Smelling burnt rubber....

[Eric VerValin]

Anyone with a full set of UDP's ever smell rubber burning when you pass 6,000 RPM? I've noticed this a couple times recently.. once last night, and once the other day playing with that Mustang... When I really get into 3rd, and 4th I swear I smell rubber. I have a 4 peice UDP set, and about 15k on the belts... was wondering if maybe one of them is slipping and cooking itself once the RPM's get up there... I have no rev limiter, and like to wind out third sometimes... just curious if anyone's had this issue before? Maybe my belt is a little loose? I don't like having belts too tight, in fear of screwing up a bearing in say my water pump, or alternator... never had an issue in "normal" or even "spirited" driving.. but when I really get into it.. I catch that faint wiff of rubber... then its gone... ?

 

[BlackonBlack89]

Have you tried tightening them if they are loose and slipping. Thats wat I would do first. Look around down there see if anything could be rubbing or look for marks on something for evidence of rubbing.

I know the a/c lines are really close to touching with an UDP on the power steering.


Or maybe its ur tires.......

 

[SHOZ123]

Not all belts are the same length. Try a different brand.

 

[Eric VerValin]

Well... they are the Gates belts that were the same number I used before. I did notice the alternator belt was a little shiny on the backside. Nothing *should be, or appears to be sticking. I pulled the cap off the bearing on the tensioner even and repacked it with grease..

I always try to get the belts.. "just tight enough", but I wonder if it slipped just a little... if now it isn't bad. I'll have to look a little closer, nothing is rubbing that I can see.. and everything seems to be running ok the rest of the time.


If gates are going to be "this way" what would be a better replacement? Gatorback's? Anyone have good things to say about those? Or any other good replacments that I can find by length / ribs ?

 

[redwraith94]

I use the gatorbacks on my buford, and they have put up with a fair amount of abuse, but they are more expensive, and I don't really think the cost is justified.

If you have a friend rev it in neutral, then stand by the belts, and listen for squeeling. If you don't here sqeeling, or see any cracks in the belt when it's flexed, I wouldn't worry to much about. If the tension seems good, try one of the generic stop squeeling belt conditions, and see if it goes away then.

 

[Eric VerValin]

It's not making any noise that I've ever heard. But I do think my P/S belt is suspect.. maybe its because of the different pulley on it, and the crank.. because at really slow engine speed, it almost feels like its slipping a bit, but I'm not sure if thats because its spinning slow enough where the pump isn't getting spun fast enough to create enough pressure in the rack... hard to say as Ford's aren't known for having great P/S pumps...

 

[Eric VerValin]

I also wonder if maybe its oil I'm smelling the more I think about it... I've been nice to my clutch, and tires / differential, since I rebuilt the thing, and I may be confusing the smell for something its not.

Now.... if it is oil thats burning, and if I had every seal replaced.. my only 2 concerns are the valve stem guides, and seals... I can't think of anywhere else it would leak, because I don't see anything on the ground, or down the side of the motor... my short block was NEW, no wear on any sealing surfaces..(cam's, crank..) so thats why I would lean toward the valve seals.

I don't wanna step on anyones toes, but I noticed online 2 different valve stem seal sizes. How important are those 2 sizes? If you look at the specs, its a very very small difference. The set I recieved only had 1 size.. 24 of them... so they have always been suspect... but how can I tell if anything is wrong without pulling the heads? Would a pressure test of the heads show that? And just how would I go about doing that? If I got a good valve grind, wouldn't I have to test each cylnder in each of the 4 "strokes" ?

 

[Eric VerValin]

If I got a good valve grind, wouldn't I have to test each cylnder in each of the 4 "strokes" ?

Well I guess that dosen't make much sence... TDC for each I would imagine? I can't see where else it might be passing any oil... maybe it is the rubber.... gotta find those belt numbers again...