Focus Diesel common fault... engine beyond repair?
Discussion
My brother has a 55 plate Ford Focus C-Max diesel that has developed a fault where it severely lacks power.
I replaced a split metal intercooler hose for him but it didn't improve matters so he took it to a Ford dealer who apparently told him that the turbo has seized due to oil starvation and if he was to put a new turbo on it would also seize within a few hundred miles! The dealer said the problem was due to the EGR valve causing the engine to coke up and block the oil ways, and a complete strip and clean of the engine is obviously not a viable possibility as the car is only worth about £1500 when working. The dealer also told him that the fault is very common on the Focus based diesel models.
I should say that this information is secondhand as I wasn't there when he took the car in for diagnosis, I also haven't had chance to check the turbo myself to confirm that it is seized.
Does anyone have any experience of this fault as I've owned loads of cars over the years, all had common faults etc but none that couldn't be fixed. I find it hard to believe that such a common mass produced and popular car could have such a terminal common problem with no known fix.
I replaced a split metal intercooler hose for him but it didn't improve matters so he took it to a Ford dealer who apparently told him that the turbo has seized due to oil starvation and if he was to put a new turbo on it would also seize within a few hundred miles! The dealer said the problem was due to the EGR valve causing the engine to coke up and block the oil ways, and a complete strip and clean of the engine is obviously not a viable possibility as the car is only worth about £1500 when working. The dealer also told him that the fault is very common on the Focus based diesel models.
I should say that this information is secondhand as I wasn't there when he took the car in for diagnosis, I also haven't had chance to check the turbo myself to confirm that it is seized.
Does anyone have any experience of this fault as I've owned loads of cars over the years, all had common faults etc but none that couldn't be fixed. I find it hard to believe that such a common mass produced and popular car could have such a terminal common problem with no known fix.
If it's the 1.6 engine, when was the oil/filter last changed? These engines appear to be very susceptible to blocked turbo oil feeds if the oil is not regularly renewed. Mine has had an engine flush and oil change following the specified intervals, and is nearly on 104k miles now.
You can check the turbo spindle for seizing/play by taking off the air intake (undo the jubilee clip). It's at the front of engine, just to the left of the air filter.
HTH
You can check the turbo spindle for seizing/play by taking off the air intake (undo the jubilee clip). It's at the front of engine, just to the left of the air filter.
HTH
typical dealer the cars to old for us to bother attitude I'm afraid
These engines are prone to sludge issues which knackers the turbo first check the turbo has actually seized then if you decide to replace remove the sump & give it a clean out & replace the oil pick up & turbo feed pipe
As long as it's all cleaned out the engine will be ok just do another oil change after 500 miles & make sure the oils done regularly
These engines are prone to sludge issues which knackers the turbo first check the turbo has actually seized then if you decide to replace remove the sump & give it a clean out & replace the oil pick up & turbo feed pipe
As long as it's all cleaned out the engine will be ok just do another oil change after 500 miles & make sure the oils done regularly
Mark they are a pain, the dealer is talking nonsense.
On most occasions its the turbo feed pipe that gets clogged, each end of the pipe there is a small metal gauze. When the oil gets coked this traps & blocks the feed, if left too long the actual pipe gets solid in places as well. One of the reasons the oil gets coked is because of a small leak around the 3rd diesel injector, the seals deteriorate & cause the oil to coke. Every time people change a turbo you hear how it goes again within a few months after, well its because they have not changed this pipe (£54), get the pipe , take out the stupid gauze & re fit. When you refit wrap the pipe in heat shielding mat material , the pipe gets very hot which makes the problem worse when the gauze slows the flow the heat cokes it ...simple!
EGR ...Block it off. DPF ...if you have not had any problems yet you are lucky fix it up & get shot is my advice...
On most occasions its the turbo feed pipe that gets clogged, each end of the pipe there is a small metal gauze. When the oil gets coked this traps & blocks the feed, if left too long the actual pipe gets solid in places as well. One of the reasons the oil gets coked is because of a small leak around the 3rd diesel injector, the seals deteriorate & cause the oil to coke. Every time people change a turbo you hear how it goes again within a few months after, well its because they have not changed this pipe (£54), get the pipe , take out the stupid gauze & re fit. When you refit wrap the pipe in heat shielding mat material , the pipe gets very hot which makes the problem worse when the gauze slows the flow the heat cokes it ...simple!
EGR ...Block it off. DPF ...if you have not had any problems yet you are lucky fix it up & get shot is my advice...
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