Fiat Ducato Cambelt Replacement Timing

Something we come across quite regularly during trade in assessments, is a lack of understanding around the requirement by Fiat for the cambelt replacement intervals on the Ducato chassis.

This is something we have to factor into our trade in assessments and many are surprised by the requirement to change the belt so soon given the low kilometers most motorhomes have traveled. Many kiwis have in their mind 100,000 kilometers as replacement interval. This comes from many years of import Japanese cars having that as their average benchmark for replacement timing.

For the Ducato however Fiat advise the interval for a cambelt change as 5 years or 100,000 kilometers, whichever comes first. Motorhomes in most cases won't travel over 100,000 kilometers in 5 years, so the 5 year interval is typically the requirement. It is important to have this preventative maintenance done on time, as even if the mileage is low the belt can oxidise and degrade over time. It is wise to replace the belt tensioner at the same time and at minimum check the water pump condition.
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If you are looking to buy a used motorhome from a dealer or privately around that 5 year old mark, we recommend you obtain proof that this preventative maintenance has been completed. We regularly provide our prospective customers a copy of the service invoice to show that this work has been completed. It is also worth noting that most if not all Mechanical Breakdown Insurance policies will not cover any repair cost if the manufacturer required maintenance has not been completed on time.

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