So I have a 1.6 TDI common rail engine from VW that has an oil-immersed belt connecting the crankshaft with the oil/vacuum pump inside the oil pan. The manual recommends every 130k miles to replace the toothed belt for camshaft/coolant drive and tensioning pulley (on the opposite side). But it says nothing about the oil pump belt lifespan, just to check the condition. It is not possible to replace the belt without removing the oil pan and the oil pump first because the toothed belt pulley on the crankshaft cannot be removed/bought.
Should I avoid cleaning or plastic-regenerating oil additives if there is a belt running inside the oil pan? When should this belt be replaced? Why did VW designed it this way?
How many miles is your car currently has? Replace it whatever the owners manual tells you.
Why did VW designed it this way?
Because they're too cheap and they just want to find a way to make their cars last until past warranty.
Thanks for the tip. It's got about 85k miles now.
I did see horror information about these oil-immersed VW belts....
Belts are eaten-away by non-appropriate oils, you should stick to the original VW-spec oil.
I wouldn't use any additives to that oil system...
Yeah, it sounds like a fanstastic way to clog the oil pump with plastic debris