Conditioner for drive belts
Content
Belt conditioner allows you to get rid of the whistle that they sometimes create and extend their total life. Such a tool softens the hardened rubber layer, reduces the intensity of its wear, and also creates a layer with a high coefficient of friction on the surface.
However, you need to understand that the use of a rubber drive belt conditioner is only a temporary measure, and in order to eliminate the squeak and / or its insufficient tension, you need to solve the problem radically, that is, tighten the slack with a tensioner or pick up a new strap and replace it.
At the end of this material, a non-commercial rating of air conditioners and tensioners is given, compiled on the description of manufacturers, as well as reviews found on the Internet and real tests by enthusiastic motorists. In short, it will have a tabular form.
| Name of funds | Brief description and features | Package volume, ml/mg | Price as of spring 2019, Russian rubles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liqui Moly V-Belt Spray | One of the most effective tools in its segment. Suitable for belts made of different materials - rubber, leather, fabric. Can be used to repair household appliances. The operating temperature range is from -20°C to +70°C. | 400 | 840 |
| Mannol Belt Tensioner | A good product at a low price per package. Reviews are mostly positive. The duration of action lasts for several days. | 200 | 140 |
| Hi-Gear Belt Dressing | Can be used with both V-belts and V-ribbed belts. It is necessary to apply the product with the engine turned off. The duration of action is several hours, then the squeak of the belt resumes. | 198 | 450 |
| STEAL Verylube | Has an average efficiency. A cold belt will continue to squeak, and the squeak will disappear only as it warms up. Validity is only a few hours. | 320 | 300 |
| Abro Belt Dressing & Conditioner | It is an excellent all-rounder that can be used with belts of a wide variety of materials and shapes. Can be used to tighten the straps of household appliances. it can also be used to process rubber seals for doors, hood, trunk. | 170 | 240 |
| WURTH | The conditioner can be used for belts made of different materials. The efficiency of its work and duration is low. Do not use with toothed belts! | 400 | 970 |
And there are also folk remedies for whistling belts.
When can you use a belt whistle remedy?
The drive belt makes a characteristic squeak for one of the following reasons:
- Insufficient tension. The belts tend to stretch over time, and the tension roller can go down a little. To eliminate this cause, it is enough just to re-tighten the belt to the desired value (check by deflection with the force of a finger).
- Belt wear. During operation, the straps are erased, the area of contact between the belt and the surface of the drive mechanisms decreases, and, accordingly, the load on it increases. Ideally, such a belt should be changed to a new one, since it is clearly not long to ride on it.
- Rubber tanning (drying). Over time, the rubber belt loses its elasticity, which is why it adheres worse to the coupling surfaces. This, in turn, leads to a decrease in the transmitted force. In this case, it is also advisable to change the belt to a new one.
Stretching or replacing the hinged belt in the internal combustion engine of a car is a simple task. However, in some situations it is impossible to reproduce, and the motorist is forced to put up with an unpleasant strap whistle. In this case, a lubricant conditioner for drive belts, which is also sometimes called an anti-creak, can come to the rescue.
Means from the whistle of the belt perform the following functions:
- Softens hardened rubber. Because of this, its top layer becomes softer, which helps it work more efficiently.
- Increases the coefficient of friction on the contact surfaces of the belt and drive pulleys due to a sticky coating (usually black in color to match the rubber). The belt becomes very sticky, which allows it to securely attach to all drive pulleys and not slip on them. Sometimes drivers mistakenly consider this layer to be a product of the decomposition of the rubber from which the belt is made, as a result of the use of these products.
- Increases the overall resource of the drive belt. A shriveled belt is prone to constant slippage, which increases its already considerable temperature. Because of this, microcracks appear in its structure. Softening and creating a protective layer on the surface of the belt reduces its wear and, accordingly, prolongs the overall service life.
