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Serpentine belt snap causing engine block crack?


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4130100
Novice

May 16, 2017, 7:01 PM

Post #1 of 11 (1569 views)
post icon Serpentine belt snap causing engine block crack? Sign In

2015 BMW 320i 2.0 L 23k miles

I have just been told that my serpentine belt snapped, pulled on the tensioner, and caused the engine block to crack. Now, I'm no mechanic, but something tells me that if the belt snapped and pulled on the tensioner with enough force to crack a cast piece of metal, it should have caused the tensioner to break and grab other components damaging them as well, which it did not. I wanted to get the opinions of experts to see if this sounds even plausible, or if anyone has seen this type of issue occurring before.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

May 16, 2017, 8:00 PM

Post #2 of 11 (1561 views)
Re: Serpentine belt snap causing engine block crack? Sign In

What froze up to cause the belt break in the first place?



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



4130100
Novice

May 16, 2017, 8:04 PM

Post #3 of 11 (1556 views)
Re: Serpentine belt snap causing engine block crack? Sign In

Thanks for the response. Nothing froze. The story is that the oil filter cap cracked and leaked oil on the belt.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

May 16, 2017, 8:06 PM

Post #4 of 11 (1550 views)
Re: Serpentine belt snap causing engine block crack? Sign In

Nope, that didn't make a belt simply snap. Something had to have locked up.

Oil will make a belt slip and slide but it takes dry grip to make it break.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



(This post was edited by Hammer Time on May 16, 2017, 8:09 PM)


4130100
Novice

May 16, 2017, 8:10 PM

Post #5 of 11 (1539 views)
Re: Serpentine belt snap causing engine block crack? Sign In

Lets say that it fell off due to oil lubrication. Does that get us to engine block cracking territory?


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

May 16, 2017, 8:14 PM

Post #6 of 11 (1532 views)
Re: Serpentine belt snap causing engine block crack? Sign In

That depends how and where this block cracked. If the belt got jammed up behind a pulley it's feasible but I've never seen it happen. The more logical explanation would be that the engine overheated because the belt wasn't driving the water pump any more. It depends where the damage is.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



4130100
Novice

May 16, 2017, 8:18 PM

Post #7 of 11 (1527 views)
Re: Serpentine belt snap causing engine block crack? Sign In

I was told its near the tensioner mounting point.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

May 16, 2017, 8:22 PM

Post #8 of 11 (1523 views)
Re: Serpentine belt snap causing engine block crack? Sign In

The only explanation for that is the belt came off the pulley and got jammed behind it and that is when it broke. That would be enough force the rip the tensioner bolts out of the block.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



4130100
Novice

May 16, 2017, 8:25 PM

Post #9 of 11 (1518 views)
Re: Serpentine belt snap causing engine block crack? Sign In

That would make sense, except the tensioner and the bolts are still in tact. After the belt came off, a new belt was able to be placed on, working fine.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

May 16, 2017, 8:28 PM

Post #10 of 11 (1514 views)
Re: Serpentine belt snap causing engine block crack? Sign In

Unless you can supply some close up pictures of the damage, there isn't much else I can tell you.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



4130100
Novice

May 16, 2017, 8:30 PM

Post #11 of 11 (1509 views)
Re: Serpentine belt snap causing engine block crack? Sign In

You have helped quite a bit. I appreciate your time.






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