60,000 Service - how critical?
Jun 19, 2009, 11:51 PM
#17
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Gates Belts can be beat.....
As For Putting it off... WHY???
I personally believe that doing it a little early is Insurance, if you neglect this you could have valves hitting pistons and a scrapped head and possibly a new short block on Order... for 300-800 Dollars you can beat doing it right and when scheduled.
Whenever I do a Timing belt problem I replace the Pulleys, Tensioner and dont neglect that Balance Shaft belt.
I might be a little eccentric in my maintenance but I have seen a few "Neglect" caused issues on the 6G72 (3000GT VR4) Platform and it cost twice as much to fix the problem because people were strapped for cash or just lazy.
Deak
As For Putting it off... WHY???
I personally believe that doing it a little early is Insurance, if you neglect this you could have valves hitting pistons and a scrapped head and possibly a new short block on Order... for 300-800 Dollars you can beat doing it right and when scheduled.
Whenever I do a Timing belt problem I replace the Pulleys, Tensioner and dont neglect that Balance Shaft belt.
I might be a little eccentric in my maintenance but I have seen a few "Neglect" caused issues on the 6G72 (3000GT VR4) Platform and it cost twice as much to fix the problem because people were strapped for cash or just lazy.
Deak
Jun 20, 2009, 12:36 AM
#18
Don't be dumb...putting it off a few thousand miles is one thing, but this is not a camry. I got most of the parts for mine at o'reily's and it was not too expensive at all--gates belts, tensioners, water pump, etc. If you wanna save some money, do it yourself!
Jun 20, 2009, 08:16 AM
#20
Evolving Member
""Just how critical is the 60,000 mile service interval?""
Parts of it are critical, parts of it are not. It also depends on whether the 30K service was done. Keep in mind though a 60K is a package deal. If you break it up it may end up costing more. But a T-belt is separate from the 60K.
CRITICAL
Transfer case fluid (most critical)
Diff fluid
Trans fluid
Engine oil
Not as Critical
Coolant flush
Brake fluid flush
PS fluid flush
Air Filter
Throttle body clean
Brake insp.
Tire rotate
Going to discuss the Timing Belt separately.
Most manufactures have gone to the 90K or 105K interval. Mitsu finally has with some of the '08's. The materials technology has existed for a decade or more to make a T-belt easily last to 100K. I've seen some of the Endeavors/Outlanders etc go to 140K.
I don't have enough experience with Mitsu's to say how long an '03 VIII T-belt will go past 60K. The only Mitsu belt I've seen break at that mileage was a 3G V6 Eclipse. If numerous people are breaking them at just over 60K you should replace it then. It also depends on how hard it's driven.
When replacing a T-belt at 60K it's absolutely unnecessary to replace the water pump, pulleys, or tensioner. Anyone who does so is merchandising. (unless the car is being raced regularly, maybe).
You can replace the water pump, tensioner at 120K. The pulleys never need replace, they can be re-greased. The coolant needs to be changed at least at 60K (prefer 30K) to guarantee the water pump to last.
Aftermarket belts like Gates are a gamble, not worth it just to save a few bucks. I've seen them start cracking at 40K. Most of them are certain to need the 60K interval.
Just last week I replaced an AM water pump that some aftermarket shop had done with a T-belt at 60K. It was leaking at 70K. They took off the OEM water pump that easily lasts to 120K and put on a piece of garbage that failed. IOW, they took off the good part, and sold them a bad part that they didn't even need.
Parts of it are critical, parts of it are not. It also depends on whether the 30K service was done. Keep in mind though a 60K is a package deal. If you break it up it may end up costing more. But a T-belt is separate from the 60K.
CRITICAL
Transfer case fluid (most critical)
Diff fluid
Trans fluid
Engine oil
Not as Critical
Coolant flush
Brake fluid flush
PS fluid flush
Air Filter
Throttle body clean
Brake insp.
Tire rotate
Going to discuss the Timing Belt separately.
Most manufactures have gone to the 90K or 105K interval. Mitsu finally has with some of the '08's. The materials technology has existed for a decade or more to make a T-belt easily last to 100K. I've seen some of the Endeavors/Outlanders etc go to 140K.
I don't have enough experience with Mitsu's to say how long an '03 VIII T-belt will go past 60K. The only Mitsu belt I've seen break at that mileage was a 3G V6 Eclipse. If numerous people are breaking them at just over 60K you should replace it then. It also depends on how hard it's driven.
When replacing a T-belt at 60K it's absolutely unnecessary to replace the water pump, pulleys, or tensioner. Anyone who does so is merchandising. (unless the car is being raced regularly, maybe).
You can replace the water pump, tensioner at 120K. The pulleys never need replace, they can be re-greased. The coolant needs to be changed at least at 60K (prefer 30K) to guarantee the water pump to last.
Aftermarket belts like Gates are a gamble, not worth it just to save a few bucks. I've seen them start cracking at 40K. Most of them are certain to need the 60K interval.