However, for all the benefits described, the use of a belt conditioner is only a temporary measure that can prolong belt life for a short time. Since very quickly the belt is covered with dust and the clutch disappears. Accordingly, at the earliest opportunity, you need to stretch or replace the strap.
How to choose a belt conditioner
There are a few simple rules, and if you follow them, it will be easier to decide on the choice of air conditioner for belts.
- Scope of use. Many manufacturers produce universal tools with which you can restore not only traditional rubber V-belts or V-ribbed belts, but also similar products from other materials. Restoration of leather, fabric, synthetics. Such tools are good in everyday life, however, the wider the range of action, the less well it will cope with the belt of attachments in the car.
- Composition. Typically, the formulations of drive belt restorers are approximately the same for most manufacturers. Therefore, when studying the composition, you need to pay attention to whether the agent will harm individual materials, and even more so the human body (is it possible to allow contact with the skin, the respiratory system).
- Packing volume. Given that many belt conditioners have a short shelf life, you need to look at the volume of the package. In addition, you need to consider how soon it is planned to tighten / replace the belt, and, accordingly, stop using the air conditioner.
- Value for money. Since all reconditioners have approximately the same efficiency of use, it is best to buy products from the middle price category.
- Manufacturer. The market is represented by dozens of different similar products, so you should pay attention to the description of the goods, as well as reviews about the product.
Rating of air conditioners for drive belts
There are a lot of reviews on the Internet and real tests of air conditioners, drive belt restorers, conducted by various enthusiastic motorists. Based on the collected data, a non-commercial rating of the most popular of the funds was created. The description presents the features of use and action.
Liqui Moly V-Belt Spray
The Liqui Moly Keilriemen-Spray Belt Conditioner is one of the best in its market segment. It is based on biologically active lubricants dissolved in gasoline, which increase the coefficients of friction and efficiency of the belt, as well as increase its overall resource. Can be used with V-belts and V-ribbed belts. Conditioner for drive belts "Liqui Moly" protects the surface of the belts, prevents them from slipping, provides elasticity, increases the transmitted force. It differs in that it can be used for belts made of different materials - rubber, leather, balat and others. Accordingly, it can be used not only in machine, but also in household appliances.
Apply to the surface from a distance of 20 cm. The belt can be used 10 minutes after application. The operating temperature range is from -20°C to +70°C. Sold in a 400 ml aerosol can. The article of such a package is 4085. The price in the spring of 2019 is about 840 rubles.
Mannol Belt Tensioner
Mannol Belt Tensioner is positioned by the manufacturer as a lubricant for drive belts. It can be used not only in machine technology. The main functions are the elimination of squeak and slippage of drive belts, an increase in their total resource. In addition, it protects well from pollution, and also gives elasticity, protects against cracking.
Reviews about the conditioner for Mannol belts are quite good. Sold in a 200 ml aerosol can. The average price is 140 rubles per pack. You can buy under the article 2142.
Hi-Gear Belt Dressing
The Hi-Gear Belt Dressing conditioner is suitable for working with V-belts and V-ribbed belts. The instructions indicate that it is great for use with old belts, increasing their service life by 1,5 ... 2 times (which is very exaggerated).
Protects belts from drying out and cracking. Shake the can well before applying, then apply to the inner surface of the pulleys. You need to apply with the engine turned off, and then let the engine run for several minutes.
Real reviews show that the effectiveness of the High Gear belt conditioner is average. In most cases, it is noted that the action of the remedy lasts only a few days. After that, the creaking of the belt resumes. However, the air conditioner can be used to slightly delay the stretching / replacement procedure.
You can buy Hi-Gear Belt Dressing in an aerosol can with a volume of 198 grams under the article HG5505. The price of one package is about 450 rubles.
STEAL Verylube
Under the XADO Verylube trademark, a special spray is produced for the care of drive belts. In terms of its properties and characteristics, it is completely similar to other similar compositions. That is, it is designed to prevent cracking of belts, their drying, prolonging the service life, cleaning the working surfaces of the belt and pulleys (rollers). Shake the bottle before use and apply it to the working (V-belt) part of the belt.
