2015 Focus 1.5T Ecoboost

[dontlookdown]

Is this one of the Ecoboom engines with a wet belt? My sister has seen one she likes the look of, but not if it has a ticking timing-belt bomb under the bonnet.

I believe the older 1.6 has an old school belt but not sure about the 1.5.

Apols if this has been done to death, but it is surprisingly hard to get a definitive answer from Google.

[anyoldcardave]

dontlookdown said:

Is this one of the Ecoboom engines with a wet belt? My sister has seen one she likes the look of, but not if it has a ticking timing-belt bomb under the bonnet.

I believe the older 1.6 has an old school belt but not sure about the 1.5.

Apols if this has been done to death, but it is surprisingly hard to get a definitive answer from Google.

A quick google came up with this, assuming you mean a 1.5 petrol ? And the same engine?

The ST has a timing chain and the oil pump is driven by the balance shaft via a gear off the crank there are no wet belts... Better view of the balance shaft being gear driven the non driven side turns the oil pump...


From experience, there is another issue with the 1.5 petrol, they have a tendency to crack the block, lose coolant and cook quickly.

[dontlookdown]

Yes, sorry petrol engine. Tks. So, dry belt but a tendancy to crack the block. Decisions, decisions;)

[Master Bean]

There is a 1.5 3 cylinder or 4 cylinder. Neither have the wet belt. It's only on the 1.0 litre engine.

[r3g]

1.5 Ecoboom is as bad for going kaput as the 1.0 Ecoboom, even though it's nothing to do with the dreaded wet belts on the 1.5s as they don't have them. Same engine in the Kugas.

1.5 was relatively short-lived, 2014 to 2018 only, then changed to a new 1.5 3-potter from the Dragon engine family. The original 1.5t is a development from the old Sigma 1.6 which has been around since 1995 in NA form and was never fuel efficient vs rivals. It all went to st when they stuck a blower on the front and changed the cooling system which used to fail just by looking at it, frying your turbo and then frying your engine. Not sure if that's the same problem carried forward onto the 1.5 variant but whatever it is, it's unreliable.

Small factoid - the 1.5 only came about because some of the Asian market taxes go up massively at 1.6 displacement. Ford wanted to sell more cars in Asia so they reduced the displacement on the old Sigma 1.6 to 1.5 to fall under the tax bracket.

Light reading from a quick search : https://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/132502...

[dontlookdown]

Tks all, especially r3g. Great intel. Prob one for her to avoid then, even though it is not a wet belt engine.

Are there any Ford petrol engines of this era (can 2014-2018) that don't have massive red flags over reliability?

[r3g]

I think the 2.0 T in the Focus ST is generally reliable but it's a max 30 mpg car on local driving (I had one).

The older NA engines were generally reliable but the larger ones were dog slow and quite heavy on fuel vs modern ones, and comparatively high tax too. These ones are typically 15- 25 years old now so finding one that isn't riddled with tin worm will be a bigger concern and these are well outside of your age requirements anyway. A lot of older stuff was weighed in on the scrappage scheme.

[Gas1883]

dontlookdown said:

Tks all, especially r3g. Great intel. Prob one for her to avoid then, even though it is not a wet belt engine.

Are there any Ford petrol engines of this era (can 2014-2018) that don't have massive red flags over reliability?

My wife has had her 66 plate fiesta 1.6 st for apx 6/7 yrs ( faultless ) , daughter has had her 1.0 vignale for 4 years ( faultless bar brittle window switches ) , my 1.0 focus went from 62,000 - 94,000 in 3 yrs then lost power ( vacuum pump / turbo / belt ) were some of the suggestions , recent focus 1.0 has gone from 46,000 - 56,000 in 8 months ( faultless engine wise , water leaks now sorted )
So I’d of said the engines ( Ford ) are far from unreliable , I’ve various family , friends who have far more issues bmw / Audi / merc / Nissan etc that we’ve had with fords
1.5 ecoboost I believe was in the kuga I recently had , on 30 mile a - road journey I was getting 43-45 mpg , my focus 1.0 does 55/60 mpg , obviously smaller car but something to bare in mind .

[greenarrow]

Gas1883 said:

My wife has had her 66 plate fiesta 1.6 st for apx 6/7 yrs ( faultless ) , daughter has had her 1.0 vignale for 4 years ( faultless bar brittle window switches ) , my 1.0 focus went from 62,000 - 94,000 in 3 yrs then lost power ( vacuum pump / turbo / belt ) were some of the suggestions , recent focus 1.0 has gone from 46,000 - 56,000 in 8 months ( faultless engine wise , water leaks now sorted )
So I’d of said the engines ( Ford ) are far from unreliable , I’ve various family , friends who have far more issues bmw / Audi / merc / Nissan etc that we’ve had with fords
1.5 ecoboost I believe was in the kuga I recently had , on 30 mile a - road journey I was getting 43-45 mpg , my focus 1.0 does 55/60 mpg , obviously smaller car but something to bare in mind .

