I don't understand why, but my PS belt keeps cutting a notch into my oil cooler hose. The oil cooler line is about a month old and the motor mounts were replaced at the same time. The engine doesnt shake very much at all and the pump is almost at it's highest setting (any higher and the belt would be too tight). The one thing that is bad are my engine shocks and these have been removed from the car until I can get new ones.

What I have observed is at idle theres about an inch and a half of clearance between the belt and the hose, but as I raise the RPM's the hose inflates slightly and seems to bend towards the belt. I guess at high rpms driving along and making a turn it could cut into it the hose

It hasnt cut all the way through the hose yet, so I've filled it with RTVand wrapped the affected area in aluminum from a beer can and clamped it down. I am going to replace the upper oil cooler line next week (again ), but I'd really lke to know why this is happening so it doesn't happen again

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1983 300SD White with Grey interior

Loosen the hose fitting and move it over.

Not sure I understand.....loosen the fitting at the oil cooler and change angle of the hose? I've thought of this, but I feel like I will still be the same distance away from the belt by turning towards the drivers side.

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1983 300SD White with Grey interior

its not that, I had the same problem on my 84 300SD- did you buy the cohline hoses? those coupled with the febi mounts can lead right to this problem. the hoses seem to be just a bit shorter putting the rubber part right in the way of the belt, the new mounts sag a bit as well causing the two parts to line up for disaster. I replaced the mounts again on mine with ones from MB and there was plenty of room after that.

Look at yours, do they seem squished already?

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

I think you will find that the distance increases as the hose is moved to the left, since the belt slopes upward in that direction. Arternatively, lashing the two hoses together with some flat webbing or shoe laces should solve the problem.

Incorrect PS belt (too long)?

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Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

The belt is the correct size and I don't really want to lash anything down for the long term as I want to fix the core problem. I tilted the hose a bit to the drivers side and it did provide a little more clearance but I will see if any more abrasion continues. Next week I'll replace the line and the mounts (again) and hopefully that will solve the problem. I will report my findings.

Johnhef..Interesting that you had the same problem. I honestly don't know the brand on the cooler or the hose, though I rarely buy stuff thats not OE. But I'll buy a new set of MB mounts and see what happens. I can't see any apparent squishing but the engine doesnt seem to be raised.

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1983 300SD White with Grey interior

Unfortunately, part of the core problem is a less than perfect design. I have had the same problem with OE hoses. While there appears to be adequate clearance under static conditions, neither the hoses nor the engine remain stationary during operation. I suspect that engine rotation during significant negative torque events is responsible for a lot of the belt/hose interference problems.

There is certainly no sound reason to avoid securing the upper and lower hoses together. Two appropriately sized cushioned Adel clamps fastened together would be an aeronautically acceptable solution.