Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel BlueMotion - Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel Timing Belt

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Mon 18 Jul 2022 08:19
Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel BlueMotion - Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel Timing Belt - Mr Mc

Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel BlueMotion Timing Belt 2012. Changed June '17 with water pump, pulleys etc on 78,760 miles. Currently on 130k. Mainly long distance motorway work.

Cambelt change is every 5 years, however I'm intending to change the car when second hand values settle (hopefully).

Does anyone know how sensitive the Golf 2.0 diesel cambelt change is to the time based interval. I know I'm well under the mileage based recommendation.

Reluctant to sink £500 into a car worth £3,500 that I'm intending to trade in (probably in 2023). All other aspects on the Golf running well & a recent clean MOT.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 18 Jul 2022 08:47
Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel BlueMotion - Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel Timing Belt - Adampr

I would expect a reasonably savvy buyer to knock £500 off the asking price because the belt isn't changed.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 18 Jul 2022 08:55
Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel BlueMotion - Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel Timing Belt - elekie&a/c doctor
Firstly, cambelts rarely fail of their own accord , it’s usually something on the belt drive train that gives way first . The golf is not what I would class as a fragile system , and as you’ve only done 50k since the last change, I don’t think I’d be too worried.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 18 Jul 2022 09:57
Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel BlueMotion - Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel Timing Belt - Andrew-T
Firstly, cambelts rarely fail of their own accord ,

When I bought my Pug 306 at 76K and 24 years old, I asked the (private) seller to fit a new cambelt, as there was no suggestion in the service history that it had ever been done. So yes, modern belts can (and should) last a long time. I'm sure many owners have belts changed for peace of mind, while others trust to luck, occasionally with sad results.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 18 Jul 2022 11:24
Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel BlueMotion - Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel Timing Belt - John F

Depends on the design and material quality of belt and pulley(s). The 1.6 Zetec engine cambelt set-up in the Mk1 Ford Focus was designed to last the life of the car. Ford suggested a precautionary change at 100,000 miles or ten years. Our rusty X reg 162,000 mile Focus went to the scrapyard a few weeks ago with its original cam and poly-v belts still intact, the only maintenance being an occasional inspection and a squirt from an ancient can of Grako Sprazon belt dressing.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 18 Jul 2022 11:53
Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel BlueMotion - Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel Timing Belt - thunderbird

the only maintenance being an occasional inspection and a squirt from an ancient can of Grako Sprazon belt dressing.

Never heard of that before so did a quick Google. Nothing came up at all for "Grako Sprazon" but a product called Sprayon SP6-7 belt Dressing was the top hit so I had a read.

No idea if its the same product but nothing about using it on cam belts at all. Seems to be a product that "increases pulling power" probably by improving friction. On a toothed cam belt you don't need to do that.

I would be very unsure using a product that is not specifically designed to work on a component that can wreck the engine if it fails when a replacement is not that expensive in the big scheme of car ownership.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 18 Jul 2022 13:07
Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel BlueMotion - Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel Timing Belt - Xileno

The subject of Grako Sprazon has been discussed before on the forum, in this thread:

www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/112154/chevrolet-m...z---

Personally I would not use anything on a cambelt unless it had been endorsed by the car and cambelt manufacturer. The cost/benefit doesn't add up to me. The mechanic I know has always said usually something else gives up first such as a tensioner, so belt lubrication or dressing will make no positive difference. If you use these types of products then it's at your own risk.

If it's concerning you then just get it replaced. It will surely be more desirable to a buyer with a belt still within the recommended service period when you come to sell so you probably would get some of the £500 back anyway. Also peace of mind, how much is that worth?

Is the £500 a VW dealer? If so, you could reduce it by using a trusted independent.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 18 Jul 2022 17:12
Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel BlueMotion - Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel Timing Belt - Oli rag

Read the old thread you had linked about the belt dressing and after reading it, it reminded me how offended Skidpan used to get about postings he disagreed with.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 19 Jul 2022 09:17
Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel BlueMotion - Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel Timing Belt - John F

the only maintenance being an occasional inspection and a squirt from an ancient can of Grako Sprazon belt dressing.

Never heard of that before so did a quick Google. Nothing came up at all for "Grako Sprazon" but a product called Sprayon SP6-7 belt Dressing was the top hit so I had a read.

Not surprising as it expired long before 'google' was invented.

trademarks.justia.com/716/31/grako-sprazon-7163128...l

I told you it was ancient! Anyway, it's clearly done no harm and although probably irrelevant for a cambelt it might have protected the exposed poly-v belt somewhat from frictional and corrosive deterioration. The original fan/alternator belt on my TR7 is still functioning after 42 years, 72,000 miles and occasional dressings!

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 19 Jul 2022 20:27
Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel BlueMotion - Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel Timing Belt - DavidGlos
I’m in a very similar position to the OP. 2011 Golf 2.0 TDI Bluemotion Tech, with the cam belt and tensioners replaced coming up to six years ago by the franchised VW dealer. Ours is now playing second fiddle, so minimal annual mileage and I’ve decided to take my chances, as likely to be traded in in the next 12-18 months

Think mines done less than 30,000 miles since the last belt change.

Edited by DavidGlos on 19/07/2022 at 20:28

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 21 Jul 2022 09:46
Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel BlueMotion - Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel Timing Belt - Andrew-T

The 1.6 Zetec engine cambelt set-up in the Mk1 Ford Focus was designed to last the life of the car.

Question is - what does Ford reckon to be the life of a Focus ? I guess the statistical average might be 12-15 years. So what should an owner do if he plans to keep the car longer ? John-F has told us what he does, but maybe he is not typical.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 21 Jul 2022 00:07
Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel BlueMotion - Golf Mk6 2.0 Diesel Timing Belt - SLO76
I’d leave it be. VW are erring on the side of safety and of profit by recommending 5yr intervals on a modern belt and tensioners. Unless the thing is of substandard quality (which it isn’t) it should last 7/8yrs minimum. If you trade it in, you wouldn’t gain anything extra for having the job done but if you sell privately you may recoup £200/£300 of the cost. While I’m not in John's camp, I am increasingly wary of profit seeking manufacturers and their main s******s. Chap at my work has a Skoda Octavia VRS TDi and it’s not been serviced in 4yrs nor has the timing belt ever been done, yet it still runs… with a warmly glowing EML to keep him company on cold nights. It does drive ok though. I’m not recommending neglect of course, the oil is like treacle and bound to have done damage. I’ve suggested he buys a petrol Toyota, if he intends on continuing his neglect .

Edited by SLO76 on 21/07/2022 at 00:09

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Looking for a garage you can trust? Honest John's Good Garage Guide has thousands of reader recommended garages, plus how-to guides and tips on servicing.

The Good Garage Guide

From which small car to buy at which price point to the best UK-built cars, our Top 10s have the lot. Click now for your shortlist.

Unsure of what to buy? Our Top 10s are here to help you....