Change tensioner with every belt change

So I recently came across an article that stated tensioners have the same life span as belts, and that the tensioner should be changed with every belt change.

I have PERSONALLY never done so, but have changed tensioners BEFORE they start making noise, etc. - just not EVERY time I've replaced a belt.

Does anyone do this? It's making me second guess my habit.

 

That is a crazy idea to replace the accessory drive belt and tensioner at the same time. Modern accessory drive belts should be replaced around 80K to 90K, if the tensioner is making noise go ahead and replace it.
I will say that my 2008 4.0L motor with 245K has the factory tensioner, at this mileage if I had to remove the tensioner for other work I would probably go ahead and replace it while I'm in there.

Could they have meant replacing the timing belt and tensioner(and water pump if TB driven) at the same time? Thats common practice but very few motors have timing belts nowadays(thank god).

 

timing belt T, or serp belt T???
that is the question...

 

we're in the 2nd gen forum. No timing belts here.

 

The article was referencing the serpentine belt.

 

My ‘06 gas 196k on it and I am still rocking the original tensioner. I have replaced the pulley and bearing once.

 

I believe you that thats what the article says, do you mind posting a link. I'm curious if they gave any particular reasoning for this thought process.

 

The article I read was some time ago (I think it was on a belt manufacturer's site), so can't recall the specific article. What reminded me of it was when I ordered another belt on RockAuto and saw this when checking out:



Obviously if it was just on their site, I would just chalk it up to "up selling," but then I remembered reading about it also.

 

Yea I wouldn’t replace the tensioner unless it goes bad .I would however check the pulleys which do go bad sometimes .I had a few bad ones that , I didn’t notice till I had the belt off.

 

In alot of applications on spring loaded tensioners using a smooth pulley...
The spring starts to sag & the belt rides more forward on the belt than it should & causes alignment issues...
Hard to see & detect if you dont know....
Its not obvious, talking 1/8" witness mark on the pulley but causes belt squeaks in the morning..
Im talking fords here from my experience..

 

I personally will continue to do things the way I've been doing it, but the checkout "recommendation" just made me think about how many people actually do it, though I can see if someone takes it in to a shop that they would try to up sell by saying that too.

 

I have 203K? miles and original tensioner. IIRC there is a series of marks that the tensioner arm has to be in between during operation and if it is, all is well. I've changed the pulley 2-3X as I drive on dirt a lot. On my cars that have had timing belts, yes, I change the tensioner every time I change the belt.

 

I was at 255,000 miles when one of the pulley's started squealing at startup. The pulleys came as a set. Shop did all of them at the same time.