V6 Engine Cam belt tensioner

[Fylnn]

Just looking at the cam belt tensioner on my 2.5 V6.  It is the early oil pressurised type.  Do people stick with these or is there a later spring loaded type that you can convert to?

If you stick with the oil pressure type are they reliable or do they leak or fail in any way?

[bobalfa]

From Newbie bobalfa.  I recently changed the timing belt on my GTV6  (since sold for reasons not related to the car but to my being an old b**ger) .  It had the old oil pressure tensioner which after 100k km still showed no sign of leaking.  I put this down to regular oil changing (evry 10k km) using Mr Shell's synthetic oil.  I sold the car with a spare bimetallic strip tensioner which I think came from Canada.  Talk to Bill Magoffin of the NSW Branch. 

[Fylnn]

OK thanks, since read an article about the bi-metallic tensioners saying that the engine should never be turned backwards (belt jumps presumably) and so should only be used on automatic cars.  Might just make sure I rebuild the oil pressure one properly.

[Al Campbell]

An up-to-date step by step guide to rebuilding the oil filled tensioner that seems to contain all the distilled wisdom.

http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/alfetta-gtv6-1975-1986/94819-de-tensioner-re-build.html

Your man at ALFAUTO Parts (Mille Miglia), when I enquired about a spare de-tensioner to rebuild, said that if it isn't leaking, don't re-build it yet. Just change the bearing when you do a cam-belt change.

AL.

[Fylnn]

thanks sounds like good advice