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The fan (drive) belt wedges neatly into the different pulley grooves.
The belt uses the tension and friction to turn the auxiliary
devices.
The fan belt is usually V-shaped, so it is also called a V-belt. The
fan belt friction comes from the sides of the belt and the sides of
the pulley grooves to transmit power from one pulley to the other
through the belt. Since the sides of the belt are used for
transmission of power, the sides have very large surface areas. The
reason that the belt does not slip is because of the wedging action
of the belt as it curves into the pulley grooves.
Because your belts are so essential to so many parts of your engine,
it is a very good idea to periodically check their condition. Check
for cracking, splitting, or fraying, especially before summer. Also,
check the tightness of the belt and have it adjusted according to
your owner's manual specifications. Belts have a tendency to loosen
with use. On the other hand, you don't want the belt to be too tight,
or it will put too much pressure on the accessory bearings and cause
them to die an early death. If a belt is over three years old, have
it replaced even if it looks good.
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