Which VW Group engines have a wet belt?

Which engines have a wet belt?

This page explains the belt that runs in oil on some Audi, Volkswagen, SEAT and Škoda engines. For other work on these makes, see our Audi and VW specialist page.

EA288 and EA288 evo diesels, 1.6 to 2.0 TDI. These engines have two belts:

• a dry camshaft belt
• a second belt that runs in the engine oil and drives the oil pump

The oil-bathed belt was introduced in place of a chain to reduce friction.

Petrol engines. Owners often ask whether the 1.0, 1.2, 1.4 and 1.5 TSI engines have a wet belt. We confirm this by engine code for the individual car, not by model name.

If you are not sure which engine your car has, put the registration in the enquiry form and we will check.

What are the symptoms?

There is usually no symptom before an oil pump belt fails. That is why the engine code, the service history and the car’s own schedule matter more than waiting for a warning.

What goes wrong with a wet belt?

A motoring magazine that looked into these belts describes what can happen when the belt runs in oil:

• the oil can attack the belt
• the belt can swell or lose tension
• it can shed particles that block the engine’s oilways

If the belt fails, the oil pump stops. The same magazine reports that extreme cases are rare.

How do you check a wet belt before fitting parts?

Before we recommend any work, we:

• confirm the engine code, so we know which belts the engine has
• check the service history and the maintenance schedule for your car
• check which engine oil has been used

Oil choice. Because the belt runs in the engine oil, the oil matters. Volkswagen tells owners to match the oil standard in the handbook to the label on the bottle, and we use oil to the standard your car’s handbook gives.

We then show you what we found and send a written price. No part is fitted until you give us your written approval.

What does replacing the oil pump belt involve?

There is no single published figure we can quote for the oil pump belt, so we check your car’s maintenance schedule, its service history and the oil that has been used, and advise from what we find. When the belt is replaced, one belt maker’s guidance is to:

• fit a new crankshaft sealing flange
• fit new oil pump bolts and a new seal if the pump is removed
• check the centring sleeves

The dry camshaft belt has its own interval. See our cambelt and water pump page.

How long does it take?

It depends on the engine and on what else is being done at the same time, such as the camshaft belt.

Before any work starts, you get a written price and a promised time for your next update. If the car needs to stay with us, ask about a courtesy car when you book.

Is there a recall for wet belts?

Whether a recall applies depends on the individual car, so check your registration on gov.uk. Recall work is done by the manufacturer’s network, not by us.