Engine Belt Noise And Its Causes

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We’ve talked before about different causes of noise coming from your diesel engine, including noise occurring when the engine is under load.

But there’s more than one reason you might be experiencing unwanted noise, including noise coming from your belts. In this post, we’re diving into how you can diagnose noise coming from your diesel engine belts. Belts in Your Diesel Engine Located in the front of the engine, your belts drive different components like the fan hubs, alternators, power steering pumps, and air conditioning pumps. An engine can have one belt or as many as six, and the noise can come from just one belt or a combination of belts. Checking Belt Adjustment One thing you’ll want to check is the adjustment of your belts. If the adjustment is off, it can create engine noise. So, first, ensure that they’re adjusted correctly. If they’re too loose, they can slap, making a ticking noise. If they’re as tight as they’re supposed to be, like a violin string, then it’s likely not the tension of the belt making a noise. It might be the condition of the belts themselves. Belt Condition There are a couple of things that you’ll want to check for on the belts when you’re investigating if they’re the source of your engine noise. Specifically, you’ll want to look for chunks that are missing from the belt, or places where they are dry and cracked. When going around the pulley, the missing piece or crack can make a noise as it’s rotating. How to Check Your Belts Whenever you make an adjustment, make sure you restart the engine. This helps you pinpoint exactly what the problem was in your engine. If the belts were loose, for instance, restarting it after you adjust them will let you know if the noise is gone. If it is, you’ve fixed the problem. If the noise continues, that’s when you’ll want to check the condition of the belts. If there is any damage to the belts, then you’ll want to replace them. What Happens if The Noise Doesn’t Go Away Restart it again and see if the noise goes away. If it does, you’ve resolved the problem. If not, then it’s likely that the belts weren’t the source of the problem. If you’re still experiencing the noise, then you should check out the valvetrain next. Need help diagnosing your problem? Give us a call! Our team of experts can help you pinpoint your problem and make sure you’re getting the parts you need to get the job done right!