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I started my cooling system replacement last night and fumbled the coolant draining and spilled a lot of coolant on my belts. I know this is an issue that can cause squeaks, but the belts are only 2 years old. Is it possible to wash the coolant off the belts and re-use them?
I tried belt dressing, everything, including brake cleaner. I had no luck with anything. If you find a solution (pun intended!) that works, please let us know!! Mine sounded like 50 sparrows made nests under my hood. It was so embarrassing, I had to buy new belts!!!!
If I don't get any other input, I'm just going to remove them and wash the belts and pulleys thoroughly. I've already experienced a fair amount of scope creep on this project. The overflow reservoir was cracked and I decided I should just go ahead and do the water pump too. Oh and I guess while I'm in there I should replace the original hoses too. Oh and I'm already in there so let's just do the radiator.
I'm afraid if I keep going I'm going to somehow end up with an LS9 swap.
I recently replaced my harmonic balancer and did all the pulleys, tensioners, belts, and water pump while I was in there.
The next week I decided to clean my throttle body and got coolant all over the new fresh belts. Squeak city for a couple days then it went away and hasn't come back. I wouldn't bother cleaning all the belts just put some miles on it and it'll go away most likely. If it doesn't I have used a trick that sounds really silly but it has worked on other vehicles: A deodorant stick, has to be some normal white stick stuff, just apply it to the belts as its spinning works like magic lol.
I recently replaced my harmonic balancer and did all the pulleys, tensioners, belts, and water pump while I was in there.
The next week I decided to clean my throttle body and got coolant all over the new fresh belts. Squeak city for a couple days then it went away and hasn't come back. I wouldn't bother cleaning all the belts just put some miles on it and it'll go away most likely. If it doesn't I have used a trick that sounds really silly but it has worked on other vehicles: A deodorant stick, has to be some normal white stick stuff, just apply it to the belts as its spinning works like magic lol.
I've seen the deodorant trick. I've got to remove the belts anyway and I have some help coming over to give me a hand this afternoon so I'll give him the belts to go rinse off in a bucket to give him something to do while I'm in there. I'll definitely be remembering the deodorant trick if I still have issues, but I appreciate the reassurance that the squeaks may not be permanent once the coolant cooks off.
This is my daily driver and only vehicle besides my wife's car so it'll definitely get some miles on it when it's all buttoned back up.
Exact thing happened to me last year after replacing water pump gaskets. Spilled coolant on the belt and pulleys. Removed the belt and cleaned everything well with water. After everything had dried thoroughly I reassembled. Worked perfectly without a single sound....
Another engine I washed, just a regular factory engine
Engines are 'outside cats' just don't get the coils, plug hardware, maf sensor, or air filters wet.
I also go back over the electrical battery connections and alternator and grounds with dialectric grease. And WD40 the hoses and plastic stuff as a protective coating. I use paper towels and something like simple green for grease.
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Cleaning coolant off belts
