Any lube for Alt belt? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Camry LE 94 · 10-25-2009, 06:11 PM

Is there something that you can use that will lubricate the alternator belt and make it run more efficiently? thanks 96 camry le i4

95PimpingCamry · 10-25-2009, 06:15 PM

Not that I'm aware of.

Kenny_McCormic · 10-25-2009, 06:19 PM

I laughed for a minute, then realized you were serious. The belt works on friction, if you lubed it the belt would slip and cause MORE loss.

bronzemaxell · 10-25-2009, 06:33 PM

do you mean your Alternator belt squeak?

there are two bolts you need to turn to adjust the belt, loose the one on the side, then adjust the one on front for tightness, when the belt squeak, it mean it has been streched due to age or weather, and need to tighten it a little bit.

lee777 · 10-25-2009, 06:53 PM

This is not a serpentine belt, but a steel pulley?
Rubbing a bar of soap on the belt quiets it down...for a few days.
Cleaning the pulley(s) groove with steel wool is a better option.
A smooth pulley surface increases belt contact area.
A rough pitted pulley tears at the belt edges, reducing life.

If plastic pulley, keep clean, use degreaser.

asushi · 10-25-2009, 07:26 PM

1 vote for astroglide

***BMR*** · 10-25-2009, 11:11 PM

I've seen something called belt "dressing" at the auto parts stores. Never used it. But I think it leaves the belt surface tacky.

***JohnGD*** · 10-26-2009, 02:52 AM

Apply nothing. Clean the pulleys with alcohol and tooth brush. Let dry.

Use Gates belts and install using a tension gauge, like this one on Amazon:

http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?br...cation_id=2742

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camry LE 94

Is there something that you can use that will lubricate the alternator belt and make it run more efficiently? thanks 96 camry le i4

Camry LE 94 · 10-26-2009, 07:41 AM

yeah belt dressing is what I was talking about. I saw it at a friends house and he didn't know anything about it because it wasn't his.

Gibson99 · 10-26-2009, 11:44 AM

belt dressing sort of softens the rubber of the belt to make it a little more sticky and remove glaze. it's a cheap way to try and get a few more weeks or months out of a dying belt.

generally when a multi-rib belt starts squealing, it's either time to replace the belt, or to find out which pulley is providing too much resistance (not turning smoothly) and replace it. which on our cars means alternator or a/c compressor. or p/s pump but that's rare for it to sieze.

djb2 · 10-26-2009, 12:24 PM

Is this a multi-rib belt or a V belt?

A V belt works by pulling itself deeper into the pulley groove as more load is applied. The friction grip is created by the pulley sheave walls applying pressure. The belt only has to have enough tension to start the pull-in process.

If a V belt is slipping, the problem isn't the belt tension unless the belt is sloppy loose. The problem is often something that keeps the belt from wedging into the groove, either rough pulley sides or when the pulley sides wear to a concave profile.

Gibson99 · 10-26-2009, 12:42 PM

the same concept applies to a multi-rib (often called a micro-V) belt. same concept, just on several smaller V grooves, but this style also adds the ability to apply friction to low-load items (or idler pulleys) using the smooth side of the belt.

volkswagen uses double-sided milti-ribbed belts on many models - they look like a regular multi-rib belt, but with grooves on both sides.

and yes, all gen3 and up camrys use multi-rib belts. on cars made in the last 15 years or so, the traditional V-belt has gone the way of the dodo... nobody uses em anymore except on lawn equipment and stuff.