S70 Timing Belt

[jcshreve]

My dealer says the new timing belt interval for my '99 S70 is 105,000
miles. Does anyone know why it has been extended? Have improvements
been made in the tensioner and/or belt? My 240 called for the belt
every 50k miles, so that's what I'm used to...

 

[Rob Guenther]

Of course improvements have been made... Even at 50K miles, we'd be happy
with our Volvo (1993 960 - interference engine) or VW (1999.5 Golf,
Diesel... so you better believe valves would crash if that belt broke!)...
Both have very short belt change intervals... both are around 60K Kms (40K
miles or so).

50K vs 105K Miles, saving money is great isn't it? Timing belt is a costly
job on most cars, I would be glad to never change it at all.... Worst
interval ever, 60K Kms on my VW TDI... this is suppose to be a high mileage
design, why they didn't use a chain or a longer service belt (okay, they do
now... but not in 99 spec cars) boggles my mind and drains my wallet (I do
60K Kms in under 2 years easily).

 

[Michael Pardee]

My dealer says the new timing belt interval for my '99 S70 is 105,000
miles. Does anyone know why it has been extended? Have improvements
been made in the tensioner and/or belt? My 240 called for the belt
every 50k miles, so that's what I'm used to...

That's in line with most current models. I don't know if the belts have
improved or the confidence level been raised, but there you have it.

Mike

 

[Jim Carriere]

My dealer says the new timing belt interval for my '99 S70 is 105,000
miles. Does anyone know why it has been extended? Have improvements
been made in the tensioner and/or belt? My 240 called for the belt
every 50k miles, so that's what I'm used to...

The tensioner design on your engine was changed during the '98 model
year. The interval on the old design was 70,000 (still respectable).