Belt Squeal

[jtre]

So i have been dealing with a belt squeal only on a cold start after sitting for a while. It goes away after a second or two. I noticed it after my oil leak (coming from the front of the pan gasket, looks like somewhere right behind the crank pulley) It doesn't happen when the engine is warm. My guess is some oil is splashing onto the crank pulley while driving, and the oil thickens overnight after cooling down which is causing the squeal. More of an annoyance than anything, but does anyone recommend a product that might make it stop? The belt condition is good, and all worn pulleys were replaced (just the tensioner pulley) when I did my timing cover gasket.

 

[SupaSwope]

I had that issue when I had an "oversized" belt. It fit like it suppose too. No forcing it on and the tensor does its job. On the "regular" sized belt I literally have to pry it on with the tensor maxed but no squeal. It could be oil or it could be the belt itself.

Edit: Everything on my pully system has been replaced except ac compressor which does not work.

 

[bigred4x4]

Mine does the same thing(quick squeak when engine fires up) and I don't have oil leaks could be a stretched belt or drag from the AC compressor clutch etc it doesn't bother me so I actually never looked into it my belt looks good no cracking.iv replaced the belt tensioner idler pulley and power steering pump not too long ago as the noise was much worse but the same belt is still being used so I'd probably start there if you haven't replaced it in awhile.

 

[Turdle]

OP which engine do you have?

 

[bigred4x4]

If your looking for a temporary fix for now have you tried belt dressing?

 

[koda2000]

You're not supposed to use belt dressing on a serpentine belt. Without a grove depth gauge (given away for free at some auto parts stores) today's serpentine belts are difficult to determine when they are worn out. It used to be they'd crack and/or loose chunks of rubber, but today's belts just wear down. My daughter's 2000 Mountaineer 5.0L makes this same short belt squeal at startup and at no other time. Her belt tensioner is fairly new and so are her idle pulleys. Her serpentine belt is 5 years old and has around 50k-60k on it, so it's overdue to be changed. Something else to add to my list.

 

[jtre]

I have 5.0 v8...belt might have been done with the idler pulley my mechanic did last winter, i don't remember. Might end up throwing another belt on there since it is cheap and then I will know I have a good belt for a while (and maybe stop the squeal in the process). Thanks koda2000, did not know you were not supposed to use a belt conditioner on a serpentine belt. Guess I will ignore it if a new belt doesn't fix it

 

[J_C]

Could be oil, could be worn belt, but check the belt tension. If you only replaced the tensioner pulley and not the whole thing then you might have too much slack.

Dayco makes belts with some sort of felt-like poly fiber backing that is supposed to help reduce squealing, though if this is due to an oil leak you might find the problem returns anyway.

 

[Turdle]

I have 5.0 v8...belt might have been done with the idler pulley my mechanic did last winter, i don't remember. Might end up throwing another belt on there since it is cheap and then I will know I have a good belt for a while (and maybe stop the squeal in the process). Thanks koda2000, did not know you were not supposed to use a belt conditioner on a serpentine belt. Guess I will ignore it if a new belt doesn't fix it

wait until the engine is cold again, and, with the belt off start it and see if is still squeaks. Might be a cam sensor chirping. Sounds just like a squeaking belt. Just throwing it out at ya--

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums...engine-compartment.161590/page-7#post-2792650

 

[1998Exp]

FWIW: the tensioner should have an indicator, showing the end of travel - which happens when the belt is stretched too far and it can't tension it properly anymore.

 

[bigred4x4]

I have a new belt I keep in my offroad box in the back I'm probably going to swap it out and see what happens.

 

[Rhett]

So i have been dealing with a belt squeal only on a cold start after sitting for a while. It goes away after a second or two.

Cold start squeal / chirp? I second what Turdle said, above.

 

[jtre]

Side note, i have heard several opinions about checking oil (i frequently monitor it so i dont run low on oil, given my leak), some say do it when the engine is cold and still others say when the engine is warm. The manual says to warm the engine (but does not say to warm it to operating temp like tranny fluid). Does it matter?

 

[swshawaii]

You're not supposed to use belt dressing on a serpentine belt.

Good advice Phil. Many experienced mechanics don't know this.

Why Belt Dressing Is Not a Solution To Quiet a Noisy Belt

 

[koda2000]

Good advice Phil. Many experienced mechanics don't know this.

Why Belt Dressing Is Not a Solution To Quiet a Noisy Belt

Well it also says not to on the spray can...

The cam synchronizer chirp is real, but it's a different repetitive sound (been there fixed that) than the short belt squeal at startup.

 

[1998Exp]

Side note, i have heard several opinions about checking oil (i frequently monitor it so i dont run low on oil, given my leak), some say do it when the engine is cold and still others say when the engine is warm. The manual says to warm the engine (but does not say to warm it to operating temp like tranny fluid). Does it matter?

Engine oil needs to be checked with the engine off and after it has completely drained down to the pan. My experience is that if you start the engine and turn it off before it's fully warmed up, it will take a long time (perhaps an hour) for the oil to drain, and your dipstick will show low. If you stop a warm engine, oil flows faster, and you can check it within minutes.

 

[koda2000]

I just check my engine oil level first thing in the morning. No rag or paper towel required. Pull the dipstick and as long as the oil level is about half way between the upper and lower min/max marks you're good to go. If it's at the min mark you should add between a 1/2 quart and 1 quart of oil. Engine oil pan level is not critical to the ounce, you just need to be w/in the min/max marks on the dipstick.

 

[bigred4x4]

Just replaced my belt and problem solved the old one was stretched maxing out the tensioner the new one is a big difference where the tensioner sits.

Thought I should add there is some up and down movement of the tensioner while running kinda twitching is this normal?

 

[koda2000]

Just replaced my belt and problem solved the old one was stretched maxing out the tensioner the new one is a big difference where the tensioner sits.

Thought I should add there is some up and down movement of the tensioner while running kinda twitching is this normal?

Yes, normal.

 

[Turdle]

Yes, some movement is normal.

Here is an extreme example of what load does to the tensioner. Your AC and power steering will do this but not to this degree. Watch the whole vid