One mechanic is telling buyers to steer clear of motors with a certain type of engine which could make your car ‘worthless’

Used car owners have been issued a warning over buying a vehicle which is fitted with a type of engine that can cost you dearly.

A second-hand car can be an affordable way for many to get themselves a reliable and well-priced motor, but there is one type of engine that should be avoided at all costs, says a top mechanic.

Dave Harrison, from 911 Auto Repairs in Sheffield, said buyers should stay way from vehicles with a wet belt engine. And he even said that the sale of these cars were set to become ‘the next big scandal’.

Wet belt engines have a timing belt which is located in the car’s sump and operates within the oil.

But Dave said this causes major issues, despite the idea being these timing belts would be more efficient.

He said: “The next big scandal – wet belts. They replaced timing belts with wet belts on a lot of models after 2017, supposedly they’re more efficient. But the wet belt is a big problem because it only has a 10-year interval and then it breaks.

“It deteriorates and it can stop your brakes working. But if it breaks after nine years, they don’t want to know.”

Whilst wet belt engines are generally more compact and quieter when compared to alternatives, some drivers have found that the oil causes the rubber belt to wear out at a faster rate.

In particular, parts of the rubber can flake off from the belt, increasing the chances of it snapping and causing the camshaft and crankshaft to go out of sync. The rubber debris could also clog up the oil pickup strainer, resulting in engine components being insufficiently lubricated, reports The Express.

Various manufacturers have fitted wet belt engines to their vehicles over the years, with the Ford 1.0-litre EcoBoost arguably being one of the most popular in the UK – being fitted to models like the Fiesta, Focus, and EcoSport since 2012. However it was improved in 2019.

Drivers looking to avoid cars with a wet belt engine should also think twice before buying a Peugeot, Citroen, or Vauxhall fitted with the 1.2 PureTech between 2012 and 2023, which also had the problematic engine design.

Nevertheless, when buying any new or used car, drivers should keep in mind that a dry timing belt will still need to be maintained, with manufacturers recommending they are changed at 10-year intervals.

Dave warned that it is particularly difficult to repair an engine with a damaged timing belt, especially if it is sealed within the engine – ultimately resulting in owners paying more money.

He continued: “And when it does [break], it’s very difficult to fix. It takes twice as long as a normal belt to fix and it costs more to replace.

“That’s one that makes your eyes roll when you see it – oh God, it’s got a wet belt. They say it’s better but it ends up costing double to fix or it’s unfixable and makes the car basically worthless.”

The used car market is currently experiencing a boom, with demand causing the typical price of a three-year-old model rising by 0.4%.