Focus 1.0 Ecoboost - Coolant / Headgasket issue
Discussion
Morning all,
I'll try and keep this short, I've tended to keep one eye on coolant levels due to the issues surrounding this engine. On one particular check the expansion tank was almost empty and looking a rusty colour. Topped it up with water as a temp measure and booked it into a local garage.
That was the colour.
No immediate leaks found, sniff test requested to check head gasket and completed with no combustion gases found, so told to keep an eye on coolant levels and come back if they drop again for further investigation.
Kept a closer eye on coolant levels and noticed a continual lowering of level but also that the bottom of the expansion tank always being wet or damp. Removed the tank from the car, identified 2 cracks on the underside, apparently a common occurrence on this engine?
Duly ordered a new tank and cap and set about flushing and replacing the coolant once the tank arrived. All good or so i thought.
A couple of days later notice that coolant is now leaving the system at an increased rate. Jacked the car up onto axle stands for a better look. No split or lose pipes, rad intact etc . So now fully expecting that it's exhaust gas pushing the coolant out of the expansion tank overflow I set about ordering a combustion leak test, despite original garage diagnosis.
Further investigation of the new tank i notice a defect on the plastic weld at the tank mouth. Upon checking the tank off the car with the cap in place I find out the tank wasnt sealing at all. Coolant allowed to bypass the check valve on the cap and come out of the overflow.
Another new tank ordered, replaced, refilled with coolant. Car now not loosing any coolant. Coolant nice and pink. No signs of coolant in the oil. No overheating, Lucky me thinks I.
then the combustion leak test fluid turns up and curiosity gets the better of me.
Oh dear, its f
k'd.
Whats going on here then? Not caught it in time? Gasket ok but possible crack in head?
I'm considering trying some Steel Seal liquid sealant in the system, has anyone had any luck with this? Would it work in this situation? Current plan is to try this and then drop and then change the oil and continue to monitor the situation , redo leak test again etc.
sigh.
I'll try and keep this short, I've tended to keep one eye on coolant levels due to the issues surrounding this engine. On one particular check the expansion tank was almost empty and looking a rusty colour. Topped it up with water as a temp measure and booked it into a local garage.
That was the colour.
No immediate leaks found, sniff test requested to check head gasket and completed with no combustion gases found, so told to keep an eye on coolant levels and come back if they drop again for further investigation.
Kept a closer eye on coolant levels and noticed a continual lowering of level but also that the bottom of the expansion tank always being wet or damp. Removed the tank from the car, identified 2 cracks on the underside, apparently a common occurrence on this engine?
Duly ordered a new tank and cap and set about flushing and replacing the coolant once the tank arrived. All good or so i thought.
A couple of days later notice that coolant is now leaving the system at an increased rate. Jacked the car up onto axle stands for a better look. No split or lose pipes, rad intact etc . So now fully expecting that it's exhaust gas pushing the coolant out of the expansion tank overflow I set about ordering a combustion leak test, despite original garage diagnosis.
Further investigation of the new tank i notice a defect on the plastic weld at the tank mouth. Upon checking the tank off the car with the cap in place I find out the tank wasnt sealing at all. Coolant allowed to bypass the check valve on the cap and come out of the overflow.
Another new tank ordered, replaced, refilled with coolant. Car now not loosing any coolant. Coolant nice and pink. No signs of coolant in the oil. No overheating, Lucky me thinks I.
then the combustion leak test fluid turns up and curiosity gets the better of me.
Oh dear, its f
k'd. Whats going on here then? Not caught it in time? Gasket ok but possible crack in head?
I'm considering trying some Steel Seal liquid sealant in the system, has anyone had any luck with this? Would it work in this situation? Current plan is to try this and then drop and then change the oil and continue to monitor the situation , redo leak test again etc.
sigh.
Edited by duffy78 on Wednesday 25th August 11:37
CarCrazyDad said:
Why would you put steel-seal in?
Sell the car with the problem mentioned or fix it properly.
because reading the bumf and reviews it may fix it? If there's no cross contamination of oil in coolant or coolant in oil does this point at minor issue that the steel seal would sort? or does it just point to a crack or something? Weighing up options at the minute. Sell the car with the problem mentioned or fix it properly.
duffy78 said:
combustion still pushing coolant out of the overflow
That's an important detail you didn't mention previously.Positive block sniff test result combined with blowing coolant out suggests HGF. That's a reasonably forseeable consequence of running too low on coolant as a result of the earlier leaks.
GreenV8S said:
duffy78 said:
combustion still pushing coolant out of the overflow
That's an important detail you didn't mention previously.Positive block sniff test result combined with blowing coolant out suggests HGF. That's a reasonably forseeable consequence of running too low on coolant as a result of the earlier leaks.
I'll be getting the car booked in for compression and leak down test etc. See what the damage to the engine and my wallet is
duffy78 said:
Yes well I only noticed that after making this original post. I wrongly assumed the sealed tank would fix the issue of losing coolant.
I'll be getting the car booked in for compression and leak down test etc. See what the damage to the engine and my wallet is
It's an ecoboom they often don't run right after a rebuild hence why many places will just fit new engine'sI'll be getting the car booked in for compression and leak down test etc. See what the damage to the engine and my wallet is
Chris32345 said:
duffy78 said:
Yes well I only noticed that after making this original post. I wrongly assumed the sealed tank would fix the issue of losing coolant.
I'll be getting the car booked in for compression and leak down test etc. See what the damage to the engine and my wallet is
It's an ecoboom they often don't run right after a rebuild hence why many places will just fit new engine'sI'll be getting the car booked in for compression and leak down test etc. See what the damage to the engine and my wallet is
ok, this developed somewhat.
Took it in to a (different) local garage to get looked over. Hydro carbons in the coolant, head gasket defo kaput (already known) Head likely warped because of the type of engine it is (ecoboom) £2.9k for a new engine fitted, not interested in just doing the headgasket is it likely isnt the fix needed.
Balls.
Booked it into a ford garage to get their take on it on the assumption they will have processes in place to determine how shagged the engine is. Phone call follows on the afternoon "well yes it obviously needs a new engine doesnt it. Spoken to ford HQ and they are going to comp it for you"
Bit of a result I think.
Took it in to a (different) local garage to get looked over. Hydro carbons in the coolant, head gasket defo kaput (already known) Head likely warped because of the type of engine it is (ecoboom) £2.9k for a new engine fitted, not interested in just doing the headgasket is it likely isnt the fix needed.
Balls.
Booked it into a ford garage to get their take on it on the assumption they will have processes in place to determine how shagged the engine is. Phone call follows on the afternoon "well yes it obviously needs a new engine doesnt it. Spoken to ford HQ and they are going to comp it for you"
Bit of a result I think.
This was the main reason I got rid of mine after about four years. Had it from 6 months old and it continually lost coolant then, after a Ford dealer service, it stopped so I presume they found and fixed something.
The other reason I got rid of it was the 'lifetime cambelt' which I thought was optimistic at best.
However, I did like the car and engine iteself very much indeed. It'll be interesting to see how they do when they're over 10 years old.
The other reason I got rid of it was the 'lifetime cambelt' which I thought was optimistic at best.
However, I did like the car and engine iteself very much indeed. It'll be interesting to see how they do when they're over 10 years old.
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