How many miles for serpentine belt?

[turkeybird56]

Perhaps a new, improved belt (read: lower cost and higher profit for Stellantis). This is what happens with a long-lived product - the executives get hold of it and mandate "profit improvement programs" (PIP).

What are you saying? FCA use a new improved belt to save $.05 on each vehicle? Probably. Just like on most trucks in the 1500 series not having full rear wheel liners. You gotta go and buy and either install yourself and/or pay to have done. About $100.00 for liners and bolts needed. I just haven't gotten to it yet.

 

[HEMIMANN]

What are you saying? FCA use a new improved belt to save $.05 on each vehicle? Probably. Just like on most trucks in the 1500 series not having full rear wheel liners. You gotta go and buy and either install yourself and/or pay to have done. About $100.00 for liners and bolts needed. I just haven't gotten to it yet.

Yup - poorly run corporations (most of them now) reward different functional groups instead of the product platform outcome. Therefore, engineering gets rewarded for being quick, purchasing for being cheap, manufacturing for being complete (ships), etc.

I saw this transition at my own corporation - before we were bought out, we did $1.2 billion in sales @ 30% gross margin. The corporate drones 'fixed' us by cutting sales and profits in half, for which they threw us out of careers. They bled us to death.

 

[Marmay]

Todays belts are good for 140.000km.

 

[EdGs]

Did the belt on my '15 at 106k, still looked decent, though.

 

[turkeybird56]

YUP, all belts checked and maintained/changed all more a matter of personal preference than a tied down to mileage number. BUT the important take here is: If your belt is getting old, exposed to oils, weather etc, might be a good thing to look at it once in a while and if any doubt, change out. Just IMHO... The Green Fleet Gates Belt is $48.00. But I personally would not want green on a red truck, lmao.

 

[tjfdesmo]

Perhaps a new, improved belt (read: lower cost and higher profit for Stellantis). This is what happens with a long-lived product - the executives get hold of it and mandate "profit improvement programs" (PIP).

Remember this was on my '05, so long before Stellantis, but during the Daimler reign of ruin. I truly think it was just a fluke deal.

But, in general you are 100% correct. I'll repeat what my retired Chrysler engineer friend taught me:
Accountants say MCM=Material Cost Management. Engineers say MCM=Make Customers Mad.

 

[HEMIMANN]

Ah yes - the match made in hell - Mercedes and Chrysler. What could possibly have gone wrong? Whoever made the deal made out like a bandit and left a smoldering carcass. Daimler-Benz bought Chrysler for $35B, sold for $7B. Excellent strategy.

There's a reason I nixed an MBA - I might have gone postal.

 

[Nicholas Cove]

Elastomer compounds and fibers have really improved over the past 30 years. The thing to look at is fatigue and age cracks across the ribs. When you start seeing them, it's time to change. There are too many application variables to define a standard change interval with these high quality materials now days.

Ya a lot of manufactures have a 250 000km service life on belts now. Craziness lol.

 

[turkeybird56]

^^ I gotcha, but no way I would run/trust a Belt that important with 150,000 miles on the clock. SO much cheaper and easier for peace of mind, but then that is just me.

 

[HEMIMANN]

I'd probably replace ~ 100,000 or so, but not 50-70k any more.

 

[06 Dodge]

When I replaced belt, rad hoses, water pump, T stat and anti freeze at 110K/12 years (2006 CTD) I was asked why I wanted to spend $$$ to replace it all being their was nothing wrong with all the stuff I was replacing , btw it was not a Ram Dealer who asked me why I was doing it...

 

[HEMIMANN]

Well, the only way to know if there's something 'wrong' is to inspect, as.per my post.

 

[turkeybird56]

YUP, U do have to do your due diligence. Of course, I know there are a lot of folks that just throw gas in their ride and drive forever then are amazed when something goes wrong.. IMHO...

 

[quickster2]

Ah yes - the match made in hell - Mercedes and Chrysler. What could possibly have gone wrong? Whoever made the deal made out like a bandit and left a smoldering carcass. Daimler-Benz bought Chrysler for $35B, sold for $7B. Excellent strategy.

There's a reason I nixed an MBA - I might have gone postal.

M-B did make out like a bandit. Took 15 to 20 BN in cash from the coffers, mortgaged most assets for more BN's, charged for "technology" at exorbitant rates, and withheld product dev. & R&D, I could go on. Merger derived in hell for most of the workers. Eaton made 25 to 30 mil along with others. Was not a fun time for the most part.

 

[Mister Luck]

M-B did make out like a bandit. Took 15 to 20 BN in cash from the coffers, mortgaged most assets for more BN's, charged for "technology" at exorbitant rates, and withheld product dev. & R&D, I could go on. Merger derived in hell for most of the workers. Eaton made 25 to 30 mil along with others. Was not a fun time for the most part.

Was Mitsubishi part of the “others” side of the story ?

Interested to know if owners have experienced this belt failure, and at how many miles?

(Is your 6.1 Hemi a 5.7 with 6.4 heads ?)

For the serpentine
Chilton’s says 24,000km / 15,000 miles or 12 months
I say 48,000km / 30,000 miles or 6 years
and check the pulleys and their bearings

 

[bcbouy]

my 2012 5.7 2500 had all original belts and hoses at 200,000 kilometers when i sold it.they were inspected every spring.

 

[Herckules35]

Interested to know if owners have experienced this belt failure, and at how many miles?

My 21 Warlock is my 3rd Ram. 2008 SXT, 17 Outdoorsman.
I had to change my idler pully when my water pump failed on the 08, with 135,000KM and 8 years but the belt was fine. (I put a new one on though) Basically serpentine belt outlasted the quarter panels LOL.

 

[Fergusontd]

I believe most Serpentine belts are rated to last 100k but I always check for wear after 50k.

 

[farout75]

My 17 Ram 1500 5.7 has almost 105,000 miles and it's the same belt.

 

[Awokenotwoke]

Not quite the same belt, but the E-Torque serpentine on the 22 I bought has advertised a “lifetime“ rating. Or 240,000 km. Very strange way to rate this IMO. If I drive 20k per year that’s 12 years. If I drive 60k per year that’s 4 years.
Either way, inspection and replacement based on condition is the way to go.