Agree with you in principle, I know of two people who love their 1.0 ecoboosts, but its a bit of a game of Russian roulette it seems. I understand the wet cambelt thing was fixed in 2018 when they launched the Mk8 Fiesta.

Useful to know about the 1.5 ecoboost as I am currently weighing up my car options and Mk3 Focus was on my radar!

Shame Ford's reputation has fallen in recent years. We have a Mk6 Fiesta ST from 2005 and its been a brilliant reliable car. I also owned two Mk1 Focus petrols and they were bomb proof.

[Gas1883]

greenarrow said:

Agree with you in principle, I know of two people who love their 1.0 ecoboosts, but its a bit of a game of Russian roulette it seems. I understand the wet cambelt thing was fixed in 2018 when they launched the Mk8 Fiesta.

Useful to know about the 1.5 ecoboost as I am currently weighing up my car options and Mk3 Focus was on my radar!

Shame Ford's reputation has fallen in recent years. We have a Mk6 Fiesta ST from 2005 and its been a brilliant reliable car. I also owned two Mk1 Focus petrols and they were bomb proof.

If you do go mk3 focus check well for water leaks , my original was dry as a bone , but present one leaked like a sieve , apparently a lot are like that , leak water , but we have suspicions my present one has been poorly repaired after a accident , most seams had to be resealed to cure the leaks , but as a family car hard to beat

[ZX10R NIN]

I have to say having supplied a lot of 1.5/6T drivetrains in different Fords as a rule I'd say they're pretty reliable, I always advise avoiding the 1.0t.

The 1.5/6t aren't the greatest on fuel but I've seen a lot of similar sized drivetrains give similar numbers.

If you went for the 2.0t in the ST you won't be that far off fuel wise.

[LightningBlue]

Gas1883 said:

My wife has had her 66 plate fiesta 1.6 st for apx 6/7 yrs ( faultless ) , daughter has had her 1.0 vignale for 4 years ( faultless bar brittle window switches ) , my 1.0 focus went from 62,000 - 94,000 in 3 yrs then lost power ( vacuum pump / turbo / belt ) were some of the suggestions , recent focus 1.0 has gone from 46,000 - 56,000 in 8 months ( faultless engine wise , water leaks now sorted )
So I’d of said the engines ( Ford ) are far from unreliable , I’ve various family , friends who have far more issues bmw / Audi / merc / Nissan etc that we’ve had with fords
1.5 ecoboost I believe was in the kuga I recently had , on 30 mile a - road journey I was getting 43-45 mpg , my focus 1.0 does 55/60 mpg , obviously smaller car but something to bare in mind .

I also had the 1.6 Ecoboost engine in a Volvo and it was flawless - had that car for 7.5 years and was on 91,000 when I sold it, never had a single engine problem. Just wasn’t the most exciting unit to drive in that car.

[anyoldcardave]

Master Bean said:

There is a 1.5 3 cylinder or 4 cylinder. Neither have the wet belt. It's only on the 1.0 litre engine.

!.5 and 2.0l diesels do too.

Both last a little bit longer than the 1.0 litre ecobang, but I would never take one near recommended intervals if you have one.

70k seems the most popular time for the 1.0 to give up, plenty get cooked before that though, when the by pass hose lets go, never ignore the need to top coolant, it usually is the by pass hose.

I think Ford have reduced the belt interval to 60k. ?

No bad thing to drop the sump at services, they suffer oil starvation too, and lumps in the sump or blocking the pick up will tell you your belts have been belts too long.

Vacuum pump failure can kill them too, they get blocked with belt debris, the first you know about it is a snapped or stripped belt.

[anyoldcardave]

Gas1883 said:

My wife has had her 66 plate fiesta 1.6 st for apx 6/7 yrs ( faultless ) , daughter has had her 1.0 vignale for 4 years ( faultless bar brittle window switches ) , my 1.0 focus went from 62,000 - 94,000 in 3 yrs then lost power ( vacuum pump / turbo / belt ) were some of the suggestions , recent focus 1.0 has gone from 46,000 - 56,000 in 8 months ( faultless engine wise , water leaks now sorted )
So I’d of said the engines ( Ford ) are far from unreliable , I’ve various family , friends who have far more issues bmw / Audi / merc / Nissan etc that we’ve had with fords
1.5 ecoboost I believe was in the kuga I recently had , on 30 mile a - road journey I was getting 43-45 mpg , my focus 1.0 does 55/60 mpg , obviously smaller car but something to bare in mind .

See my previous post, vacuum pump and turbo suffer oil starvation from belt debris.

Good you dealt with the coolant leak, was it the by pass hose.?

I would seriously consider doing the belts at 56k or very soon, especially on a Focus, Fiestas tend to last a little bit longer, lighter, lower power, often used differently and doing less miles.

They are reliable, until there not lol, they just go bang or cook.

[anyoldcardave]

greenarrow said:

Agree with you in principle, I know of two people who love their 1.0 ecoboosts, but its a bit of a game of Russian roulette it seems. I understand the wet cambelt thing was fixed in 2018 when they launched the Mk8 Fiesta.