Just last week I replaced an AM water pump that some aftermarket shop had done with a T-belt at 60K. It was leaking at 70K. They took off the OEM water pump that easily lasts to 120K and put on a piece of garbage that failed. IOW, they took off the good part, and sold them a bad part that they didn't even need.
Last edited by NWM_Tech; Jun 20, 2009 at 08:26 AM.
Jun 20, 2009, 11:46 AM
#21
""Just how critical is the 60,000 mile service interval?""
Parts of it are critical, parts of it are not. It also depends on whether the 30K service was done. Keep in mind though a 60K is a package deal. If you break it up it may end up costing more. But a T-belt is separate from the 60K.
CRITICAL
Transfer case fluid (most critical)
Diff fluid
Trans fluid
Engine oil
Not as Critical
Coolant flush
Brake fluid flush
PS fluid flush
Air Filter
Throttle body clean
Brake insp.
Tire rotate
Going to discuss the Timing Belt separately.
Most manufactures have gone to the 90K or 105K interval. Mitsu finally has with some of the '08's. The materials technology has existed for a decade or more to make a T-belt easily last to 100K. I've seen some of the Endeavors/Outlanders etc go to 140K.
I don't have enough experience with Mitsu's to say how long an '03 VIII T-belt will go past 60K. The only Mitsu belt I've seen break at that mileage was a 3G V6 Eclipse. If numerous people are breaking them at just over 60K you should replace it then. It also depends on how hard it's driven.
When replacing a T-belt at 60K it's absolutely unnecessary to replace the water pump, pulleys, or tensioner. Anyone who does so is merchandising. (unless the car is being raced regularly, maybe).
You can replace the water pump, tensioner at 120K. The pulleys never need replace, they can be re-greased. The coolant needs to be changed at least at 60K (prefer 30K) to guarantee the water pump to last.
Aftermarket belts like Gates are a gamble, not worth it just to save a few bucks. I've seen them start cracking at 40K. Most of them are certain to need the 60K interval.
Just last week I replaced an AM water pump that some aftermarket shop had done with a T-belt at 60K. It was leaking at 70K. They took off the OEM water pump that easily lasts to 120K and put on a piece of garbage that failed. IOW, they took off the good part, and sold them a bad part that they didn't even need.
Parts of it are critical, parts of it are not. It also depends on whether the 30K service was done. Keep in mind though a 60K is a package deal. If you break it up it may end up costing more. But a T-belt is separate from the 60K.
CRITICAL
Transfer case fluid (most critical)
Diff fluid
Trans fluid
Engine oil
Not as Critical
Coolant flush
Brake fluid flush
PS fluid flush
Air Filter
Throttle body clean
Brake insp.
Tire rotate
Going to discuss the Timing Belt separately.
Most manufactures have gone to the 90K or 105K interval. Mitsu finally has with some of the '08's. The materials technology has existed for a decade or more to make a T-belt easily last to 100K. I've seen some of the Endeavors/Outlanders etc go to 140K.
I don't have enough experience with Mitsu's to say how long an '03 VIII T-belt will go past 60K. The only Mitsu belt I've seen break at that mileage was a 3G V6 Eclipse. If numerous people are breaking them at just over 60K you should replace it then. It also depends on how hard it's driven.
When replacing a T-belt at 60K it's absolutely unnecessary to replace the water pump, pulleys, or tensioner. Anyone who does so is merchandising. (unless the car is being raced regularly, maybe).
You can replace the water pump, tensioner at 120K. The pulleys never need replace, they can be re-greased. The coolant needs to be changed at least at 60K (prefer 30K) to guarantee the water pump to last.
Aftermarket belts like Gates are a gamble, not worth it just to save a few bucks. I've seen them start cracking at 40K. Most of them are certain to need the 60K interval.
Just last week I replaced an AM water pump that some aftermarket shop had done with a T-belt at 60K. It was leaking at 70K. They took off the OEM water pump that easily lasts to 120K and put on a piece of garbage that failed. IOW, they took off the good part, and sold them a bad part that they didn't even need.
so oem belts are better 
Jun 20, 2009, 12:00 PM
#22
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No reason to play with fire ifyou dont have too. Perfrming the recommended maintance also helps with resale value.
Many owners change out there tranny, rear diff & transfer case fluids every 20k miles. Its called "insurance"
Many owners change out there tranny, rear diff & transfer case fluids every 20k miles. Its called "insurance"
Jun 20, 2009, 05:10 PM
#28
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im at 55k now so im starting to save up for the big 60k service i do it all myself so it helps not paying labor but just fluids belts etc. all cost a few hundred bucks. definately critical to do timing belt i would skimp on fluids before i did the belt.
Jun 20, 2009, 05:20 PM
#30
I'm not sure about the Kevlar belts for the Evo's, but I just picked up a Kevlar belt for a TT Supra. As far as I know they perform pretty well. Whether they are worth the extra money I coudn't say from personal experience. I've heard god reviews though.
You definitely don't want your timing belt to go though. Its playing with fire.
You definitely don't want your timing belt to go though. Its playing with fire.