Two types of belting systems can power car engines: V-belts and serpentine belts. Most modern car manufacturers prefer serpentine belts, so you’ll only see V-belts in older cars. You might wonder if V-belts or serpentine belts are better for drivers. Read on to learn more.
Ease of Maintenance
The main reason why manufacturers like to use serpentine belts is because they require one belt instead of several. A serpentine belt winds its way through the entire engine like a snake, while a V-belt engine combines many different belts. It’s much less labor-intensive (and therefore less expensive) to replace a serpentine belt.
Engine Drivability
One important difference between these two belt types is that a broken V-belt won’t always prevent your car from driving. For example, if the belt powering the A/C unit breaks, it won’t affect the rest of the engine that powers the car. However, if your serpentine belt breaks, your car won’t even turn on.
Transmission Power
Another reason manufacturers and drivers prefer the newer serpentine belt engine design is because the belts provide more power to the engine. Serpentine belts are wide and flat, creating more surface area contact with the various engine shafts. This helps them get more traction and, therefore, generate more power.
What About Synchronous Belts?
Some people confuse V-belts and serpentine belts with another kind of car engine belt: the synchronous or timing belt. The difference between synchronous belts and other belts is a timing belt is a specific belt with a particular job. It’s not about the style of the belt (e.g., whether it is flat or grooved) but rather the job it performs.
Belts as Failsafes
One of the most important functions of a drive belt is it prevents impact shocks from transferring to your engine when it breaks. This ensures the belt, and not a more expensive part, takes the brunt of the damage. Both belts act as failsafes, so there’s not much difference between V-belts and serpentine belts in this category.
The Bottom Line
Overall, there’s a good reason modern manufacturers prefer serpentine belts. The only advantage that V-belts provide is the ability to continue driving your car if a single belt breaks. However, fixing that one belt could be more problematic than replacing an entire serpentine belt.
