Sounds like another ludicrous idea to meet the ridiculous CAFE standards. The auto makers will do anything to gain another 0.1 mpg.
I saw a YouTube video yesterday that taught me something I didn’t know. I always thought that auto timing belts ran dry. But about 40 years ago, a company called GAS in Germany build a wet-belt engine with the belt exposed to engine oil. That car was acquire by BMW and became their 3-Series. Lots of makers adopted the wet belt. The author of the video says it has been a disaster everywhere it’s been tried (lots of car makers adopted it) with greatly reduced timing belt life and increased belt breakage failure.
I forgot to add that the wet belt was adopted in recent years to improve fuel economy. The video author said the lubrication on the belt does improve economy about 0.1% (I think he said) which equates to about Euro 15/year in Europe. But car owners are faced with HUGE bills to change out their failed belts. So the regulators and makers are happy but the consumer is screwed because of the arbitrary and capricious fuel economy standards set by the government. The car owner saves maybe Euro 45 over three years but has to pay Euro 800 to change out the failed belt.
Remember to replace your timing chain.
Timing belts should have never been introduced.
I was interested in the new Chevy Trax and Trail Blazer...but I found out they use wet timing belt tech. Supposedly some of the belt disintegrates a bit...fouling engine oil..if looses teeth..mistiming can damage engine..
Who wants a disintegrating engine?
1.2 liter engine puts out 138 hp. The 1.3 L engines puts out 155 horses....not bad...but with a disintegrating timing belt?
Belts need to be replaced at about 50k miles...
Honda 2000s engines put out 124 HP (normal aspiration, dry timing chain)per liter..back in late 2000’s...about 148 for 1.2 l. Or 160 for 1.3 liter... Tech is there...
“Sounds like another ludicrous idea to meet the ridiculous CAFE standards. The auto makers will do anything to gain another 0.1 mpg”
They wouldn’t bother with the development cost for 0.1mpg.