Contents
Recap
In an automotive engine, a drive belt, also known as a serpentine belt, is used to drive various engine components. These components might include a power steering pump, alternator, water pump, air conditioning compressor, etc. The belt is often placed on an idler pulley, which serves as a guide or a belt tensioner. This is either spring-loaded, hydraulic, or manual.
A serpentine belt is positioned at the outer part of the engine, which provides power and drives to the engine devices, making the vehicle work. The belt is alternatively called an alternator belt, accessory drive belt, or fan belt.
What is a drive belt?
A drive belt, or serpentine belt, is a single, continuous belt used in automotive engines to rotate multiple peripheral devices in the engine. The belt is allowed to pass over more than three pulleys, which are designed to fitly enclose the belt to avoid slipping. Idler pulleys are pressed against the back of the belt, forcing it into the shape of the pulley.
A drive belt can last at least more than 10,000 miles. Cranks or breaks can easily be detected, as they can be seen on the side of front-wheel-drive vehicles. In rear-wheel-drive vehicles or cars with boxer engines, it’s visible from the front. In some rear-wheel cars and older cars, the drive belt also drives the front engine fan. Some engine designs use two of them, depending on the configuration and the device layout.
Functions of a drive belt
Below are the functions of a drive belt in an automotive engine:
- The primary purpose of a drive belt is to drive or power the engine accessories.
- Drive belts use one source of energy to power multiple components
- It increases the mechanical efficiency of the engine.
- Since the engine water pump is powered by a drive belt, it will stop running and cause overheating if it breaks.
- Also, the hydraulic power steering is driven by the belt. So, the steering assist will be lost as the power steering pump is disabled from the drive.
- The alternator that also supplies electrical power will stop working as the device is disabled.
The belt is driven by a pulley attached to the engine crankshaft. Most vehicles are designed to use one or two drive belts, but it’s called a serpentine belt when an engine has one drive belt.
Diagram of the Drive Belt:
Types of Drive Belts
Below are various types of drive belts used in an automotive engine:
Serpentine belt:
The serpentine types of belts are the most common belts used today. It’s a single belt used to power the most essential components of the vehicle, and it is easy to change. A socket is used to pull the tensioner pulley in order to remove the belt.
Since a serpentine belt is a single belt used to drive multiple devices, the car owner is assured to be on the roadside if it gets broken. This is why regular inspections should be made of these types of drive belts to avoid future issues. But a quality serpentine belt will surely serve at least 90,000 miles.
Drive belts or V-belts:
These types of belts are often found in older vehicles, but they offer several advantages. Apart from the crank pulley, the belt powers at least one or two devices, depending on the engine design. There are several individual belts to drive the power steering, air conditioning compressor, alternators, water pump, and radiator fan.
If one of the belts breaks, the driver is likely to get home, unlike the serpentine belt, which powers all components with a single belt. But it depends on whether the belt is driving. A drive belt is called a V-belt because of its tapered rubber teeth.
Timing belts:
Timing belts are types of drive that connect the crankshaft and camshaft, keeping them in sync. The belt is located behind the timing cover; one will likely see it. The belt is important in the automotive engine as the combustion process relies on it.
It can work for at least 60,000 to 90,000 miles before replacement. Well, some engines are designed with timing chains instead of belts so they can last throughout the engine’s lifespan. Instead of drive belts that crack or break over time.
Working Principle
The belt work with the idler, tensioner, and pulleys to keep the devices connected to the drive belt. With the above-mentioned components the belt drives, the engine may not run at all, if it’s bad.
As soon as the engine is running, the serpentine belt continues to operate until the vehicle is shut down. The power used to control the crankshaft, which serves as the primary source of energy, is obtained from the combustion process.
Watch the video to learn more about how a drive belt works:
Advantages and Disadvantages of a Serpentine Belt
Advantages:
Below are the benefits of a drive belt used in an automotive engine:
- Serpentine belts consume less space and are more effective than the older multiple-drive belt system.
- The belt is able to undergo an increase in tension without stretching.
- Since higher tension reduces slip, belt life, and mechanical efficiency are increased.
- The belt is much easier to maintain and replace since there is no need for multiple belts to be removed.
- Since only one tensioner belt is needed for all the peripheral components, they can simply be mounted on the engine without the need to swivel.
- Less slip allows a serpentine belt to work well on lower-ratio pulleys as the engine load is reduced.
- Fuel economy and available power have increased.
- The tendency to flip over in the pulley groove is eliminated.
Disadvantages:
Despite the great advantages of a serpentine belt, some limitations still exist. Below are the disadvantages of the drive belt:
- The vehicle instantly loses multiple critical functions as soon as the belt breaks or is knocked loose.
- The vehicle becomes unusable in no time as the engine cooling is terminated.
- Lack of redundancy.
- Breakage of the single belt means loss of all accessories.
Related Article:
- Difference between drive belt and timing belt
- How Much Does Timing Belt Cost to Replace?
- Timing Belt Vs Timing Chain: Differences and Which is Better
- Symptoms Of a Bad or Loose Alternator Belt
- Symptoms Of a Bad Timing Belt
That is all for this article, in which we discuss an automotive drive belt. I hope it was an informative read; if so, kindly comment, share, and recommend this site to other technical students. Thanks!
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