallic]

Hi all, my newly acquired Esprit V8 is due a service and MOT next month.  Looking at the service history the belts were last done in 2018, which was only about 3,500 miles ago.  According to my owners manual belts should be changed every 8 years or 72K miles.  Is that sill considered a reasonable interval?  

The reason I ask is that the previous owner had the belts changed more frequently than that.

Many thanks.

[mike_sekinger]

That interval is consistent with the updated Service Bulletin sent out on belt tensioning.   During the service, you might want to have the tensioning checked.

As an aside, I have found that the Gates HD blue belts hold their tension better than the standard belts, so if you felt inclined you could use this service to swap across to those and then have a solid datum for your ownership moving forward.

[Essex Metallic]

3 minutes ago, mike_sekinger said:

That interval is consistent with the updated Service Bulletin sent out on belt tensioning.   During the service, you might want to have the tensioning checked.

As an aside, I have found that the Gates HD blue belts hold their tension better than the standard belts, so if you felt inclined you could use this service to swap across to those and then have a solid datum for your ownership moving forward.

That's useful information.  Thank you.

[Espritv8black]

Mike, do you think that belt issues are due more to under use and also to a car not being used and the belts having some memory retention?  Maybe the tensioners also having issues from underuse also?

 

Thanks Mark

[mike_sekinger]

The tensioners are static so should not affected by lack of use. 

I don`t really have any empircal data on the belts, but I would not be comfortable with a belt that had sat for 3+ years without use.

[Espritv8black]

I agree.  I have heard from some Ferrari and other mechanics that they worry that the belt would actually be stuck to tghe gears I guess and snap when it is tried to be started again on a vehicle that has been sitting for years.

 

Thanks I appreciate it.

[lotusdriver2001]

If the 3,500 miles was put on right after the belts were changed last and then the car put up for three years then that would be different than if the car had the belts done and then driven about 1,000 miles each for three years.

You didn't say whether the work was to be done by you or a reputable Esprit mechanic but the advice would be quite different for each. If you have a reputable Esprit mechanic then I would rely upon their inspection.

Does the car already have the blue Gates belt or the original black belt? There are several special tools needed to tension or replace the belts so you will either need to get them or the mechanic will need them.

[Essex Metallic]

The car has been used sparingly since the belts were last done.  I did, however, drive it about 200 miles when I picked it up and have done several long trips since.  The belts seem in good condition so I'll leave them for next year.  I was just curious as to the average life of the belts under normal driving conditions i.e. not track use. 

I would be having the work done by an experienced mechanic at a Lotus specialist garage.  There's no way I would attempt it myself.   

Thanks for the advice.

[LotuStuart]

I would like to have my belts done on my V8.

Could anyone recommend a garage?
West London or wester of London preferred.

Thanks!