Reviews and tests have shown that when starting in a cold temperature, the belt continues to squeak, and the squeak disappears only as the belt itself warms up. As for the duration of action, it is small, and ranges from several hours to several days. However, given the relatively low price of the Verilub air conditioner, it can be used as a repair tool before replacing / adjusting the belt tension.
The belt spray is available in a 320 ml aerosol can. Article - XB40015. Its price is about 300 rubles.
Abro Belt Dressing & Conditioner
Abro Belt Dressing & Conditioner is positioned by the manufacturer as an anti-creak belt product. Designed for processing drive belts, including for household appliances. So, it can be used with belts made of different materials - rubber, leather, fabric, as well as different shapes - V-shaped, flat, round, gear. Restores the efficiency of belts, increases their resource, prevents cracking.
The air conditioner can be used to treat rubber seals of doors, hood, trunk, to eliminate squeaks in them and to give elasticity to rubber seals. Safe for car body paintwork.
Reviews indicate that the remedy is indeed universal. When used on machine drive belts, the effect will be short-lived. However, for household use or for processing rubber seals in a car, the Abro air conditioner can be used. Sold in a 170 ml bottle. You can buy it under the article BD100. The price of one package is about 240 rubles.
WURTH
V-belt spray is also available under the brand name WURTH. It can be used for belts made of various materials - rubber, leather, fabric. As for the shape of the belts, it can be used with all belts, except for the teeth! Conditioner protects against wear, eliminates creaking, prevents cracking. Can be applied on a stopped or running engine.
Reviews about the conditioner for belts "Vert" are very contradictory. It is noted that despite the high price, its efficiency is quite low. So whether or not to use for a short-term effect is up to the car owner to decide.
The air conditioner is sold in a 400 ml aerosol can. Its price is 970 rubles. You can buy an air conditioner under the article number - 893230.
How to replace belt conditioner
The tools listed above are professional air conditioning alternator (drive belt) tensioners that have been developed for this purpose. However, many drivers, in order not to buy such funds, use other improvised compositions. namely, many are interested in the question of whether it is possible to lubricate the drive belts with silicone grease or the well-known WD-40 spray?
As practice shows, these compounds can indeed be taken to lubricate the ICE drive belts, but there are a couple of nuances. The first is that the duration of their action is extremely short. namely, the squeak will be eliminated literally for a few hours, at best - days.
This is because Silicone GreaseAs WD-40 , softens the rubber, but leaves a greasy film on it, which lasts a very long time. Accordingly, with their help, you can get rid of rubber tanning, which leads to whistling, to displace moisture.
In the long run, you shouldn't use silicone grease or wedges. The fact is that from constant forced softening, the rubber will soften excessively, and this will lead to a stretching of the belt, a decrease in its resource and its complete failure!
There is also one "folk" method for increasing the coefficient of friction of the belt without increasing the force of its tension. Yes, for this they use rosindiluted in ethyl alcohol. The powder is dissolved in alcohol (used for soldering electronics). The solution should have an average consistency, not very liquid, but not thick. then this same solution must be applied to the inner surface of the belt. The method has been proven over the years, and it eliminates the squeak for a few days. However, like the above tools, rosin can only be used as a temporary means of eliminating extraneous noise.
Hack and predictor Aviator
An alternator belt or drive belt conditioner spray is only a temporary remedy that can help to get rid of the unpleasant whistling sounds made by these components in the short term. They can be used, for example, if at some point in time it is not possible to replace the belt, but you don’t want to hear a squeak.
It is undesirable to use various silicone lubricants or the well-known WD-40 for similar purposes. They have an extremely short working time. Therefore, when identifying problems with the drive belt, it is necessary to either tighten it to the desired force, or completely replace it.
Have you used belt conditioners? Write about it in the comments.