Useful to know about the 1.5 ecoboost as I am currently weighing up my car options and Mk3 Focus was on my radar!

Shame Ford's reputation has fallen in recent years. We have a Mk6 Fiesta ST from 2005 and its been a brilliant reliable car. I also owned two Mk1 Focus petrols and they were bomb proof.

It was not fixed with the MK8 Fiesta, the engine was changed for chain drive, but not in all of them, if you look on other forums,it suggests a minefield as to the engine you have actually got.

When they are going, they are good, but a minefield, The easiest way to judge is removing the sump, if there is debris, change both belts, and always use recommended oil.

I would not push them any further than 60k, I recover, buy, and get repaired a lot of them, none have done more than 70k, there are an odd few that get over 100k, or close to it, but I think that is because they do miles quickly and are serviced more often.

My mechanic does belt and water pump for 500 all in, some of the prices others are being quoted are a rip off, even on snapped belts, and he has to pull the head, it isusually only 2 bent valves, and it is 150 quid more.

With a head replacement or rebuild, plus the belts and water pump, it is 1200 max.


He loves doing them, says it is easy work, moaned like the missus stripping the rear hubs for new back plates on my GSI carlton, lol, never moans about these, and I usually get them back same day.

I got one today, the owner was knocked back on warranty because he had gone over on one service, they will get oil analysis to avoid warranty claims, or anything else to get out of it.

They are that much of a bomb, when I get running trade cars, they get winched on the truck, rolled off, and not started until they are sold, and they only go to the trade, I will not sell one outside the trade, unless I know it has been done. No matter what the miles and service history.

[anyoldcardave]

Gas1883 said:

My wife has had her 66 plate fiesta 1.6 st for apx 6/7 yrs ( faultless ) , daughter has had her 1.0 vignale for 4 years ( faultless bar brittle window switches ) , my 1.0 focus went from 62,000 - 94,000 in 3 yrs then lost power ( vacuum pump / turbo / belt ) were some of the suggestions , recent focus 1.0 has gone from 46,000 - 56,000 in 8 months ( faultless engine wise , water leaks now sorted )
So I’d of said the engines ( Ford ) are far from unreliable , I’ve various family , friends who have far more issues bmw / Audi / merc / Nissan etc that we’ve had with fords
1.5 ecoboost I believe was in the kuga I recently had , on 30 mile a - road journey I was getting 43-45 mpg , my focus 1.0 does 55/60 mpg , obviously smaller car but something to bare in mind .

See my previous post, vacuum pump and turbo suffer oil starvation from belt debris.

Good you dealt with the coolant leak, was it the by pass hose.?

I would seriously consider doing the belts at 56k or very soon, especially on a Focus, Fiestas tend to last a little bit longer, lighter, lower power, often used differently and doing less miles.

They are reliable, until there not lol, they just go bang or cook.

[Hustle_]

I am interested in a Focus with the 1.5T 3 pot (2019-). From what I’ve read they aren’t as problematic as the earlier 1.0T engines or the earlier 4-cylinder turbos. IIRC the cams are driven by a chain and the oil pump by a wet belt.

[Gas1883]

anyoldcardave said:

See my previous post, vacuum pump and turbo suffer oil starvation from belt debris.

Good you dealt with the coolant leak, was it the by pass hose.?

I would seriously consider doing the belts at 56k or very soon, especially on a Focus, Fiestas tend to last a little bit longer, lighter, lower power, often used differently and doing less miles.

They are reliable, until there not lol, they just go bang or cook.

Sorry obviously didn’t word my reply well , the water leak was comming from the seams on the car , not mechanically.
Yes that’s one of the reasons I got rid of the previous focus as after reading on here / internet I was suspicious the welt belt was breaking up blocking parts , and the fact no- one would actually say this will fix it , we will change this , that , this & it may cure it , I just got rid , it’s taxed now so it looks like someone solved the issue
I’m looking to change as have never felt comfortable , to low , so I’ll leave someone the bill for a new wet belt
But thanks for help

[Gas1883]

This was from the water leak , still baffled how leaking seems would get on back seat , garage said it was comming up from below seat , there was plenty of water on tyre well , front / back foot wells but it wasn’t deep enough to get under seat , but who knows , seems fixed now , have to remind garage they said they’d sort rear seat as looks a mess .

[Gas1883]

Hustle_ said:

I am interested in a Focus with the 1.5T 3 pot (2019-). From what I’ve read they aren’t as problematic as the earlier 1.0T engines or the earlier 4-cylinder turbos. IIRC the cams are driven by a chain and the oil pump by a wet belt.

I drove a 21 plate focus and even though they look to my eyes lower than my mk3 I found the driving position much higher , more to my liking , but the one we tried was a key start , no sat nav & was £18995 which seemed a lot for a very basic car , add in his special deal for that day of £379 pm for 5 years ( pcp ) ( I normally pay cash ) I left it , it was 1.5 diesel .