![]() The first automotive BIO system was introduced in 2008, hidden inside the European-market 1.8L Ford diesel. This reduces emissions and can increase fuel economy by a little more than 1 percent.ĭue to the improved materials used in the BIO drives, these belts are more temperature-resistant, less prone to stretching than conventional dry belts and have a life expectancy of up to 150,000 miles. Belt-in-oil manufacturers claim that “wet belts” offer up to 30 percent reductions in friction loss as compared to chains or dry belts. By designing a light, quiet and compact belt drive, manufacturers hope to increase fuel efficiency while reducing emissions and NVH, and package it all into ever-smaller engine designs. “Fuel efficiency,” “reduced emissions,” “noise, vibration, harshness” (NVH) and “compact design” are all popular catch-phrases in the auto industry, and these also are the driving forces behind belt-in-oil technology. ![]() Since a timing belt is lighter than a chain, and it can absorb and isolate crankshaft harmonics from the valvetrain, a belt is quieter and doesn’t rob additional power from the engine. As a performance upgrade, belt drives have a couple of advantages. Now, performance enthusiasts may have some experience with “wet belt” timing systems as an upgrade for the small-block Chevy, but these “new” BIO systems are OEM designs, used for oil pump drives as well as for camshaft timing drives. ![]() I was even more surprised to discover that this odd arrangement is already available here in the United States. ![]() I was therefore a little bit surprised when I heard about the “belt-in-oil” (BIO) timing drives that are being used by well-known manufacturers in the European market, and available from a few equally well-known aftermarket suppliers. Oil attacked the rubber as well as the raw edge of the belt with its exposed fibers, weakening the belt until it delaminated (losing its teeth), or the belt snapped. Oil contamination of the belt drive has been a death sentence, due to the rubber and fiber construction of the traditional timing belt. Since the adoption of timing belts by auto manufacturers began in the early 1970s, it has been pretty well beaten into our heads that oil and timing belts do not play well together. ![]()
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