Oil leak - mk3.5 2015 Ford Focus 1.5l Ecoboost automatic

Oil leak - mk3.5 2015 Ford Focus 1.5l Ecoboost automatic

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captain.scarlet

Original Poster:

1,891 posts

41 months

Friday 2nd December 2022
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Afternoon, All.

I presently work in the UAE and my daily runner is a 2015 (mk3.5) Ford Focus. GCC spec with a 1.5l petrol Ecoboost engine twinned with a 6-speed automatic gearbox.

High mileage, it now has about 210,000 km on the clock. I bought it in April with about 199,000 km on the clock and changed the oil around then.

I was back in the UK for a couple of months from September and returned to the UAE about a fortnight ago.

The car has never had any issues except a slight loss of power and lumpy throttle several months ago, which I attributed to fouled spark plugs. That issue seemed to rectify itself, went away and has never happened again. Engine is still very punchy and there's no shortage of torque or power. Smooth when idling and when driving. No EML lights or smoke or anything. All in all, nothing to complain about.

Earlier this week I set off and noticed a load of fresh oil stains on the floor. There seemed to be historic ones that had dried, too.

I can't say I noticed anything of the sort beforehand, but the car had been stood for 2 months in the heat until I returned.

I've just returned home from an independent mechanic who has attributed the oil leakage to a turbo intercooler problem. It was the second mechanic for the purposes of an opinion who checked (what I understand is) the intercooler hose running from the side of the air filter around the engine. The first mechanic put it down to the pipe and not the system.

The second one and his team said there was oil inside the pipe, which there shouldn't be.

The oil dipstick showed minimal oil so we topped it up.

When I've checked underneath, there seems to be some sort of leak towards the driver's (LHD car) side that has trickled its way down and coated all sorts.

Does anyone agree that it could be attributable to the turbo system and which specific components?

Otherwise, what else could be causing it?

No leaks on/from any engine gaskets, oil filter or from the sump.

This is admittedly the first car I've purchased with a turbo so whether it is a DIY job is another matter, as much as I do tinker with my shed back in the UK and prefer tackling these jobs myself.

This mechanic said labour would be a couple of hundred quid or so. Then there's the part and whether it is indeed the issue rectified, as opposed to faffing about with something that was actually okay!

On the other hand, it's also whether I should simply entrust a main Ford specialist and pay a potentially eye-watering amount through the nose.

stevemcs

8,989 posts

100 months

Friday 2nd December 2022
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I'd clean it all up, run it for 100 miles and have another look. Although if the oil level is dropping a large amount then its a sizeable leak.


captain.scarlet

Original Poster:

1,891 posts

41 months

Saturday 3rd December 2022
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Cheers.

I'll check it out later today. I've not started it since parking it up but have made sure it's where there has been no fresh oil leak.

Chances are it'll do 100 miles this week.

I don't have a clue about the ins and outs of an Ecoboost turbo so am minded to agree it is that which needs attention, and that there shouldn't be oil passing through a hose, let alone it seeping onto the ground!